During one evening shift a suburban emergency department receives several unrelated patients within 2 hours who all report abrupt-onset tremors, confusion, and visual disturbances. Initial laboratory and imaging studies are unrevealing, and triage has not identified a common environmental exposure. Because this unusual symptom cluster may represent an emerging public-health threat, which action should the emergency nurse take first?
Order comprehensive toxicology screens for all presenting patients
Isolate all affected patients as a precautionary measure
Immediately notify the local health department
Activate the hospital's syndromic surveillance protocol
The priority is to immediately notify the local or state health department. Most U.S. jurisdictions make clusters of unexplained illness reportable conditions, requiring rapid notification so epidemiologists can initiate case confirmation, coordinate specimen testing, issue health alerts, and implement control measures. Hospital-based syndromic surveillance systems supplement-but do not replace-this legal duty.
Activating the hospital's syndromic surveillance protocol is useful, but it is an internal process that does not fulfill statutory reporting requirements and should occur after public-health notification.
Isolating all patients is premature without evidence of communicability; isolation decisions follow epidemiologic assessment.
Ordering toxicology screens may aid diagnosis but addresses only one potential etiology and does not alert authorities who can investigate broader sources.
Prompt reporting ensures a coordinated, system-wide response to protect patients, staff, and the community.
Ask Bash
Bash is our AI bot, trained to help you pass your exam. AI Generated Content may display inaccurate information, always double-check anything important.
What is syndromic surveillance and how does it work?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
Why is immediate notification to public-health authorities necessary?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
Why is isolating patients not the first step in this scenario?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
BCEN CEN
Professional Issues
Your Score:
Report Issue
Bash, the Crucial Exams Chat Bot
AI Bot
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Pass with Confidence.
Nursing and Medical Assistants Package
You have hit the limits of our free tier, become a Premium Member today for unlimited access.
Military, Healthcare worker, Gov. employee or Teacher? See if you qualify for a Community Discount.
Monthly
$9.99
$9.99/mo
Billed monthly, Cancel any time.
3 Month Pass
$14.99
$4.99/mo
One time purchase of $14.99, Does not auto-renew.
BEST DEAL
Lifetime Pass
$29.99
One time purchase, Good for life.
What You Get
All Nursing and Medical Assistants Package plans include the following perks and exams .