Chapter 12: Concepts of Disaster
Preparedness
Ignatavicius: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse cares for victims during a community-wide disaster drill. One of the victims
asks, “Why are the individuals with black tags not receiving any care?” How does the
nurse respond?
a. “To do the greatest good for the greatest number of people, it is necessary to
sacrifice some.”
b. “Not everyone will survive a disaster, so it is best to identify those people early
and move on.”
c. “In a disaster, extensive resources are not used for one person at the expense of
many others.”
d. “With black tags, volunteers can identify those who are dying and can give
them comfort care.”
ANS: C
In a disaster, military-style triage is used; this approach identifies the dead or
expectant dead with black tags. This practice helps to maintain the goal of triage,
which is doing the most good for the most people. Precious resources are not used for
those with overwhelming critical injury or illness, so that they can be allocated to
others who have a reasonable expectation of survival. Victims are not “sacrificed.”
Telling victims that is important to move on after identifying the expectant dead does
not provide an adequate explanation and is callous. Victims are not black-tagged to
allow volunteers to give comfort care.
, DIF: Understanding TOP: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning
KEY: Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Triage MSC:
Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and
Infection Control
2. A nurse wants to become involved in community disaster preparedness and is
interested in helping setup and staff first-aid stations or community acute care centers
in the event of a disaster. Which organization is the best fit for this nurse’s interests?
a. The Medical Reserve Corps
b. The National Guard
c. The health department
d. A Disaster Medical Assistance Team
ANS: A
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) consists of volunteer medical and public health
care professionals who support the community during times of need. They may help
staff hospitals, establish first-aid stations or special needs shelters, or set up acute care
centers in the community. The National Guard often performs search-and-rescue
operations and law enforcement. The health department focuses on communicable
disease tracking, treatment, and prevention. A Disaster Medical Assistance Team is
deployed to a disaster area for up to 72 hours, providing many types of relief services.
DIF: Remembering TOP: Integrated Process: Nursing Process:
Implementation KEY: Emergency and Disaster Preparedness,
Emergency nursing MSC: Client Needs Category: Safe and
Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection Control
3. A nurse wants to become part of a Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) but is
concerned about maintaining licensure in several different states. Which statement
best addresses these concerns?
a. “Deployed DMAT providers are federal employees, so their licenses are good
in all 50 states.”
Preparedness
Ignatavicius: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse cares for victims during a community-wide disaster drill. One of the victims
asks, “Why are the individuals with black tags not receiving any care?” How does the
nurse respond?
a. “To do the greatest good for the greatest number of people, it is necessary to
sacrifice some.”
b. “Not everyone will survive a disaster, so it is best to identify those people early
and move on.”
c. “In a disaster, extensive resources are not used for one person at the expense of
many others.”
d. “With black tags, volunteers can identify those who are dying and can give
them comfort care.”
ANS: C
In a disaster, military-style triage is used; this approach identifies the dead or
expectant dead with black tags. This practice helps to maintain the goal of triage,
which is doing the most good for the most people. Precious resources are not used for
those with overwhelming critical injury or illness, so that they can be allocated to
others who have a reasonable expectation of survival. Victims are not “sacrificed.”
Telling victims that is important to move on after identifying the expectant dead does
not provide an adequate explanation and is callous. Victims are not black-tagged to
allow volunteers to give comfort care.
, DIF: Understanding TOP: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning
KEY: Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Triage MSC:
Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and
Infection Control
2. A nurse wants to become involved in community disaster preparedness and is
interested in helping setup and staff first-aid stations or community acute care centers
in the event of a disaster. Which organization is the best fit for this nurse’s interests?
a. The Medical Reserve Corps
b. The National Guard
c. The health department
d. A Disaster Medical Assistance Team
ANS: A
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) consists of volunteer medical and public health
care professionals who support the community during times of need. They may help
staff hospitals, establish first-aid stations or special needs shelters, or set up acute care
centers in the community. The National Guard often performs search-and-rescue
operations and law enforcement. The health department focuses on communicable
disease tracking, treatment, and prevention. A Disaster Medical Assistance Team is
deployed to a disaster area for up to 72 hours, providing many types of relief services.
DIF: Remembering TOP: Integrated Process: Nursing Process:
Implementation KEY: Emergency and Disaster Preparedness,
Emergency nursing MSC: Client Needs Category: Safe and
Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection Control
3. A nurse wants to become part of a Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) but is
concerned about maintaining licensure in several different states. Which statement
best addresses these concerns?
a. “Deployed DMAT providers are federal employees, so their licenses are good
in all 50 states.”
