Chapter 72: Emergency Management and Disaster Planning
Lewis: Medical-Surgical Nursing in Canada, 4th Canadian Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following statements is true in relation to a disaster, whether natural or
man-made?
a. Negatively affects society
b. Requires a rapid and skilled response to action
c. Is managed by a community’s existing resources
d. Requires urgent intervention to avoid worsening of the situation
ANS: A
A disaster is the outcome of a natural event (e.g., hurricane, flood, snowstorm) or a result
of human action or error, whether malicious (e.g., terrorist attacks, use of biological
warfare) or unintentional (e.g., an accidental chemical spill), that negatively affects society,
the environment, or both. It is an emergency, not a disaster that may be described as an
event that requires a rapid and skilled response to protect the health, safety, and wellness
of individuals and to limit damage to property. Emergency situations are typically able to
be quickly managed without requiring the support and resources of other communities.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. Which of the following types of disaster management approaches would be used when
dealing with a hurricane in southern Alberta?
a. All hazards
b. Unique hazard
c. Agent specific
d. Caused event
ANS: C
In an agent-specific approach, planning efforts are directed at those threats most likely to
take place within a single geographical location (e.g., earthquakes in California).
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
3. The Canadian Red Cross advises individuals to be self-sufficient in case of an emergency
and this includes being able to provide for one’s needs for approximately how many
hours?
a. 12 hours
b. 24 hours
c. 48 hours
d. 72 hours
ANS: D
This level of individual preparation requires stockpiling items that would be needed to be
self-sufficient for a period of at least 72 hours. The other choices, 12, 24, and 48 hours are
below the time suggested by the Canadian Red Cross.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. A nurse is conducting emergency preparedness education in the community. Which of the
following amounts of drinking water should the nurse indicate to the group is required for
a family of 4?
a. 8 L
b. 12 L
c. 24 L
d. 32 L
ANS: C
At least 2 L/day per person of drinking water is required, so for 72 hours, a family of four
should have 24 L.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. Which of the following levels/agencies is accountability for emergency planning and
response in Canada?
a. Municipal government
b. Provincial government
c. Federal government
d. Health Canada
ANS: A
Accountability for emergency planning and response in Canada is held by individual
municipal governments, the underlying principle being that communities possess the
greatest knowledge of their individual needs and thus are in a strategic position to most
effectively plan for and manage local emergency events.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. A nurse is developing policy related to emergency management and basis the set-up of the
hospital incident command policy on the knowledge that the primary function of the
incident command centre is which of the following functions?
a. Complete a register with the names of all individuals involved.
b. Provide information to keep the media informed of the event.
c. Provide a central point for decision making.
d. Organize the efforts of all of the first responders to avoid duplication.
ANS: C
The primary function of the hospital incident command centre is to provide a central point
in which decision making can occur with the goal of supporting the needs of responders in
the field.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
Lewis: Medical-Surgical Nursing in Canada, 4th Canadian Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following statements is true in relation to a disaster, whether natural or
man-made?
a. Negatively affects society
b. Requires a rapid and skilled response to action
c. Is managed by a community’s existing resources
d. Requires urgent intervention to avoid worsening of the situation
ANS: A
A disaster is the outcome of a natural event (e.g., hurricane, flood, snowstorm) or a result
of human action or error, whether malicious (e.g., terrorist attacks, use of biological
warfare) or unintentional (e.g., an accidental chemical spill), that negatively affects society,
the environment, or both. It is an emergency, not a disaster that may be described as an
event that requires a rapid and skilled response to protect the health, safety, and wellness
of individuals and to limit damage to property. Emergency situations are typically able to
be quickly managed without requiring the support and resources of other communities.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. Which of the following types of disaster management approaches would be used when
dealing with a hurricane in southern Alberta?
a. All hazards
b. Unique hazard
c. Agent specific
d. Caused event
ANS: C
In an agent-specific approach, planning efforts are directed at those threats most likely to
take place within a single geographical location (e.g., earthquakes in California).
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment
3. The Canadian Red Cross advises individuals to be self-sufficient in case of an emergency
and this includes being able to provide for one’s needs for approximately how many
hours?
a. 12 hours
b. 24 hours
c. 48 hours
d. 72 hours
ANS: D
This level of individual preparation requires stockpiling items that would be needed to be
self-sufficient for a period of at least 72 hours. The other choices, 12, 24, and 48 hours are
below the time suggested by the Canadian Red Cross.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. A nurse is conducting emergency preparedness education in the community. Which of the
following amounts of drinking water should the nurse indicate to the group is required for
a family of 4?
a. 8 L
b. 12 L
c. 24 L
d. 32 L
ANS: C
At least 2 L/day per person of drinking water is required, so for 72 hours, a family of four
should have 24 L.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. Which of the following levels/agencies is accountability for emergency planning and
response in Canada?
a. Municipal government
b. Provincial government
c. Federal government
d. Health Canada
ANS: A
Accountability for emergency planning and response in Canada is held by individual
municipal governments, the underlying principle being that communities possess the
greatest knowledge of their individual needs and thus are in a strategic position to most
effectively plan for and manage local emergency events.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. A nurse is developing policy related to emergency management and basis the set-up of the
hospital incident command policy on the knowledge that the primary function of the
incident command centre is which of the following functions?
a. Complete a register with the names of all individuals involved.
b. Provide information to keep the media informed of the event.
c. Provide a central point for decision making.
d. Organize the efforts of all of the first responders to avoid duplication.
ANS: C
The primary function of the hospital incident command centre is to provide a central point
in which decision making can occur with the goal of supporting the needs of responders in
the field.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
