VATI GREENLIGHT EMERGENCY, DISASTER, &
COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING EXAM (RN) QUESTIONS
AND 100% COMPLETE ANSWERS AND RATIONALE
1. A nurse is working in an emergency department and receives a call from
emergency medical services (EMS) about a mass casualty event. Which of the
following clients should the nurse prepare to triage as immediate (red tag)?
A client who is unconscious with a traumatic amputation of the leg and active
bleeding
A client who has agonal respirations and no palpable pulse
A client who has a minor laceration on the arm and is walking
A client who has a fractured tibia and is crying in pain
Correct Answer: A client who is unconscious with a traumatic amputation of the
leg and active bleeding
Rationale: Immediate (red tag) clients have life-threatening injuries but are
expected to survive with immediate treatment. Active bleeding and traumatic
amputation require urgent intervention.
2. A nurse is triaging clients after a natural disaster. Which of the following
clients should the nurse tag as expectant (black tag)?
A client who is not breathing and has no pulse after the airway is opened
A client who has burns on 30% of total body surface area and is conscious
A client who has a compound fracture of the femur and is in shock
A client who has a minor head laceration and is alert
,Correct Answer: A client who is not breathing and has no pulse after the airway
is opened
Rationale: Expectant (black tag) clients are those who are unlikely to survive given
available resources. No respirations or pulse after basic airway maneuvers
indicates futility in mass casualty.
3. A community health nurse is planning a disaster preparedness program for a
local community. Which of the following is the priority component of disaster
preparedness?
Developing a communication plan for families
Stockpiling canned food and bottled water
Purchasing a generator for the home
Having extra blankets and warm clothing
Correct Answer: Developing a communication plan for families
Rationale: A communication plan ensures family members can contact each other
during a disaster. This is a priority because separation is common during
emergencies.
4. A nurse is assisting with triage after an explosion at a chemical plant. Which
of the following clients should the nurse prioritize for immediate transport to
the hospital?
A client who has a partial-thickness burn to the face and difficulty speaking
A client who has a fractured radius and is crying in pain
A client who has a small laceration on the hand
A client who is walking and talking normally
Correct Answer: A client who has a partial-thickness burn to the face and
difficulty speaking
,Rationale: Difficulty speaking after a facial burn indicates possible airway
compromise from inhalation injury or edema. This is an immediate threat to life
and requires priority transport.
5. A nurse is working in a community health clinic. Which of the following
activities is an example of primary prevention in disaster management?
Educating the community about emergency preparedness and evacuation routes
Providing tetanus vaccinations to disaster survivors
Conducting mental health counseling for disaster victims
Reuniting separated family members after a disaster
Correct Answer: Educating the community about emergency preparedness and
evacuation routes
Rationale: Primary prevention occurs before a disaster to prevent or reduce harm.
Education and planning are primary prevention. Vaccinations and counseling are
secondary or tertiary.
6. A nurse is triaging clients after a tornado. Which of the following clients
should the nurse tag as delayed (yellow tag)?
A client who has a large open fracture of the femur with moderate bleeding
A client who is unresponsive with no pulse
A client who has agonal respirations
A client who has a minor abrasion on the arm
Correct Answer: A client who has a large open fracture of the femur with
moderate bleeding
Rationale: Delayed (yellow tag) clients have serious but not immediately life-
threatening injuries. They can wait a short time for treatment. Open fractures can
be stabilized temporarily.
, 7. A nurse is preparing an emergency preparedness kit for a family. Which of the
following items should the nurse include for a 72-hour supply of water?
1 gallon of water per person per day
1 quart of water per person per day
2 liters of water per person per day
3 gallons of water per person per day
Correct Answer: 1 gallon of water per person per day
Rationale: Emergency preparedness recommends 1 gallon of water per person
per day for drinking and sanitation for a minimum of 3 days (3 gallons per person
total).
8. A nurse is assisting with triage after a mass casualty incident. Which of the
following clients should the nurse tag as minimal (green tag)?
A client who has a small abrasion on the arm and can walk
A client who is unconscious with a head injury
A client who has a sucking chest wound and difficulty breathing
A client who has a fractured femur with no distal pulse
Correct Answer: A client who has a small abrasion on the arm and can walk
Rationale: Minimal (green tag) clients have minor injuries that can be treated
later. They are often called the walking wounded.
9. A community health nurse is teaching a group of older adults about disaster
preparedness. Which of the following statements by a participant indicates
understanding of the teaching?
I will have a 3-day supply of my medications in my emergency kit
I will keep all of my medications at the pharmacy
I will wait until a disaster happens to fill my prescriptions
COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING EXAM (RN) QUESTIONS
AND 100% COMPLETE ANSWERS AND RATIONALE
1. A nurse is working in an emergency department and receives a call from
emergency medical services (EMS) about a mass casualty event. Which of the
following clients should the nurse prepare to triage as immediate (red tag)?
A client who is unconscious with a traumatic amputation of the leg and active
bleeding
A client who has agonal respirations and no palpable pulse
A client who has a minor laceration on the arm and is walking
A client who has a fractured tibia and is crying in pain
Correct Answer: A client who is unconscious with a traumatic amputation of the
leg and active bleeding
Rationale: Immediate (red tag) clients have life-threatening injuries but are
expected to survive with immediate treatment. Active bleeding and traumatic
amputation require urgent intervention.
2. A nurse is triaging clients after a natural disaster. Which of the following
clients should the nurse tag as expectant (black tag)?
A client who is not breathing and has no pulse after the airway is opened
A client who has burns on 30% of total body surface area and is conscious
A client who has a compound fracture of the femur and is in shock
A client who has a minor head laceration and is alert
,Correct Answer: A client who is not breathing and has no pulse after the airway
is opened
Rationale: Expectant (black tag) clients are those who are unlikely to survive given
available resources. No respirations or pulse after basic airway maneuvers
indicates futility in mass casualty.
3. A community health nurse is planning a disaster preparedness program for a
local community. Which of the following is the priority component of disaster
preparedness?
Developing a communication plan for families
Stockpiling canned food and bottled water
Purchasing a generator for the home
Having extra blankets and warm clothing
Correct Answer: Developing a communication plan for families
Rationale: A communication plan ensures family members can contact each other
during a disaster. This is a priority because separation is common during
emergencies.
4. A nurse is assisting with triage after an explosion at a chemical plant. Which
of the following clients should the nurse prioritize for immediate transport to
the hospital?
A client who has a partial-thickness burn to the face and difficulty speaking
A client who has a fractured radius and is crying in pain
A client who has a small laceration on the hand
A client who is walking and talking normally
Correct Answer: A client who has a partial-thickness burn to the face and
difficulty speaking
,Rationale: Difficulty speaking after a facial burn indicates possible airway
compromise from inhalation injury or edema. This is an immediate threat to life
and requires priority transport.
5. A nurse is working in a community health clinic. Which of the following
activities is an example of primary prevention in disaster management?
Educating the community about emergency preparedness and evacuation routes
Providing tetanus vaccinations to disaster survivors
Conducting mental health counseling for disaster victims
Reuniting separated family members after a disaster
Correct Answer: Educating the community about emergency preparedness and
evacuation routes
Rationale: Primary prevention occurs before a disaster to prevent or reduce harm.
Education and planning are primary prevention. Vaccinations and counseling are
secondary or tertiary.
6. A nurse is triaging clients after a tornado. Which of the following clients
should the nurse tag as delayed (yellow tag)?
A client who has a large open fracture of the femur with moderate bleeding
A client who is unresponsive with no pulse
A client who has agonal respirations
A client who has a minor abrasion on the arm
Correct Answer: A client who has a large open fracture of the femur with
moderate bleeding
Rationale: Delayed (yellow tag) clients have serious but not immediately life-
threatening injuries. They can wait a short time for treatment. Open fractures can
be stabilized temporarily.
, 7. A nurse is preparing an emergency preparedness kit for a family. Which of the
following items should the nurse include for a 72-hour supply of water?
1 gallon of water per person per day
1 quart of water per person per day
2 liters of water per person per day
3 gallons of water per person per day
Correct Answer: 1 gallon of water per person per day
Rationale: Emergency preparedness recommends 1 gallon of water per person
per day for drinking and sanitation for a minimum of 3 days (3 gallons per person
total).
8. A nurse is assisting with triage after a mass casualty incident. Which of the
following clients should the nurse tag as minimal (green tag)?
A client who has a small abrasion on the arm and can walk
A client who is unconscious with a head injury
A client who has a sucking chest wound and difficulty breathing
A client who has a fractured femur with no distal pulse
Correct Answer: A client who has a small abrasion on the arm and can walk
Rationale: Minimal (green tag) clients have minor injuries that can be treated
later. They are often called the walking wounded.
9. A community health nurse is teaching a group of older adults about disaster
preparedness. Which of the following statements by a participant indicates
understanding of the teaching?
I will have a 3-day supply of my medications in my emergency kit
I will keep all of my medications at the pharmacy
I will wait until a disaster happens to fill my prescriptions
