Disaster Nursing - 2026 Emergency Response: Final Exam
(Comprehensive) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic for hospital preparedness include the need for:
A. PPE stockpiles, staff protection, surge staffing and flexible space
B. Fewer plans
C. Less coordination
D. No stockpiles
Correct Answer: A. PPE stockpiles, staff protection, surge staffing and flexible space
Rationale: The prolonged surge strained systems. Plans now address sustained events.
2. Severe weather preparedness for hospitals includes:
A. Securing supplies, staffing plans for extended shifts and protecting critical infrastructure
B. Sending all staff home
C. Ignoring forecasts
D. Closing without notice
Correct Answer: A. Securing supplies, staffing plans for extended shifts and protecting critical
infrastructure
Rationale: Ride-out teams may stay through storms. Lodging and food are needed.
3. The only interventions performed during START triage are:
A. IV fluids
B. Opening the airway and controlling severe bleeding (and positioning)
C. Splinting all fractures
D. Intubation
Correct Answer: B. Opening the airway and controlling severe bleeding (and positioning)
Rationale: Triage must be rapid. Definitive care comes later.
,4. A key limitation of START is that it:
A. Takes hours per patient
B. Requires laboratory tests
C. Was not validated extensively and may not account for all injury patterns
D. Is only for children
Correct Answer: C. Was not validated extensively and may not account for all injury patterns
Rationale: Studies show variable accuracy. Clinical judgment supplements algorithms.
5. Rhabdomyolysis after crush injury can cause:
A. Acute kidney injury from myoglobin
B. Liver failure only
C. Hearing loss
D. Vision loss
Correct Answer: A. Acute kidney injury from myoglobin
Rationale: Aggressive fluids maintain urine output. Dialysis capacity may be needed after
earthquakes.
6. Fractures in disaster settings are initially managed with:
A. Immediate surgery for all
B. No treatment
C. Splinting to reduce pain and further injury
D. Massage
Correct Answer: C. Splinting to reduce pain and further injury
Rationale: Improvised splints can be used. Neurovascular checks continue.
,7. Signs that suggest a chemical attack include:
A. Multiple people with similar sudden symptoms, unusual odors and dead animals in the area
B. A single patient with a cold
C. Gradual flu season increase
D. Routine trauma
Correct Answer: A. Multiple people with similar sudden symptoms, unusual odors and dead
animals in the area
Rationale: Clusters should raise suspicion. Notify authorities promptly.
8. Removing a contaminated person's clothing:
A. Has no effect
B. Should be delayed until the hospital
C. Removes a large majority of contamination and is the most important initial decontamination
step
D. Spreads contamination
Correct Answer: C. Removes a large majority of contamination and is the most important
initial decontamination step
Rationale: Disrobing is rapid and effective. Clothing is bagged and labeled.
9. Treatment of botulism includes:
A. Antibiotics only
B. Atropine
C. Pralidoxime
D. Botulinum antitoxin and supportive care, including mechanical ventilation
Correct Answer: D. Botulinum antitoxin and supportive care, including mechanical ventilation
Rationale: Antitoxin stops progression but does not reverse paralysis. Early administration
matters.
, 10. Airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs) are needed for:
A. Influenza only
B. Anthrax
C. Botulism
D. Diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and smallpox
Correct Answer: D. Diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and smallpox
Rationale: Negative pressure prevents spread. Hospitals may need surge alternatives.
11. Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) generally occurs after:
A. Any medical x-ray
B. A high whole-body dose, usually greater than about 0.7 to 1 Gy, delivered over a short time
C. Low chronic exposure
D. Contamination of one finger
Correct Answer: B. A high whole-body dose, usually greater than about 0.7 to 1 Gy, delivered
over a short time
Rationale: Severity depends on dose. Syndromes affect bone marrow, gut and nervous system.
12. Prussian blue is used to treat internal contamination with:
A. Plutonium
B. Radioactive iodine
C. Cesium and thallium
D. Uranium only
Correct Answer: C. Cesium and thallium
Rationale: It binds in the gut and increases elimination. It may turn stools blue.
(Comprehensive) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic for hospital preparedness include the need for:
A. PPE stockpiles, staff protection, surge staffing and flexible space
B. Fewer plans
C. Less coordination
D. No stockpiles
Correct Answer: A. PPE stockpiles, staff protection, surge staffing and flexible space
Rationale: The prolonged surge strained systems. Plans now address sustained events.
2. Severe weather preparedness for hospitals includes:
A. Securing supplies, staffing plans for extended shifts and protecting critical infrastructure
B. Sending all staff home
C. Ignoring forecasts
D. Closing without notice
Correct Answer: A. Securing supplies, staffing plans for extended shifts and protecting critical
infrastructure
Rationale: Ride-out teams may stay through storms. Lodging and food are needed.
3. The only interventions performed during START triage are:
A. IV fluids
B. Opening the airway and controlling severe bleeding (and positioning)
C. Splinting all fractures
D. Intubation
Correct Answer: B. Opening the airway and controlling severe bleeding (and positioning)
Rationale: Triage must be rapid. Definitive care comes later.
,4. A key limitation of START is that it:
A. Takes hours per patient
B. Requires laboratory tests
C. Was not validated extensively and may not account for all injury patterns
D. Is only for children
Correct Answer: C. Was not validated extensively and may not account for all injury patterns
Rationale: Studies show variable accuracy. Clinical judgment supplements algorithms.
5. Rhabdomyolysis after crush injury can cause:
A. Acute kidney injury from myoglobin
B. Liver failure only
C. Hearing loss
D. Vision loss
Correct Answer: A. Acute kidney injury from myoglobin
Rationale: Aggressive fluids maintain urine output. Dialysis capacity may be needed after
earthquakes.
6. Fractures in disaster settings are initially managed with:
A. Immediate surgery for all
B. No treatment
C. Splinting to reduce pain and further injury
D. Massage
Correct Answer: C. Splinting to reduce pain and further injury
Rationale: Improvised splints can be used. Neurovascular checks continue.
,7. Signs that suggest a chemical attack include:
A. Multiple people with similar sudden symptoms, unusual odors and dead animals in the area
B. A single patient with a cold
C. Gradual flu season increase
D. Routine trauma
Correct Answer: A. Multiple people with similar sudden symptoms, unusual odors and dead
animals in the area
Rationale: Clusters should raise suspicion. Notify authorities promptly.
8. Removing a contaminated person's clothing:
A. Has no effect
B. Should be delayed until the hospital
C. Removes a large majority of contamination and is the most important initial decontamination
step
D. Spreads contamination
Correct Answer: C. Removes a large majority of contamination and is the most important
initial decontamination step
Rationale: Disrobing is rapid and effective. Clothing is bagged and labeled.
9. Treatment of botulism includes:
A. Antibiotics only
B. Atropine
C. Pralidoxime
D. Botulinum antitoxin and supportive care, including mechanical ventilation
Correct Answer: D. Botulinum antitoxin and supportive care, including mechanical ventilation
Rationale: Antitoxin stops progression but does not reverse paralysis. Early administration
matters.
, 10. Airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs) are needed for:
A. Influenza only
B. Anthrax
C. Botulism
D. Diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and smallpox
Correct Answer: D. Diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and smallpox
Rationale: Negative pressure prevents spread. Hospitals may need surge alternatives.
11. Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) generally occurs after:
A. Any medical x-ray
B. A high whole-body dose, usually greater than about 0.7 to 1 Gy, delivered over a short time
C. Low chronic exposure
D. Contamination of one finger
Correct Answer: B. A high whole-body dose, usually greater than about 0.7 to 1 Gy, delivered
over a short time
Rationale: Severity depends on dose. Syndromes affect bone marrow, gut and nervous system.
12. Prussian blue is used to treat internal contamination with:
A. Plutonium
B. Radioactive iodine
C. Cesium and thallium
D. Uranium only
Correct Answer: C. Cesium and thallium
Rationale: It binds in the gut and increases elimination. It may turn stools blue.
