Author Question: An emergency department (ED) charge nurse prepares to receive clients from a mass casualty within ... (Read 97 times)

leilurhhh · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

An emergency department (ED) charge nurse prepares to receive clients from a mass casualty within the community. What is the role of this nurse during the event?

a. Ask ED staff to discharge clients from the medical-surgical units in order to make room for critically injured victims.
b. Call additional medical-surgical and critical care nursing staff to come to the hospital to assist when victims are brought in.
c. Inform the incident commander at the mass casualty scene about how many victims may be handled by the ED.
d. Direct medical-surgical and critical care nurses to assist with clients currently in the ED while emergency staff prepare to receive the mass casualty victims.

Question 2

A nurse is field-triaging clients after an industrial accident. Which client condition should the nurse triage with a red tag?

a. Dislocated right hip and an open fracture of the right lower leg
b. Large contusion to the forehead and a bloody nose
c. Closed fracture of the right clavicle and arm numbness
d. Multiple fractured ribs and shortness of breath

ApricotDream · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
The ED charge nurse should direct additional nursing staff to help care for current ED clients while the ED staff prepares to receive mass casualty victims; however, they should not be assigned to the most critically ill or injured clients. The house supervisor and unit directors would collaborate to discharge stable clients. The hospital incident commander is responsible for mobilizing resources and would have the responsibility for calling in staff. The medical command physician would be the person best able to communicate with on-scene personnel regarding the ability to take more clients.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
Clients who have an immediate threat to life are given the highest priority, are placed in the emergent or class I category, and are given a red triage tag. The client with multiple rib fractures and shortness of breath most likely has developed a pneumothorax, which may be fatal if not treated immediately. The client with the hip and leg problem and the client with the clavicle fracture would be classified as class II; these major but stable injuries can wait 30 minutes to 2 hours for definitive care. The client with facial wounds would be considered the walking wounded and classified as nonurgent.