Nokea
A nurse is participating in the planning of a hospitals emergency operations plan. The nurse is aware of the potential for ethical dilemmas during a disaster or other emergency. Ethical dilemmas in these contexts are best addressed by which of the following actions?
- A. Having an ethical framework in place prior to an emergency
- B. Allowing staff to provide care anonymously during an emergency
- C. Assuring staff that they are not legally accountable for care provided during an emergency
- D. Teaching staff that principles of ethics do not apply in an emergency situation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Pre-established ethical frameworks guide decision-making in disasters, ensuring consistent ethical care. Anonymity, non-accountability, or dismissing ethics are inappropriate.
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The emergency response team is dealing with a radiation leak at the hospital. What action should be performed to prevent the spread of the contaminants?
- A. Floors must be scrubbed with undiluted bleach.
- B. Waste must be promptly incinerated.
- C. The ventilation system should be deactivated.
- D. Air ducts and vents should be sealed.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sealing air ducts and vents prevents radiation spread through ventilation. Bleach, incineration, or ventilation deactivation are less effective.
A nurse is giving an educational class to members of the local disaster team. What should the nurse instruct members of the disaster team to do in a chemical bioterrorist attack?
- A. Cover their eyes.
- B. Put on a personal protective equipment mask.
- C. Stand up.
- D. Crawl to an exit.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Most chemical agents are heavier than air, so standing up minimizes exposure. Covering eyes, masking, or crawling increases exposure risk.
A nurse has been called for duty during a response to a natural disaster. In this context of care, the nurse should expect to do which of the following?
- A. Practice outside of her normal area of clinical expertise.
- B. Perform interventions that are not based on assessment data.
- C. Prioritize psychosocial needs over physiologic needs.
- D. Prioritize the interests of older adults over younger patients.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Disaster response may require nurses to work beyond their usual expertise due to resource constraints. Interventions remain data-driven, and needs are not age-based.
A group of military nurses are reviewing the care of victims of biochemical terrorist attacks. The nurses should identify what agents as having the shortest latency?
- A. Viral agents
- B. Nerve agents
- C. Pulmonary agents
- D. Blood agents
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nerve agents produce symptoms within seconds, having the shortest latency. Viral, pulmonary, and blood agents have longer latency periods.
The nurse has been notified that the ED is expecting terrorist attack victims and that level D personal protective equipment is appropriate. What does level D PPE include?
- A. A chemical-resistant coverall with splash hood, chemical-resistant gloves, and boots
- B. A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and a fully encapsulating, vapor-tight coverall with chemical-resistant gloves and boots
- C. The SCBA and a chemical-resistant suit, but the suit is not vapor-tight
- D. The nurses typical work uniform
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Level D PPE is equivalent to a standard work uniform, used when minimal protection is needed, indicating low hazard exposure.