Disaster Nursing - 2026 Emergency Response: Exam 1 -
Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Clara Barton contributed to disaster nursing by:
A. Founding the American Red Cross in 1881 and organizing disaster relief
B. Writing the ICS manual
C. Creating triage tags
D. Founding FEMA
Correct Answer: A. Founding the American Red Cross in 1881 and organizing disaster relief
Rationale: She provided care during the Civil War and disasters such as the Johnstown Flood.
The Red Cross remains central to disaster relief.
2. Surge capability differs from surge capacity in that surge capability refers to:
A. The number of beds
B. The amount of water stored
C. The size of the parking lot
D. The ability to manage patients needing specialized care, such as burn or pediatric expertise
Correct Answer: D. The ability to manage patients needing specialized care, such as burn or
pediatric expertise
Rationale: Capacity is volume; capability is specialized expertise. Both must be planned.
3. Vulnerability in disaster terms refers to:
A. Only physical injuries
B. Only economic losses
C. Wealth
D. Characteristics of a person or community that increase susceptibility to harm from a hazard
Correct Answer: D. Characteristics of a person or community that increase susceptibility to
harm from a hazard
Rationale: Poverty, disability and isolation increase vulnerability. Planning should address them.
,4. Disaster nursing competencies include ethical decision-making because:
A. Ethics is irrelevant in disasters
B. Resources are unlimited
C. Resource scarcity may force difficult allocation decisions
D. Laws make all decisions
Correct Answer: C. Resource scarcity may force difficult allocation decisions
Rationale: Ethical frameworks guide triage and allocation. Transparency builds trust.
5. Mitigation refers to:
A. Rescuing victims
B. Rebuilding after an event
C. Treating injuries
D. Actions that reduce the likelihood or impact of a disaster, such as building codes and flood
control
Correct Answer: D. Actions that reduce the likelihood or impact of a disaster, such as building
codes and flood control
Rationale: Mitigation is long-term risk reduction. It is cost-effective.
6. Critical infrastructure relevant to health care includes:
A. Only hospital buildings
B. Only parking lots
C. Power, water, communications, transportation and supply chains
D. Only cafeterias
Correct Answer: C. Power, water, communications, transportation and supply chains
Rationale: Hospitals depend on external systems. Backup plans are essential.
,7. A basic household emergency kit should include supplies for at least:
A. One hour
B. One meal
C. Several days, including water, food, medications, flashlight, batteries and first aid supplies
D. No water
Correct Answer: C. Several days, including water, food, medications, flashlight, batteries and
first aid supplies
Rationale: Ready.gov recommends several days of supplies. Water needs are about 1 gallon per
person per day.
8. The ICN Core Competencies in Disaster Nursing (Version 2.0, 2019) are organized into domains
including:
A. Only clinical skills
B. Only leadership
C. Only documentation
D. Preparation and planning, communication, incident management, safety and security,
assessment, intervention, recovery and law and ethics
Correct Answer: D. Preparation and planning, communication, incident management, safety
and security, assessment, intervention, recovery and law and ethics
Rationale: The competencies are tiered by nurse role. They guide education worldwide.
9. The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) includes:
A. Only hospital billing
B. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) that provide medical care during disasters
C. Only research
D. Only military bases
Correct Answer: B. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) that provide medical care
during disasters
Rationale: DMATs deploy to support overwhelmed areas. NDMS also coordinates patient
movement.
, 10. Area command is established when:
A. A single small incident occurs
B. No incidents exist
C. Only hospitals respond
D. Multiple incidents, each with its own ICS organization, require overall coordination
Correct Answer: D. Multiple incidents, each with its own ICS organization, require overall
coordination
Rationale: Area command sets priorities among incidents. It does not replace incident
commanders.
11. The incident commander is responsible for:
A. Overall management of the incident, setting objectives and priorities
B. Only patient care
C. Only media relations
D. Only finances
Correct Answer: A. Overall management of the incident, setting objectives and priorities
Rationale: The incident commander may delegate functions. Command staff support this role.
12. Transfer of command in ICS occurs when:
A. Anyone decides to take over
B. A more qualified or appropriate person assumes command, with a briefing
C. The incident ends
D. No briefing occurs
Correct Answer: B. A more qualified or appropriate person assumes command, with a briefing
Rationale: Formal transfer prevents confusion. Briefings ensure continuity.
Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Clara Barton contributed to disaster nursing by:
A. Founding the American Red Cross in 1881 and organizing disaster relief
B. Writing the ICS manual
C. Creating triage tags
D. Founding FEMA
Correct Answer: A. Founding the American Red Cross in 1881 and organizing disaster relief
Rationale: She provided care during the Civil War and disasters such as the Johnstown Flood.
The Red Cross remains central to disaster relief.
2. Surge capability differs from surge capacity in that surge capability refers to:
A. The number of beds
B. The amount of water stored
C. The size of the parking lot
D. The ability to manage patients needing specialized care, such as burn or pediatric expertise
Correct Answer: D. The ability to manage patients needing specialized care, such as burn or
pediatric expertise
Rationale: Capacity is volume; capability is specialized expertise. Both must be planned.
3. Vulnerability in disaster terms refers to:
A. Only physical injuries
B. Only economic losses
C. Wealth
D. Characteristics of a person or community that increase susceptibility to harm from a hazard
Correct Answer: D. Characteristics of a person or community that increase susceptibility to
harm from a hazard
Rationale: Poverty, disability and isolation increase vulnerability. Planning should address them.
,4. Disaster nursing competencies include ethical decision-making because:
A. Ethics is irrelevant in disasters
B. Resources are unlimited
C. Resource scarcity may force difficult allocation decisions
D. Laws make all decisions
Correct Answer: C. Resource scarcity may force difficult allocation decisions
Rationale: Ethical frameworks guide triage and allocation. Transparency builds trust.
5. Mitigation refers to:
A. Rescuing victims
B. Rebuilding after an event
C. Treating injuries
D. Actions that reduce the likelihood or impact of a disaster, such as building codes and flood
control
Correct Answer: D. Actions that reduce the likelihood or impact of a disaster, such as building
codes and flood control
Rationale: Mitigation is long-term risk reduction. It is cost-effective.
6. Critical infrastructure relevant to health care includes:
A. Only hospital buildings
B. Only parking lots
C. Power, water, communications, transportation and supply chains
D. Only cafeterias
Correct Answer: C. Power, water, communications, transportation and supply chains
Rationale: Hospitals depend on external systems. Backup plans are essential.
,7. A basic household emergency kit should include supplies for at least:
A. One hour
B. One meal
C. Several days, including water, food, medications, flashlight, batteries and first aid supplies
D. No water
Correct Answer: C. Several days, including water, food, medications, flashlight, batteries and
first aid supplies
Rationale: Ready.gov recommends several days of supplies. Water needs are about 1 gallon per
person per day.
8. The ICN Core Competencies in Disaster Nursing (Version 2.0, 2019) are organized into domains
including:
A. Only clinical skills
B. Only leadership
C. Only documentation
D. Preparation and planning, communication, incident management, safety and security,
assessment, intervention, recovery and law and ethics
Correct Answer: D. Preparation and planning, communication, incident management, safety
and security, assessment, intervention, recovery and law and ethics
Rationale: The competencies are tiered by nurse role. They guide education worldwide.
9. The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) includes:
A. Only hospital billing
B. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) that provide medical care during disasters
C. Only research
D. Only military bases
Correct Answer: B. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) that provide medical care
during disasters
Rationale: DMATs deploy to support overwhelmed areas. NDMS also coordinates patient
movement.
, 10. Area command is established when:
A. A single small incident occurs
B. No incidents exist
C. Only hospitals respond
D. Multiple incidents, each with its own ICS organization, require overall coordination
Correct Answer: D. Multiple incidents, each with its own ICS organization, require overall
coordination
Rationale: Area command sets priorities among incidents. It does not replace incident
commanders.
11. The incident commander is responsible for:
A. Overall management of the incident, setting objectives and priorities
B. Only patient care
C. Only media relations
D. Only finances
Correct Answer: A. Overall management of the incident, setting objectives and priorities
Rationale: The incident commander may delegate functions. Command staff support this role.
12. Transfer of command in ICS occurs when:
A. Anyone decides to take over
B. A more qualified or appropriate person assumes command, with a briefing
C. The incident ends
D. No briefing occurs
Correct Answer: B. A more qualified or appropriate person assumes command, with a briefing
Rationale: Formal transfer prevents confusion. Briefings ensure continuity.
