A nurse manager calls an off-shift nurse to come in because all available staff are needed immediately. Which hospital plan is most likely the reason for the call?

• A. Disaster plan
• B. Staffing plan
• C. Contingency plan
• D. Recovery plan

Answer: (A)

When a hospital needs to rapidly marshal personnel for an urgent surge, the action is driven by the disaster plan. This plan outlines how to respond to emergencies that overwhelm normal staffing, including recalling off-shift staff to increase capacity and reallocating resources to where they’re most needed. A routine staffing plan covers day-to-day coverage and may not trigger rapid recall of extra personnel. A contingency plan is a backup for when the primary plan can’t be implemented, and a recovery plan focuses on restoring operations after the incident. So calling in an off-shift nurse because all available staff are needed immediately fits with activating the disaster plan.