A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is notified that a mass casualty event has occurred in the community. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

Rationale: A. Call in additional medical-surgical unit nursing care staff: The initial priority during a mass casualty event is to maximize available resources and free up beds by discharging stable clients. Staffing adjustments come after determining how to expand capacity. B. Act as a liaison between the facility and the media: This role falls under the responsibilities of public relations or designated administrative personnel. Nurses should focus on patient care and operational tasks relevant to their scope during a crisis. C. Determine the medical needs of incoming clients through the emergency department: Triage of incoming casualties is performed by designated emergency department staff. Nurses from other units typically assist by creating space or relocating stable clients. D. Recommend to the provider specific acute care clients for discharge: Identifying stable clients who can be safely discharged allows beds and resources to be allocated to incoming critical cases. This is an appropriate and immediate nursing response during mass casualty.