NCLEX RN Safety and Infection Control Questions Related

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An emergency department nurse is a member of an all-hazards disaster preparedness planning group. The group is developing a specific emergency response plan in the event that a client with smallpox arrives in the emergency department. Which interventions should initially be included in the plan? Select all that apply.

  • A. Isolate the client.
  • B. Don protective equipment immediately.
  • C. Notify infectious disease specialists, public health officials, and the police.
  • D. Lock down the emergency department and the entire hospital immediately.
  • E. Identify all client contacts, including transport services to the emergency department and clients in the waiting room.
  • F. Administer smallpox vaccines to all hospital staff, client contacts, and clients sitting in the emergency department waiting room immediately.
Correct Answer: A,B,C,E

Rationale: An all-hazards disaster preparedness group is a multifaceted internal and external disaster preparedness group that establishes action plans for every type of disaster or combination of disaster events. In the event of emergency department exposure to a communicable disease such as smallpox, the client would be isolated immediately and the staff would immediately don protective equipment. The emergency department would be locked down immediately. Locking down the entire hospital may not be necessary and infectious disease specialists and public health officials will determine whether it is necessary to take this action. Infectious disease specialists, public health officials, and the police are notified. All client contacts (name, addresses, telephone numbers), including transport services to the emergency department and clients in the waiting room, would be identified so that the public health department can follow through on notifying and treating these individuals appropriately. Although getting the vaccine within 3 days after exposure will help prevent the disease or make it less severe, it is unreasonable and unnecessary to administer smallpox vaccines to all hospital staff, client contacts, and clients sitting in the emergency department waiting room.