FA Davis Ch 71: Disasters, Mass Casualty Incidents and Complex Emergencies

When conducting triage assessments using Simple Triage and Rapid Treatments (START), how long does the nurse assess a patient before moving to the next one?

60 seconds or less

Which public health risk became a major focus for hospitals after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks?

Anthrax exposure

What is the priority intervention when treating patients during a mass casualty event using Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START)?

Applying direct pressure to control bleeding

The nurse works in an emergency department in a city that experiences an earthquake prepares to care for patients with which type of injury?

Crush injuries

The nurse is helping devise a training plan to familiarize healthcare providers with emergency response procedures. Which training measure is most effective to adequately prepare the trainees?

Drills

In a disaster, which hospital department is responsible for the secondary triage of patients?

Emergency department

Which events may require a hospital evacuation with no advanced warning? (Select All)

Explosion Building Fire Tornadoes

Which organization requires hospitals to have disaster and evacuation plans in the event of an emergency?

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Which patient injury would receive a black tag by the triage nurse during a mass casualty incident?

Full-thickness body burns

What is the most common example of an advanced warning event that might require a hospital evacuation?

Hurricane

What is the priority in the preparedness of healthcare professionals in any type of disaster plan?

Identification of hazards

A green-tagged patient arrives at the emergency department after a mass casualty incident (MCI) involving radiation. Which is the priority nursing action for this patient?

Implementing decontamination measures

During the implementation of a disaster plan, who is responsible for all aspects of the response?

Incident commander

The nurse understands that which is an example of an internal threat that could lead to a "shelter in place" order?

Infrastructure damage from an earthquake

The nurse dons which level of PPE when assigned to care for a patient when the type of airborne exposure is unknown?

Level A

What is the highest level of personal protective equipment (PPE) for respiratory protection?

Level A

The nurse dons which level of PPE when assigned to care for a patient requiring the highest level of respiratory protection but less skin protection?

Level B

The nurse dons which level of PPE when assigned to care for a patient when the type of airborne exposure is known?

Level C

The nurse dons which level of personal protective equipment (PPE) when needing only protection from nontoxic (nuisance) contamination?

Level D

What is the goal of triage>

Maximize the number of survivors

Based upon Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START), the nurse tags the patient with which injury as yellow during the triage process?

Open femur fracture

During the implementation of a disaster plan that involves exposure to toxic substances, who is responsible for decontamination?

Operations chief

In preparing an educational presentation regarding potential injuries and medical issues during a blizzard, the nurse includes which injuries? (Select All)

Orthopedic issues Acute myocardial infarction Carbon monoxide poisoning Abdominal trauma

The nurse is conducting triage under mass casualty conditions and assigns which tag to the patient who is experiencing hypovolemic shock as a result of a penetrating wound?

Red

What are the three main goals of decontamination? (Select All)

Restrict contaminated patients from entering the hospital Decontaminate patients as quickly as possible Protect the decontamination team

Which entity is responsible for activating the disaster plan during a mass casualty incident (MCI)?

State emergency management system

The nurse responds to a mass casualty event and implements Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) to triage patients. Which patient does the nurse tag as green?

The patient who is walking, has abrasions, and follows commands appropriately

The nurse manager is reviewing the hospital disaster plan with other members of the committee. Which is the minimum number of disaster drills the committee must plan and implement each year?

Two

What are the key elements to ensure the safety of all personnel participating in an emergency hospital drill? (Select All)

Use real equipment There must be a safety officer with the sole responsibility to monitor any unsafe situations. Use strategies to make the situation realistic.

The nurse provides care to patients who have been exposed to radiation. Which actions does the nurse implement to minimize personal exposure? (Select All)

Wear a radiation badge to monitor exposure time Provide distance from the source if on site of the accident Wear appropriate PPE when providing patient care