Author Question: The Defense Department is providing education on potential bioterrorism agents. The instructor asks ... (Read 175 times)

wrbasek0 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The Defense Department is providing education on potential bioterrorism agents. The instructor asks the nurses to identify the correct causative agent for an illness. Which response best demonstrates understanding?

a. Ricin; castor bean oil
b. Tularemia; deerfly
c. Smallpox; infected flea
d. Pneumonic plague; mice

Question 2

A person who has newly immigrated to the United States comes to the emergency department with complaints of cough, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Upon assessment, the nurse finds a high fever (104.1 F), shortness of breath, 36 respirations per minute, pulse 122, blood pressure 108/51, and hemoptysis. What should the nurse's primary intervention be?
a. Obtain another set of vital signs.
b. Obtain the O2 saturation level and administer oxygen.
c. Ask if the person had been exposed to rabbits.
d. Ask what medications the individual currently is taking.

jasonq · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The deerfly is one of the culprits responsible for transmitting tularemia, which also is known as deerfly fever or rabbit fever.
Ricin is associated with the mash left from the making of castor bean oil and is not a result of the oil itself.
Smallpox is transmitted person to person and cannot be transmitted by insects or animals.
Pneumonic plague is caused by the bite by a flea infected with the causative organism.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The priority of care is to manage the airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs). Therefore, the nurse should monitor the O2 saturation levels and administer oxygen, because the individual obviously is in respiratory distress and coughing up blood. Pneumonic plague should be considered.
Vital signs have already been obtained; another set is not yet needed.
Exposure to rabbits has nothing to do with an intervention; it is an assessment.
Asking about medications taken is not the primary intervention; the nurse should focus on the ABCs.