A nurse working on a medical-surgical unit is notified about a mass casualty event that recently took place in the community. Which of the following assignments should the nurse anticipate?

Choice A rationale: In a mass casualty event, the hospital must rapidly create capacity for incoming victims. Discharging stable clients who no longer require acute care is a primary nursing responsibility to free up beds and resources. Choice B rationale: Determining the acuity and number of incoming casualties is typically the role of a triage officer or the incident commander at the scene or hospital entrance, not a floor nurse on a medical-surgical unit. Choice C rationale: Delegating tasks to specialists or coordinating the overall medical response is the responsibility of the medical director or the designated leader in the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS), not the staff nurse. Choice D rationale: Communication with the media is strictly handled by the Public Information Officer (PIO) to ensure accuracy and maintain client confidentiality. Staff nurses are prohibited from providing unauthorized updates to external media outlets.