Public Hlth Nurs and the DMC

MULTIPLE RESPONSE

1. Which populations are at greatest risk for disruption after a disaster? Select all that apply.
a. Single-parent families
b. Children
c. Substance abusers
d. Middle-class families
ANS: A, B, C
Single-parent families, children, and substance abuses are all at greater risk for disruption after disaster than a
middle-class family.

DIF: COG: Understanding REF: 522-523 OBJ: 2

2. Which organizations offer volunteer opportunities in disaster work for nurses? Select all that apply.
a. American Red Cross
b. Citizens Corps
c. American Nurses Association
d. National Public Health Training Centers
ANS: A, B
American Red Cross and Citizens Corps offer volunteer opportunities. The American Nurses Association and
National Public Health Training Centers offer education and training opportunities.

DIF: COG: Understanding REF: 516 OBJ: 7

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Which statement about disasters is true?

a. They can be natural or human-made.
b. They can be relieved without assistance.
c. There is always injury and death when a disaster occurs.
d. The timing of a disaster does not influence the types of injuries that will occur.
ANS: A
There are natural and human-made disasters.

DIF: COG: Understanding REF: 508 OBJ: 1

2. The use of weapons of mass destruction or natural disasters, such as earthquakes, will often have more
casualties because:
a. They cause the most widespread destruction.
b. Victims have little time to make evacuation preparations.
c. Those with chronic conditions cannot escape in time.
d. The early warning systems are not effective.
ANS: B
The use of weapons of mass destruction or natural disasters, such as earthquakes, will often have more casualties
because victims have little time to make evacuation preparations. The other answers are false.

DIF: COG: Understanding REF: 508 OBJ: 1

3. Which is an example of a natural disaster?

a. Transportation accident
b. Pollution
c. Communicable disease epidemic
d. Fire
ANS: C
A communicable disease epidemic would be considered a natural disaster.

DIF: COG: Applying REF: 509 OBJ: 1

4. Which is an example of a human-made disaster?

a. Structural collapse
b. Communicable disease epidemics
c. Mud slides
d. Floods
ANS: A
A structural collapse would be considered a human-made disaster.

DIF: COG: Applying REF: 509 OBJ: 1

5. What emotion would a nurse anticipate when working with an older person following a disaster?
a. Anger
b. Fear of loss of independence
c. Violence
d. Regression
ANS: B
A common reaction of older persons experiencing disaster may be fear of loss of independence.

DIF: COG: Applying REF: 522 OBJ: 2

6. In which situation would a nurse experience vicarious traumatization?

a. When sustaining an injury during the disaster
b. When exhausted and unable to adjust to the pace at home
c. When frustrated about the response time during the disaster
d. When listening to survivors’ stories about traumatic events
ANS: D
Vicarious traumatization can be a response to listening to survivors’ stories about traumatic events. Mental health
workers need to assist nurses as well as the public.

DIF: COG: Applying REF: 526 OBJ: 2

7. A nurse is working in a temporary shelter for victims following a natural disaster. Which condition is the nurse
most likely to encounter?
a. Stress
b. Communicable disease
c. Chronic illness
d. Injuries requiring first aid
ANS: A
Causes can be the shock of the disaster itself, loss of personal possessions, fear of the unknown, living in close
proximity to total strangers, and boredom.

DIF: COG: Analyzing REF: 521 OBJ: 2

8. A riverfront community builds a retaining wall to divert flood water away from the town. This is an example of:
a. Mitigation
b. A natural disaster
c. Disaster reduction
d. Disaster health
ANS: A
Mitigation is defined as actions or measures that can either prevent the occurrence of a disaster or reduce the
severity of the effects.
DIF: COG: Applying REF: 512 OBJ: 3

9. An example of community preparedness for a disaster is:

a. Assembling emergency supplies
b. Understanding the workplace disaster plan
c. Taking a disaster training course
d. Developing an evacuation plan to remove individuals from danger
ANS: D
Assembling emergency supplies is an example of individual preparedness. Understanding the workplace disaster
plan is an example of preparedness in the workplace within the community. Taking a disaster training course is an
example of professional preparedness.

DIF: COG: Applying REF: 517 OBJ: 3

10. What would most likely occur during the preparedness stage of disaster management?
a. Heightened inspection and increased security in the community
b. Incorporation of provision of pets into local disaster plans
c. Purchase of personal protective equipment for all citizens
d. Assembly of disaster kits for the home, workplace, and car
ANS: D
Disaster kit assembly for the home, workplace, and car, especially by nurses occurs during the preparedness
phase. The other answers are false or describe the other stages.

DIF: COG: Applying REF: 512 OBJ: 3

11. When working in a disaster, which attribute would be most important for the nurse to possess?
a. Flexibility
b. Training
c. Experience
d. Special interest
ANS: A
Flexibility is an attribute. Training, experience, and special interest are all roles of a nurse working in a disaster.

DIF: COG: Applying REF: 524 OBJ: 4

12. What is most likely to occur in the community during the Honeymoon Phase after a disaster?
a. First responders work tirelessly to save others.
b. Survivors share their stories.
c. Medical personnel experience exhaustion.
d. Community organizations rebuild the community.
ANS: B
During the Honeymoon Phase, survivors rejoice for their survival and may share their experiences and stories. First
responders work tirelessly to save others during the Heroic Phase. Medical personnel experience exhaustion during
the Disillusionment Phase. The community begins to rebuild during the Reconstruction Phase.

DIF: COG: Applying REF: 523 OBJ: 4

13. What is the first action a nurse should take when assessing persons arriving at a shelter following a disaster?
a. Limit the amount of equipment and medications brought into the shelter.
b. Determine if the person has a psychological condition requiring special attention.
c. Assess whether this type of facility is appropriate for the person.
d. Provide medical care for persons as if they were in a hospital.
ANS: C
Any person who comes to a special needs shelter must be assessed by a nurse to determine whether this type of
facility is appropriate.

DIF: COG: Analyzing REF: 526 OBJ: 4

14. What action would the nurse take when triaging victims following a disaster?
a. Allocation of treatment based on the victim’s potential for survival
b. Assignment of tasks to the appropriate disaster response personnel
c. Determination of the level of disaster and agency involvement
d. Participation in community preparedness for the disaster response
ANS: A
The triage process in disaster involves separating the casualties and allocating treatment based on the victim’s
potential for survival.

DIF: COG: Analyzing REF: 524 OBJ: 4

15. Which task would a nurse be most likely to perform while volunteering on a disaster medical assistant team?
a. Set up immunization clinics.
b. Assist in triaging disaster victims.
c. Provide all the medical care for disaster victims.
d. Complete a needs assessment of the community.
ANS: B
As a first responder arriving on the scene, the plans for triaging of disaster victims should begin immediately.

DIF: COG: Evaluating REF: 524 OBJ: 4

16. Which is an example of a bioterrorism and emergency readiness competency for a public health worker?
a. Recognition of unusual events that might indicate an emergency
b. Involvement in the chain of command
c. Using a set of preplanned activities for every disaster
d. Leaving communication to the authorities
ANS: A
The ability to recognize unusual events that might indicate an emergency and describe appropriate action is a
competency public health workers should possess.

DIF: COG: Applying REF: 515 OBJ: 5

17. What is the purpose of the National Response Framework?

a. Create a new branch of government that deals with bioterrorism.
b. Establish a way for the Red Cross to carry out its mission.
c. Develop a nationwide all-hazards approach to domestic incident management.
d. Extend presidential power to act quickly upon weapons of mass destruction.
ANS: C
The National Response Framework is a unified, all-discipline, all-hazards approach to domestic incident
management. It is built upon scalable, flexible, and adaptable coordinating structures to align key roles and
responsibilities linking all levels of government and organizations.

DIF: COG: Understanding REF: 510 OBJ: 6

18. Which organization would a nurse collaborate with when developing and coordinating an emergency response
plan for a community?
a. American Red Cross (ARC)
b. Stress Management in Disaster Program (SMID)
c. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
d. Emergency Management Agency (EMA)
ANS: D
The EMA is responsible for developing and coordinating emergency response plans in a defined area.

DIF: COG: Analyzing REF: 516-517 OBJ: 6

19. Following a disaster, what is the priority of the disaster response?

a. Clean up the environment.
b. Handle the stress reaction of the victims.
c. Bring in as many aid workers and nurses as possible.
d. Reestablish sanitary barriers and focus on basic needs.
ANS: D
Reestablishing sanitary barriers and focusing on water, food, waste disposal, vector control, shelter, and safety are
the first goals.

DIF: COG: Analyzing REF: 520 OBJ: 6

20. If a bioterrorism attack was to occur in the United States, which program would be used to provide large
quantities of medication to the American public?
a. Cities Readiness Initiative
b. Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)
c. Public Health Information Network (PHIN)
d. Project BioShield
ANS: B
The Strategic National Stockpile has the capacity to provide large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to
protect the American public in a public health emergency. The Cities Readiness Initiative aids cities in increasing
their capacity to deliver medicines and medical supplies during a public health emergency. The Public Health
Information Network helps ensure information access and sharing. Project BioShield is a program to develop and
produce new drugs and vaccines against potential bioweapons.

DIF: COG: Analyzing REF: 520 OBJ: 6

21. What is anticipated to happen in the future with disaster management?

a. Vague and unorganized future because constant emergence of new disasters
b. Increasing sophistication in technology and surveillance
c. Lack of involvement by national and state officials
d. Decreasing need for public health workers to provide care
ANS: B
The terrorist event of September 11, 2001, and the anthrax cases have increased the awareness for the need to
plan for disasters. Technology and surveillance will continue to advance.

DIF: COG: Evaluating REF: 528 OBJ: 6