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. Calling in additional staff may occur later, but this is usually coordinated by administration or the incident commander, not individual nurses. B. In a mass casualty event (MCE), the priority is to assess and triage incoming patients. By coordinating with the emergency department, the nurse can identify the acuity and resource needs of clients coming to the medical-surgical unit, ensuring safe and efficient allocation of staff, equipment, and beds. Immediate triage and planning for incoming casualties is the first step in disaster response. C. Acting as a liaison with the media is handled by the public information officer or hospital spokesperson, not bedside nurses. D. Discharge planning may be considered later to free beds, but initial priority is triage and patient assessment.