Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

The correct answer is to activate the hospital's disaster plan. In a large-scale emergency like an earthquake, the most effective initial response is to implement the pre-established disaster management protocols. This ensures a coordinated and systematic approach to handling the sudden surge in patients.

Activating the disaster plan typically involves:

1. Alerting all necessary personnel
2. Establishing a command center
3. Implementing triage protocols
4. Mobilizing additional resources

While calling for additional staff is important, it's not the most comprehensive first step. Diverting ambulances might be necessary later but isn't the initial priority. Evacuating non-critical patients could be part of the disaster plan but shouldn't be done without proper assessment and coordination.