The nurse is the first responder after a tornado has destroyed many homes in the community. Which victim should the nurse attend to first? 1. A pregnant woman who exclaims, "My baby is not moving." 2. A child who is complaining, "My leg is bleeding so bad, I am afraid it is going to fall off!" 3. A young child standing next to an adult family member who is screaming, "I want my mommy!" 4. An older victim who is sitting next to her husband sobbing, "My husband is dead. My husband is dead." - ANS- 2. A child who is complaining, "My leg is bleeding so bad, I am afraid it is going to fall off!" Priority nursing care in disaster situations needs to be delivered to the living and not the dead. The child who is bleeding badly is the priority. The bleeding could be from an arterial vessel; if the bleeding is not stopped, the child is at risk for shock and death. The pregnant client is the next priority, but the absence of fetal movement may or may not be indicative of fetal demise. The young child is with a family member and is safe at this time. The older victim will need comfort measures; there is no information indicating she is physically hurt. The community health nurse is working with disaster relief after a tornado. The nurse assists in finding safe housing for survivors, providing support to families, organizing counseling, and securing physical care when needed. Which level of prevention does the nurse exercise? 1. Primary level of prevention 2. Secondary level of prevention 3. Tertiary level of prevention 4. Quaternary level of prevention - ANS- 3. Tertiary level of prevention Tertiary prevention involves reduction of the amount and degree of disability, injury, and damage after a crisis. Primary prevention means keeping the crisis from occurring, and secondary prevention focuses on reducing the intensity and duration of a crisis. There is no known quaternary prevention level. The nurse in the hospital emergency department is notified by emergency medical services that several victims who survived a plane crash will be transported to the hospital. Victims are suffering from cold exposure because the plane plummeted and was submerged in a local river. What is the initial action of the nurse? 1. Call the nursing supervisor to activate the agency disaster plan. 2. Supply the triage rooms with bottles of sterile water and normal saline. 3. Call the intensive care unit to request that nurses be sent to the emergency department. 4. Call the laundry department, and ask the department to send as many warm blankets as possible to the emergency department. - ANS- 1. Call the nursing supervisor to activate the agency disaster plan. In an external disaster, many people may be brought to the emergency department for treatment. The initial nursing action must be to activate the disaster plan. Although options 2, 3, and 4 may be additional measures that the nurse would take, the initial action would be to activate the disaster plan. The nurse is reviewing the manual of disaster preparedness and response for the annual hospital disaster drill. The nurse reads that which are functions of the American Red Cross (ARC) as opposed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the United States? Select all that apply. 1. Provide monetary relief. 2. Provide crisis counseling. 3. Identify and train personnel. 4. Issue presidential declarations. 5. Deploy National Guard troops. 6. Handle inquiries from families. - ANS- 2. Provide crisis counseling. 3. Identify and train personnel. 6. Handle inquiries from families. In general, the ARC provides support to individuals involved in a disaster, whereas FEMA deals with regional responses to disasters, such as issuing presidential declarations, providing monetary relief, and deploying National Guard troops. The ARC has been given authority by the federal government to identify and train personnel for a disaster and provide disaster relief, including crisis counseling, operating shelters, and handling inquiries from families. The community health nurse is preparing to teach personnel and family preparedness for disasters to a group of parents of school-age children. Which items should the nurse plan to include in disaster preparedness? Select all that apply. 1. Flashlight 2. Supply of batteries 3. Battery-operated radio 4. Extra pair of eyeglasses 5. 4-week supply of water 6. 4-week supply of nonperishable food - ANS- 1. Flashlight 2. Supply of batteries 3. Battery-operated radio 4.