A family in the emergency department is overwhelmed at the loss ...

[09madisonrousseau09]

A family in the emergency department is overwhelmed at the loss of several family members due to a shooting incident in the community. Which intervention should the nurse complete first?
 
  a. Provide a calm location for the family to cope and discuss needs.
  b. Call the hospital chaplain to stay with the family and pray for the deceased.
  c. Do not allow visiting of the victims until the bodies are prepared.
  d. Provide privacy for law enforcement to interview the family.

Question 2

After a hospital's emergency department (ED) has efficiently triaged, treated, and transferred clients from a community disaster to appropriate units, the hospital incident command officer wants to stand down from the emergency plan. Which question shou
 
  a. Are you sure no more victims are coming into the ED?
  b. Do all areas of the hospital have the supplies and personnel they need?
  c. Have all ED staff had the chance to eat and rest recently?
  d. Does the Chief Medical Officer agree this disaster is under control?

[swimkari]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
The nurse should first provide emotional support by encouraging relaxation, listening to the family's needs, and offering choices when appropriate and possible to give some personal control back to individuals. The family may or may not want the assistance of religious personnel; the nurse should assess for this before calling anyone. Visiting procedures should take into account the needs of the family. The family may want to see the victim immediately and do not want to wait until the body can be prepared. The nurse should assess the family's needs before assuming the body needs to be prepared first. The family may appreciate privacy, but this is not as important as assessing the family's needs.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Before standing down, the incident command officer ensures that the needs of the other hospital departments have been taken care of because they may still be stressed and may need continued support to keep functioning. Many more walking wounded victims may present to the ED; that number may not be predictable. Giving staff the chance to eat and rest is important, but all areas of the facility need that too. Although the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) may be involved in the incident, the CMO does not determine when the hospital can stand down.

[09madisonrousseau09]

Thank you

[swimkari]

No problemo