Take on a nurse game – answer key

Question #1Correct answer is C.

Question #2
Correct answer is B. Keep in mind that in a disaster, there may be so many wounded that people who would normally be triaged as “immediate” may instead be classified as “expectant” and given only comfort care as they die—in order to do the most good for the most people with finite resources. A patient in cardiac arrest from blunt trauma—crushed or not—would be expectant and resuscitative efforts would not be done. The chance of survival from cardiac arrest due to blunt trauma is less than 1 percent.

Regarding answer D: Medical evacuation by helicopter was only done in military settings before 1972. Civilian helicopters weren’t really being used in that way in 1971.

Question #3
Correct answer is A. Many nurses suggested hand washing. However, the question is specifically about the number one precaution to take. Preventing contact with other people who might be infected in the first place is the most critical. Hand washing is also very important, but it would be the step to take if you did come into contact with others.

Question #4
Correct answer is A.

Question #5
Correct answer is C. The final answer was chosen because it was the most frequently advocated. Of course, it assumes there is still some authority structure in place and things haven’t devolved into complete, no-holds-barred chaos. It’s also probably the course of action most of us would feel most comfortable with since we have no idea how we would respond in an apocalyptic situation (most of us aren’t really Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead).

Question #6
Correct answer is D.

Question #7
Correct answer is D.

Question #8
Correct answer is B. This answer is the one that’s least likely to run afoul of hospital policies and procedures while allowing you to provide what help you can to the injured pet and the frightened girls. Some nurses who responded would have skirted rules to provide more help to the dog—that’s a judgment call.

Question #9
Correct answer is B. Given the time and place, direct confrontation or going up the chain of command (especially if you are a female nurse) is likely to have little effect—other than to get you in trouble while doing nothing for your patients. If your primary goal is to ensure supplies are available for the patients, stashing the supplies somewhere is most likely to achieve your goal. Just don’t get caught!

Question #10
Correct answer is C.

Question #11
Correct answer is A. This one is an example of how ethics work even when the rules don’t necessarily support the decision. All the nurses who responded said they would be willing to lose their job or their license if it meant saving a child’s life.

Question #12
Correct answer is B. This is like any other triage situation with mass casualties. According to the Mayo Clinic website, patients who begin experiencing symptoms very shortly after radiation exposure will die, and this cannot be prevented. Those with more delayed symptoms may be saved with immediate treatment.