BCEN Disaster Preparedness 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which PPE level provides the highest level of protection against unknown chemical agents during hazmat decontamination?
- Level A — fully encapsulating suit with SCBA (Correct answer)
- Level B — chemical-resistant suit with SCBA
- Level C — air-purifying respirator with chemical-resistant clothing
- Level D — standard work uniform with gloves
Correct answer: Level A — fully encapsulating suit with SCBA
Level A provides maximum protection with a vapor-tight suit and self-contained breathing apparatus for the highest-risk chemical environments.
Question 2: A patient presents after a suspected anthrax exposure via inhalation. Which antibiotic is the first-line post-exposure prophylaxis?
- Azithromycin
- Ciprofloxacin (Correct answer)
- Metronidazole
- Vancomycin
Correct answer: Ciprofloxacin
Ciprofloxacin (or doxycycline) is the recommended first-line post-exposure prophylaxis for inhalational anthrax.
Question 3: During a pandemic surge, a hospital implements crisis standards of care. This means:
- All patients receive the same level of care as non-disaster conditions
- Care delivery is adjusted based on available resources to provide best outcomes for the most patients (Correct answer)
- Only critically ill patients receive treatment
- Triage is suspended and all patients are admitted
Correct answer: Care delivery is adjusted based on available resources to provide best outcomes for the most patients
Crisis standards of care involve systematically adjusting practices to optimize outcomes across the patient population when resources are severely strained.
Question 4: In the SALT (Sort, Assess, Life-saving interventions, Treatment/Transport) triage system, which intervention is performed during the life-saving interventions phase?
- Full physical examination of each patient
- Administration of IV antibiotics
- Control of major hemorrhage and opening the airway (Correct answer)
- Defibrillation for cardiac arrest
Correct answer: Control of major hemorrhage and opening the airway
SALT's life-saving intervention phase includes hemorrhage control, airway repositioning, needle decompression, and auto-injector antidotes.
Question 5: A nurse is treating a patient exposed to chlorine gas. Which symptom pattern is MOST consistent with this exposure?
- Miosis, excessive salivation, and muscle fasciculations
- Burning eyes, coughing, and pulmonary edema after a latent period (Correct answer)
- Immediate painless blistering of skin and mucous membranes
- Sudden loss of consciousness with cherry-red skin coloration
Correct answer: Burning eyes, coughing, and pulmonary edema after a latent period
Chlorine causes upper and lower respiratory irritation, and pulmonary edema may develop hours after exposure due to delayed cellular damage.
Question 6: Which document outlines a hospital's planned response to emergencies including roles, responsibilities, and resource management?
- The Joint Commission Patient Safety Goals
- The Hospital Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) (Correct answer)
- The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
- The State Trauma Registry Protocol
Correct answer: The Hospital Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
The Emergency Operations Plan defines how a hospital will respond to various emergencies, including roles, communication, and resource allocation.
Question 7: A nurse decontaminates a patient exposed to an unknown liquid chemical agent. After removing the patient's clothing, the NEXT step is to:
- Apply a neutralizing chemical agent to the skin
- Perform a full-body rinse with large volumes of water for 15–20 minutes (Correct answer)
- Administer antidote therapy before water decontamination
- Pat the skin dry to prevent hypothermia before rinsing
Correct answer: Perform a full-body rinse with large volumes of water for 15–20 minutes
Copious water irrigation for 15–20 minutes is the standard decontamination method for most chemical skin exposures regardless of agent identity.
BCEN Disaster Preparedness 3
Which PPE level provides the highest level of protection against unknown chemical agents during hazmat decontamination?