# A community health nurse is developing an emergency preparedness plan for a vulnerable population shelter during a natural disaster. Which action should be the nurse's highest priority when establishing the disaster response protocol? > source: MyMerci (mymerci.kr) > url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=542810 > language: ko > subject: Leadership Management ## 문제 A community health nurse is developing an emergency preparedness plan for a vulnerable population shelter during a natural disaster. Which action should be the nurse's highest priority when establishing the disaster response protocol? ## 보기 1. Establish communication systems with local hospitals and emergency services 2. Create evacuation routes and transportation arrangements for residents 3. Stockpile medical supplies and emergency medications for chronic conditions 4. Conduct a comprehensive assessment of residents' individual needs and capabilities **✔ 정답** **정답: 4** ## 해설 Conducting a comprehensive assessment of residents' individual needs and capabilities is the highest priority because it identifies specific vulnerabilities and requirements that guide all other emergency preparedness activities. Other options, such as establishing communication systems or stockpiling supplies, are important but should be based on the assessment findings. ## 심화 해설 Priority Setting in Disaster Preparedness for Vulnerable Populations When developing an emergency preparedness plan for a shelter serving vulnerable populations, the nurse's highest priority is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of residents' individual needs and capabilities. This initial step is foundational because the concept of "vulnerability" in disaster management is not a simple, uniform label. The scoping review by Del Prete et al. (2025) highlights that vulnerability is a complex construct, and a critical gap exists in how it is defined and operationalized during evacuations [1]. Without a detailed individual assessment, the specific functional, medical, and communication needs of the residents remain unknown, making all subsequent planning steps potentially ineffective or even dangerous. The rationale for prioritizing assessment over immediate logistical actions (such as establishing communication systems, creating evacuation routes, or stockpiling supplies) lies in the principle of tailored intervention. A person with technology dependence (PwTD), for instance, has highly specific needs during a disaster that extend far beyond generic medical supplies. Prasser et al. (2025) found that these individuals require uninterrupted power for life-sustaining devices, specialized knowledge for equipment operation, and contingency plans for infrastructure failure [2]. If a nurse first stockpiles general emergency medications without assessing the population, they may completely miss the need for backup batteries, portable oxygen concentrators, or the specific consumables required for ventilators and feeding pumps. The assessment reveals these critical dependencies, directly informing what supplies must be stockpiled and what kind of transportation is medically safe. Furthermore, the assessment of individual capabilities is crucial for designing realistic evacuation and communication protocols. Del Prete et al. (2025) point to the challenges in evacuation management for at-risk individuals, noting that vulnerability is often poorly addressed in operational plans [1]. An assessment identifies who can self-evacuate, who requires physical assistance, who has cognitive impairments affecting their ability to follow directions, and who relies on specific communication methods. This information directly dictates the necessary staff-to-resident ratio for evacuation, the type of vehicles required, and the specific content and format of emergency communication. Without this granular data, a generic evacuation route or a standard communication system is merely a plan, not a functional protocol for the specific population at risk. In the hierarchy of disaster preparedness actions, the comprehensive assessment serves as the primary data-gathering phase that drives all subsequent resource allocation and protocol development. It transforms a generic shelter plan into a person-centered emergency response strategy. By first identifying the precise spectrum of needs—from chronic disease management to complex technological dependencies—the nurse ensures that the stockpiled supplies, the established communication lines, and the planned evacuation routes are precisely matched to the realities of the people they are meant to protect [2][1]. References (research sources) - [1]Understanding vulnerability to flood-induced disasters: a comprehensive scoping review on at-risk individuals and evacuation challenges.Research articleDel Prete C, Valente M, Mitiku Saji A, Khorram-Manesh A, Ragazzoni L. (2025) · DOI: 10.1186/s12913-025-13898-w - [2]Complex Care Needs of People with Technology Dependence in Disaster Situations: A Scoping Review.Research articlePrasser A, Beckert J, Köhler M, Ewers M. (2025) · DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13243305 ## 임상 시나리오 Clinical Practice Guidance Disaster Triage for Vulnerable Shelter Populations When establishing a shelter for vulnerable populations, the initial nursing action is a systematic, individualized assessment. This aligns with the nursing process and directly addresses the heterogeneous nature of vulnerability. A standardized tool should capture functional limitations, medical diagnoses, technology dependence, communication barriers, and baseline cognitive status. This data drives all subsequent resource allocation and protocol development. Key Assessment Domains - **Medical Needs:** Identify chronic conditions, medication regimens, allergies, and dependence on life-sustaining devices (e.g., ventilators, LVADs, dialysis). - **Functional Capabilities:** Evaluate mobility, sensory deficits, ability to perform activities of daily living, and need for durable medical equipment. - **Communication & Cognitive Status:** Document primary language, health literacy, cognitive impairments, and methods for effective communication during high-stress events. - **Psychological & Social Support:** Screen for pre-existing mental health conditions, coping mechanisms, and availability of a personal support network. Translating Assessment into Protocol The assessment findings directly inform the disaster response protocol. For example, identifying a resident with technology dependence necessitates securing backup power sources and training staff on equipment operation before stockpiling general supplies. Evacuation routes must accommodate specific mobility aids identified in the assessment. Communication systems must be interoperable with the sensory needs of the population. References: Del Prete et al. (2025) on vulnerability operationalization; Prasser et al. (2025) on needs of persons with technology dependence in disasters. ## 핵심 개념 - **Vulnerable Populations** — Groups at increased risk for adverse health outcomes during disasters due to functional, medical, or social limitations requiring tailored emergency planning. - **Nursing Process in Disasters** — The systematic application of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation, where comprehensive assessment is the foundational first step in disaster response. - **Functional Needs Assessment** — An individualized evaluation of a person's capabilities and limitations in communication, medical care, supervision, and transportation to inform disaster planning. - **Priority Setting** — The clinical decision-making process of ranking patient problems or actions by urgency and foundational importance, using frameworks like the nursing process. - **Technology Dependence (PwTD)** — A condition requiring reliance on medical devices like ventilators or infusion pumps that need uninterrupted power, representing a specific vulnerability in disasters. ## 같은 주제 문제 - [A public health nurse is developing an emergency preparedness plan for a vulnerable popula…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=542808) - [A community health nurse is developing an emergency preparedness plan for a vulnerable pop…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=542809) --- More free questions: [기출문제](https://mymerci.kr/) _학습 참고용입니다. 실제 임상은 최신 지침과 소속 기관 프로토콜을 따르세요._