Community Ch 21: Public Health
Nursing Practice and the Disaster
Management Cycle
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- ANS: A
A disaster is any natural or human-made incident that causes disruption, destruction, and/or
devastation requiring external assistance. Although natural incidents like earthquakes of hurricanes
trigger many disasters, predictable and preventable human-made factors can further affect the disaster.
In the disaster response phase, the incident type and time predict subsequent injuries and illnesses.
Acts of bioterrorism 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- 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.
A nurse responds to a natural disaster. Which of the following is the nurse most likely responding to?
a. Transportation accident
b. Pollution
c. Communicable disease epidemic
d. Fire Ans- ANS: C
A communicable disease epidemic would be considered a natural disaster. Transportations accidents,
pollution, and fire are considered human-made disasters.
, A nurse responds to a human-made disaster. Which of the following describes what the nurse is
responding to?
a. Structural collapse
b. Communicable disease epidemics
c. Mud slides
d. Floods Ans- ANS: A
A structural collapse would be considered a human-made disaster. Communicable disease epidemics,
mud slides, and floods are considered to be natural disasters.
A nurse is working with an older person following a disaster. Which of the following emotions of the
client should be anticipated by the nurse?
a. Anger
b. Fear of loss of independence
c. Violence
d. Regression Ans- ANS: B
A common reaction of older persons experiencing disaster may be fear of loss of independence. Young
children may respond with regression. The community in general may respond will feelings of anger,
sorrow, guilt, and perceived blame for the disaster or the outcomes of the disaster. Violence should not
be anticipated with any of the populations discussed in the text.
A nurse experiences a stress reaction while working with the survivors of a disaster. Which of the
following best describes what has happened?
a. The nurse makes decisions to assist with care coordination of the survivors.
b. The nurse tells the supervisor of the disaster the details of the care that was provided.
c. The nurse cries after returning home at the end of the day.
d. The nurse refuses to follow orders. Ans- ANS: D
Symptoms that may signal a need for stress management assistance include the following: being
reluctant or refusing to leave the scene until the work is finished; denying needed rest and recovery
time; feelings of overriding stress and fatigue; engaging in unnecessary risk-taking activities; difficulty
communicating thoughts, remembering instructions, making decisions, or concentrating; engaging in
unnecessary arguments; having a limited attention span; and refusing to follow orders.
Nursing Practice and the Disaster
Management Cycle
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- ANS: A
A disaster is any natural or human-made incident that causes disruption, destruction, and/or
devastation requiring external assistance. Although natural incidents like earthquakes of hurricanes
trigger many disasters, predictable and preventable human-made factors can further affect the disaster.
In the disaster response phase, the incident type and time predict subsequent injuries and illnesses.
Acts of bioterrorism 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- 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.
A nurse responds to a natural disaster. Which of the following is the nurse most likely responding to?
a. Transportation accident
b. Pollution
c. Communicable disease epidemic
d. Fire Ans- ANS: C
A communicable disease epidemic would be considered a natural disaster. Transportations accidents,
pollution, and fire are considered human-made disasters.
, A nurse responds to a human-made disaster. Which of the following describes what the nurse is
responding to?
a. Structural collapse
b. Communicable disease epidemics
c. Mud slides
d. Floods Ans- ANS: A
A structural collapse would be considered a human-made disaster. Communicable disease epidemics,
mud slides, and floods are considered to be natural disasters.
A nurse is working with an older person following a disaster. Which of the following emotions of the
client should be anticipated by the nurse?
a. Anger
b. Fear of loss of independence
c. Violence
d. Regression Ans- ANS: B
A common reaction of older persons experiencing disaster may be fear of loss of independence. Young
children may respond with regression. The community in general may respond will feelings of anger,
sorrow, guilt, and perceived blame for the disaster or the outcomes of the disaster. Violence should not
be anticipated with any of the populations discussed in the text.
A nurse experiences a stress reaction while working with the survivors of a disaster. Which of the
following best describes what has happened?
a. The nurse makes decisions to assist with care coordination of the survivors.
b. The nurse tells the supervisor of the disaster the details of the care that was provided.
c. The nurse cries after returning home at the end of the day.
d. The nurse refuses to follow orders. Ans- ANS: D
Symptoms that may signal a need for stress management assistance include the following: being
reluctant or refusing to leave the scene until the work is finished; denying needed rest and recovery
time; feelings of overriding stress and fatigue; engaging in unnecessary risk-taking activities; difficulty
communicating thoughts, remembering instructions, making decisions, or concentrating; engaging in
unnecessary arguments; having a limited attention span; and refusing to follow orders.
