Mass Casualty Incident Nursing
Assessment – DEFINED ANSWERS LATEST
ALREADY GRADED A+ (2026/2027) – 250
Quiz
Table of Contents
Section Topic Questions
I Mass Casualty Incident Fundamentals 1-25
II Triage Systems: START Protocol 26-60
III Triage Systems: SALT & JumpSTART 61-80
IV Disaster Management Cycle & ICS 81-100
V Nursing Assessment in MCIs 101-130
VI Critical Interventions in the Field 131-160
VII Ethical Decision-Making & Resource Allocation 161-185
VIII Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Events 186-210
,Section Topic Questions
IX Psychological First Aid & Survivor Care 211-230
X Professional & Self-Care for Responders 231-250
SECTION I: MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT FUNDAMENTALS
(Questions 1-25)
Question 1
What is the defining characteristic of a mass casualty incident (MCI)?
A) A minimum of 10 casualties
B) A disaster declaration by the federal government
C) The number and severity of casualties exceed the available resources
D) The presence of a chemical or biological agent
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A mass casualty incident occurs when the number and severity of
casualties exceed the capability of the facility and staff to provide care . This
resource-demand mismatch is the defining feature, not a specific casualty count.
Question 2
What is the primary goal of triage in a mass casualty incident?
,A) To treat the most severely injured patients first
B) To do the greatest good for the greatest number of people
C) To save every patient regardless of resources
D) To treat patients in the order they arrive
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In MCI triage, the goal is to do the greatest good for the greatest number
of people . This utilitarian approach means prioritizing patients who are most likely to
survive with immediate intervention.
Question 3
According to the START triage system, which color tag indicates a patient who is
deceased or unsalvageable?
A) Red
B) Yellow
C) Green
D) Black
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the START system, a black tag indicates patients who are deceased or
unsalvageable given the resources available . These patients are treated last or not
treated at all.
Question 4
A nurse is triaging patients after a building collapse. Which patient should receive the
highest priority?
, A) A patient with partial-thickness burns to the arms reporting severe pain
B) A patient with a crush injury to the pelvis and absent pedal pulse in the right foot
C) A patient with an open femur fracture and a 5 cm laceration
D) A patient who is unconscious with a closed head injury and fixed, dilated pupils
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient with a crush injury and absent pedal pulse has a potentially
survivable but immediately life-threatening vascular injury requiring prompt
intervention . Fixed, dilated pupils indicate likely brain death, making that patient
expectant.
Question 5
A nurse is triaging victims of an earthquake. Which victim should be classified as RED
(immediate) ?
A) A 10-year-old with a crushing chest wound, tachypnea, labored breathing, and
unconscious
B) A 49-year-old with crushing chest pain radiating to the jaw and an open wrist fracture
C) A 75-year-old with obvious femur fracture and absent pedal pulses
D) A 32-year-old who is unconscious with a 3-inch laceration and no breath sounds on
the right side
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A patient with a crushing chest wound and labored breathing has an
immediately life-threatening airway/breathing compromise that is potentially
survivable . Unconsciousness with no breath sounds also requires red classification.
Assessment – DEFINED ANSWERS LATEST
ALREADY GRADED A+ (2026/2027) – 250
Quiz
Table of Contents
Section Topic Questions
I Mass Casualty Incident Fundamentals 1-25
II Triage Systems: START Protocol 26-60
III Triage Systems: SALT & JumpSTART 61-80
IV Disaster Management Cycle & ICS 81-100
V Nursing Assessment in MCIs 101-130
VI Critical Interventions in the Field 131-160
VII Ethical Decision-Making & Resource Allocation 161-185
VIII Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Events 186-210
,Section Topic Questions
IX Psychological First Aid & Survivor Care 211-230
X Professional & Self-Care for Responders 231-250
SECTION I: MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT FUNDAMENTALS
(Questions 1-25)
Question 1
What is the defining characteristic of a mass casualty incident (MCI)?
A) A minimum of 10 casualties
B) A disaster declaration by the federal government
C) The number and severity of casualties exceed the available resources
D) The presence of a chemical or biological agent
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A mass casualty incident occurs when the number and severity of
casualties exceed the capability of the facility and staff to provide care . This
resource-demand mismatch is the defining feature, not a specific casualty count.
Question 2
What is the primary goal of triage in a mass casualty incident?
,A) To treat the most severely injured patients first
B) To do the greatest good for the greatest number of people
C) To save every patient regardless of resources
D) To treat patients in the order they arrive
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In MCI triage, the goal is to do the greatest good for the greatest number
of people . This utilitarian approach means prioritizing patients who are most likely to
survive with immediate intervention.
Question 3
According to the START triage system, which color tag indicates a patient who is
deceased or unsalvageable?
A) Red
B) Yellow
C) Green
D) Black
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the START system, a black tag indicates patients who are deceased or
unsalvageable given the resources available . These patients are treated last or not
treated at all.
Question 4
A nurse is triaging patients after a building collapse. Which patient should receive the
highest priority?
, A) A patient with partial-thickness burns to the arms reporting severe pain
B) A patient with a crush injury to the pelvis and absent pedal pulse in the right foot
C) A patient with an open femur fracture and a 5 cm laceration
D) A patient who is unconscious with a closed head injury and fixed, dilated pupils
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient with a crush injury and absent pedal pulse has a potentially
survivable but immediately life-threatening vascular injury requiring prompt
intervention . Fixed, dilated pupils indicate likely brain death, making that patient
expectant.
Question 5
A nurse is triaging victims of an earthquake. Which victim should be classified as RED
(immediate) ?
A) A 10-year-old with a crushing chest wound, tachypnea, labored breathing, and
unconscious
B) A 49-year-old with crushing chest pain radiating to the jaw and an open wrist fracture
C) A 75-year-old with obvious femur fracture and absent pedal pulses
D) A 32-year-old who is unconscious with a 3-inch laceration and no breath sounds on
the right side
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A patient with a crushing chest wound and labored breathing has an
immediately life-threatening airway/breathing compromise that is potentially
survivable . Unconsciousness with no breath sounds also requires red classification.
