Chapter 10: Concepts of Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A hospital responds to a local mass casualty event. Which action should the nurse
supervisor take to prevent staff post-traumatic stress disorder during a mass casualty
event?
a. Provide water and healthy snacks for energy throughout the event. b. Schedule 16-hour
shifts to allow for greater rest between shifts.
c. Encourage counseling upon deactivation of the emergency response plan.
d. Assign staff to different roles and units within the medical facility.
ANS: A
To prevent staff post-traumatic stress disorder during a mass casualty event, the nurses
should use available counseling, encourageand support co-workers, monitor each
othersstresslevelandperformance, take breaks when needed, talk about feelings with staff
and managers, and drink plenty of water and eat healthy snacks for energy. Nurses should
also keep in touch with family, friends, and significant others, and not work for more than
12 hours per day. Encouraging counseling upon deactivation of the plan, or after the
emergency response is over, does not prevent stress during the casualty event. Assigning
staff to unfamiliar roles or units may increase situational stress and is not an approach to
prevent post-traumatic stress disorder.
DIF:Remembering/KnowledgeREF:156
KEY: Post-traumatic stressdisorder
MSC: Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation
NOT: Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection
Control
2. A client who is hospitalized with burns after losing the family home in a fire becomes
angry and screams at a nurse when dinner is served late. How should the nurse respond?
, a. Do you need something for pain right now?
b. Please stop yelling. I brought dinner as soon as I could. c. I suggest that you get control
of yourself.
d. You seem upset. I have time to talk if youd like.
ANS: D
Clients should be allowed to ventilate their feelings of anger and despair after a
catastrophic event. The nurse establishes rapport through active listening and honest
communication and by recognizing cues that the client wishes to talk. Asking whether the
client is in pain as the first response closes the door to open communication and limits the
clients options. Simply telling the client to stop yelling and to gain control does nothing to
promote therapeutic communication.
DIF: Applying/Application REF: 157
KEY: Psychosocial response| crisis intervention
MSC: Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation
NOT: Client Needs Category: Psychosocial Integrity
3. A nurse is field-triaging clients after an industrial accident. Which client condition
should the nurse triage with a red tag?
a. Dislocated right hip and an open fracture of the right lower leg b. Large contusion to the
forehead and a bloody nose
c. Closed fracture of the right clavicle and arm numbness d. Multiple fractured ribs and
shortness of breath
ANS: D
Clients who have an immediate threat to life are given the highest priority, are placed in
the emergent or class I category, and are given a red triage tag. The client with multiple
rib fractures and shortness of breath most likely has developed a pneumothorax, which
may be fatal if not treated immediately. The client with the hip and leg problem and the
client with the clavicle fracture would be classified as class II; these major but stable
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A hospital responds to a local mass casualty event. Which action should the nurse
supervisor take to prevent staff post-traumatic stress disorder during a mass casualty
event?
a. Provide water and healthy snacks for energy throughout the event. b. Schedule 16-hour
shifts to allow for greater rest between shifts.
c. Encourage counseling upon deactivation of the emergency response plan.
d. Assign staff to different roles and units within the medical facility.
ANS: A
To prevent staff post-traumatic stress disorder during a mass casualty event, the nurses
should use available counseling, encourageand support co-workers, monitor each
othersstresslevelandperformance, take breaks when needed, talk about feelings with staff
and managers, and drink plenty of water and eat healthy snacks for energy. Nurses should
also keep in touch with family, friends, and significant others, and not work for more than
12 hours per day. Encouraging counseling upon deactivation of the plan, or after the
emergency response is over, does not prevent stress during the casualty event. Assigning
staff to unfamiliar roles or units may increase situational stress and is not an approach to
prevent post-traumatic stress disorder.
DIF:Remembering/KnowledgeREF:156
KEY: Post-traumatic stressdisorder
MSC: Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation
NOT: Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection
Control
2. A client who is hospitalized with burns after losing the family home in a fire becomes
angry and screams at a nurse when dinner is served late. How should the nurse respond?
, a. Do you need something for pain right now?
b. Please stop yelling. I brought dinner as soon as I could. c. I suggest that you get control
of yourself.
d. You seem upset. I have time to talk if youd like.
ANS: D
Clients should be allowed to ventilate their feelings of anger and despair after a
catastrophic event. The nurse establishes rapport through active listening and honest
communication and by recognizing cues that the client wishes to talk. Asking whether the
client is in pain as the first response closes the door to open communication and limits the
clients options. Simply telling the client to stop yelling and to gain control does nothing to
promote therapeutic communication.
DIF: Applying/Application REF: 157
KEY: Psychosocial response| crisis intervention
MSC: Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation
NOT: Client Needs Category: Psychosocial Integrity
3. A nurse is field-triaging clients after an industrial accident. Which client condition
should the nurse triage with a red tag?
a. Dislocated right hip and an open fracture of the right lower leg b. Large contusion to the
forehead and a bloody nose
c. Closed fracture of the right clavicle and arm numbness d. Multiple fractured ribs and
shortness of breath
ANS: D
Clients who have an immediate threat to life are given the highest priority, are placed in
the emergent or class I category, and are given a red triage tag. The client with multiple
rib fractures and shortness of breath most likely has developed a pneumothorax, which
may be fatal if not treated immediately. The client with the hip and leg problem and the
client with the clavicle fracture would be classified as class II; these major but stable
