Deck 44: Care of Patients in Disasters or Bioterrorism Attack

Question 1

The nurse is aware that the plague,caused by Yersinia pestis,will most probably be introduced as an aerosolized weapon in a terrorist attack.Although exposed individuals can die in 24 hours,the organism is very vulnerable and can be destroyed by:

A)cold temperatures of 40° F.
B)exposure to sunlight.
C)strong chlorine solution.
D)dry environment.

Answer 1

exposure to sunlight.

Question 2

A tornado has touched down 1 mile from the hospital and a tornado warning has been issued with sirens.The nursing staff caring for the 36 patients on the second floor medical-surgical unit should move the patients to:

A)the evacuation center across the street.
B)the hall, closing room doors and windows.
C)their rooms, padding the windows with bed linens.
D)the basement in wheelchairs using the elevators.

Answer 2

the hall, closing room doors and windows.

Question 3

The nurse informs a high school class that one of the differences between an emergency situation and a disaster is that,in an emergency situation:

A)fewer than 50 people require emergent treatment.
B)the community emergency rooms can meet the need.
C)there is no need for a prearranged management plan.
D)the community population is not affected by the event.

Answer 3

the community emergency rooms can meet the need.

Question 4

The nurse takes into consideration that a freezer that was full at the time of the power failure will keep food safe to eat for approximately _____ hours.

A)8
B)12
C)24
D)48

Question 5

The nurse takes into consideration that the period of time during which there is the greatest chance that aerosolized anthrax could be inhaled after a terrorist attack would be _____ the attack.

A)the day of
B)the day after
C)2 days after
D)7 days after

Question 6

The nurse is aware that the purpose of debriefing as outlined in the disaster plan for the health professionals who were involved in caring for the victims of a disaster a month ago is to:

A)analyze the effectiveness of the disaster plan.
B)assess the efficiency of the service provided by various agencies.
C)modify the disaster plan.
D)help allay post-traumatic stress disorders.

Question 7

The nurse is aware that during a power failure,perishable food should be kept at _____° F to prevent possibility of food poisoning.

A)40
B)45
C)50
D)55

Question 8

The nurse explains that health workers who are caring for people exposed to radiation after the explosion of a nuclear bomb are monitored daily for exposure by way of:

A)urinalysis.
B)radiation badges.
C)Geiger counters.
D)sputum analysis.

Question 9

The nurse takes into consideration that if terrorists were to use category B agents that produce low death rates and moderate illness,the organisms would most probably be delivered by which route?

A)Vaporization
B)Through water sources
C)By an explosion
D)From person-to-person contact

Question 10

The news reported that a train derailment 5 miles away from the clinic spilled a large amount of liquid chlorine that has been vaporized by the atmosphere.An indication that the chlorine gas is an imminent threat to the clinic would be:

A)sighting of a low-lying green cloud.
B)smelling "almonds" or "burning feathers."
C)sudden nausea.
D)skin blistering.

Question 11

The nurse clarifies that when a person has been exposed to particulate radioactive material,a chelating agent such as calcium edentate (EDTA)is given to:

A)bind with radioactive material and allow it to be excreted.
B)reduce radioactivity to nonharmful levels.
C)form a protective coat in the gastrointestinal system.
D)dissolve particulate material.

Question 12

A truck has just smashed into the dayroom of a long-term health care facility with enormous damage and injuring many of the residents.The noninjured residents are stunned and frightened and totally disorganized.Recognizing that everyone is in the impact stage,the nurse should:

A)firmly instruct two CNAs to start wheeling residents to the dining room in their wheelchairs.
B)begin wheeling residents back to their rooms herself.
C)shout for everyone to hurry to the dining room.
D)start treating the injured in the dayroom.

Question 13

The nurse stresses that emergency preparedness plans are required for accredited hospitals by the:

A)American Red Cross (ARC).
B)Joint Commission (JC).
C)Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
D)Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

Question 14

The nurse assures a patient that accredited health care facilities test their emergency plan with a drill at least _____ time(s)each year.

A)4
B)3
C)2
D)1

Question 15

People who have plague and have been treated with appropriate antibiotics can be released from respiratory droplet precautions after:

A)all symptoms are gone.
B)there is no longer any blood in the sputum.
C)the lesions are dried.
D)48 hours of antibiotic treatment.

Question 16

The nurse is teaching a course in the community concerning the actions that need to be taken in the event a pandemic occurs.A participant questions the nurse about how long she should be prepared to stay at home.What response by the nurse is most correct?

A)"The greatest danger during the pandemic will be in the first 48 to 72 hours."
B)"You should be prepared to remain at home for about 2 weeks."
C)"Residents should be prepared to stay home for 4 to 6 days."
D)"Staying home for a full 10 days will be needed."

Question 17

A patient comes to the emergency department with reports of exposure to a toxic chemical spill.The assessment reveals that the patient has inhaled the chemical and had the chemical on his clothing.What actions by the nurse are appropriate?

A)The nurse advises the patient to leave in contact lenses to continue to provide protection to the eyes.
B)The nurse will proceed to irrigate the patient's eyes for 5 to 7 minutes with water.
C)The nurse will use tongs to handle items taken off by the patient.
D)The nurse will place the clothing in a metal receptacle for disposal.

Question 18

To help restore order in a group of 18 people who are trapped in a third-floor office building by rising flood water,the nurse should:

A)give everyone a specific duty, for example, arranging furniture for sleeping.
B)let the people direct themselves to helpful tasks.
C)make a list of essential jobs and ask the others to volunteer.
D)put all the food in a central place and direct people to take what they need.

Question 19

Following a terrorist attack using smallpox virus,the nurse assesses a newly admitted patient with large vesicles all over her body that could be either smallpox or chickenpox.The nurse feels confident that the lesions are those of smallpox because of the lesions assessed on the:

A)face.
B)mucous membranes.
C)soles of the feet.
D)axilla.

Question 20

The nursing staff of a medical clinic and 15 of their patients have moved to the third floor of an office building to escape flood waters.Public water supply has been contaminated.This floor has eight commode stalls in two different bathrooms.To provide drinking water,the nurse should:

A)designate which commodes can be used for body waste.
B)protect water in commode tanks to use for drinking.
C)run cold water in sinks to have reservoirs of water.
D)assign people to use specific bathrooms.

Question 21

Matching
Assign triage categories to the disaster victims that they best fit.

Crushed chest,paraplegia

A)Red tag: emergent
B)Yellow tag: urgent
C)Green tag: nonurgent
D)Black tag: terminal

Question 22

Matching
Assign triage categories to the disaster victims that they best fit.

Compound fracture of both femurs,concussion

A)Red tag: emergent
B)Yellow tag: urgent
C)Green tag: nonurgent
D)Black tag: terminal

Question 23

Matching
Assign triage categories to the disaster victims that they best fit.

Woman in labor,pains 10 minutes apart

A)Red tag: emergent
B)Yellow tag: urgent
C)Green tag: nonurgent
D)Black tag: terminal

Question 24

The nurse is aware that organisms that may be released in a bioterrorism attack because of their high lethality include: (Select all that apply.)

A)Ebola.
B)avian flu.
C)botulism.
D)smallpox.
E)tularemia.

Question 25

The nurse is preparing a list of items that are needed in a disaster kit.The list will correctly include which items? (Select all that apply.)

A)Water for 12 days
B)Nonperishable food items
C)Prescription medication
D)Portable radio
E)Bedding
F)First aid kit

Question 26

The nurse encourages civic-minded people to enroll in local civil defense courses on disaster preparedness to better understand the role of the: (Select all that apply.)

A)state government.
B)federal government.
C)law enforcement.
D)individual service agencies.
E)nurse as a volunteer.
F)None of the above.

Question 27

The nurse is participating in an educational program concerning nuclear disasters.The nurse correctly recognizes that the level of exposure will be determined by which factors? (Select all that apply.)

A)Age of the victim
B)Body surface area of the victim
C)Length of exposure
D)Distance of the victim from the nuclear source
E)Shielding of the victim from the nuclear source

Question 28

The nurse explains that the essential elements in a disaster plan are the preparation and organization to provide: (Select all that apply.)

A)shelter for victims.
B)transportation.
C)communication.
D)welfare of victims.
E)food.
F)None of the above.

Question 29

Matching
Assign triage categories to the disaster victims that they best fit.

Toddler with partial-thickness burns on both legs

A)Red tag: emergent
B)Yellow tag: urgent
C)Green tag: nonurgent
D)Black tag: terminal

Question 30

Matching
Assign triage categories to the disaster victims that they best fit.

Amputated arm,conscious,but in shock

A)Red tag: emergent
B)Yellow tag: urgent
C)Green tag: nonurgent
D)Black tag: terminal

Question 31

Matching
Assign triage categories to the disaster victims that they best fit.

Sucking chest wound,fully conscious

A)Red tag: emergent
B)Yellow tag: urgent
C)Green tag: nonurgent
D)Black tag: terminal

Question 32

The nurse demonstrates how water can be rendered safe for drinking in the event of a disruption of service by: (Select all that apply.)

A)letting the water sit for 24 hours and dipping from the top.
B)boiling the water for 3 to 5 minutes.
C)adding 1 mL (16 drops) of household bleach to a gallon of water and letting it stand for 30 minutes.
D)draining water from hot water heater and using without treatment.
E)pouring water through several layers of cotton towels.

Question 33

Matching
Assign triage categories to the disaster victims that they best fit.

Closed fracture of arm,head laceration

A)Red tag: emergent
B)Yellow tag: urgent
C)Green tag: nonurgent
D)Black tag: terminal