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Community and Public Health Nursing · Community Health Nursing Practice Questions

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Showing all 15 practice questions with expert explanatory rationales.

Question 1 of 15

Case excerpt

A county health department is investigating an increase in new cases of hepatitis A among people who use a shared food-service facility.

Which epidemiologic measure describes the proportion of the population that currently has the disease?

A. Incidence rate
B. Prevalence
C. Attack rate
D. Case-fatality rate
E. Relative risk

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: B. Prevalence

Prevalence measures existing cases in a population at a specified time or over a specified period.

Question 2 of 15

Case excerpt

A nurse is reviewing a report that compares the number of new influenza cases in two towns over the same month.

Which measure is most appropriate for comparing new disease occurrence?

A. Incidence rate
B. Point prevalence
C. Bed occupancy
D. Case-fatality proportion
E. Crude mortality only

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Incidence rate

Incidence measures new cases over time among the population at risk and is useful for comparing disease occurrence.

Question 3 of 15

Case excerpt

A community nurse learns that a local well may be contaminated after flooding.

Which action should be prioritized?

A. Coordinate water testing and communicate safe-water guidance through public health channels
B. Wait for reports of severe illness before acting
C. Tell residents to boil water only if it looks cloudy
D. Recommend adding household bleach without specific guidance
E. Assume bottled water is unnecessary

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Coordinate water testing and communicate safe-water guidance through public health channels

Potential water contamination requires prompt testing and accurate public health instructions; residents should follow local boil-water or safe-water advisories.

Question 4 of 15

Case excerpt

A nurse is teaching a group about preventing heat-related illness during a prolonged heat wave.

Which person should be prioritized for a wellness check?

A. A teenager attending an indoor activity
B. A healthy adult working in an air-conditioned office
C. An older adult living alone in a home without air conditioning
D. A person who has already moved to a cooling center
E. An adult with reliable cooling and daily support

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: C. An older adult living alone in a home without air conditioning

Older adults living alone without cooling are at increased risk during extreme heat and may need proactive outreach.

Question 5 of 15

Case excerpt

A community nurse is assessing a person who has recently experienced homelessness and has an infected foot wound.

Which approach is most appropriate?

A. Assume the wound is self-inflicted
B. Require a permanent address before treatment
C. Provide wound assessment and connect the person with accessible ongoing care and housing resources
D. Focus only on the person's past missed appointments
E. Discharge without instructions because follow-up may be difficult

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: C. Provide wound assessment and connect the person with accessible ongoing care and housing resources

Trauma-informed, low-barrier care and connection to ongoing services address immediate health needs and structural barriers.

Question 6 of 15

Case excerpt

A school district wants to reduce childhood obesity without stigmatizing students.

Which program is most appropriate?

A. Exclude students with disabilities from activity programs
B. Publicly weigh students and post rankings
C. Focus education only on individual blame
D. Restrict meals for students with higher body weights
E. Improve access to nutritious meals and enjoyable physical activity for all students

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: E. Improve access to nutritious meals and enjoyable physical activity for all students

Population-wide, inclusive changes to food and activity environments support health without weight stigma.

Question 7 of 15

Case excerpt

A nurse is reviewing a community survey in which many residents report difficulty obtaining prescribed medicines because of cost.

Which referral is most useful?

A. Tell residents to stop medicines until costs fall
B. Ignore cost because it is not a health issue
C. Recommend sharing prescriptions with neighbors
D. Connect residents with medication assistance programs and affordable pharmacy resources
E. Advise residents to take half doses to make medicines last

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: D. Connect residents with medication assistance programs and affordable pharmacy resources

Medication affordability is a major access barrier; assistance programs and affordable dispensing options can improve adherence and safety.

Question 8 of 15

Case excerpt

A community clinic wants to evaluate whether its smoking-cessation program is effective.

Which outcome is most directly relevant?

A. The number of chairs in the clinic
B. The proportion of participants who report abstinence at a defined follow-up point
C. The number of posters printed
D. The color of the classroom walls
E. The number of staff meetings held

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: B. The proportion of participants who report abstinence at a defined follow-up point

A defined cessation outcome directly measures the program's intended health behavior change.

Question 9 of 15

Case excerpt

Community Health Nursing Practice Questions: A public health nurse is conducting a home visit for a client with active tuberculosis. Which infection-control actions are appropriate.

A public health nurse is conducting a home visit for a client with active tuberculosis. Which infection-control actions are appropriate? (Select all that apply)

A. Reinforce medication adherence and follow-up
B. Assess household contacts for referral to evaluation
C. Follow the TB program's respiratory protection guidance
D. Stop treatment once the cough improves
E. Teach cough etiquette and ventilation measures

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Reinforce medication adherence and follow-up; B. Assess household contacts for referral to evaluation; C. Follow the TB program's respiratory protection guidance; E. Teach cough etiquette and ventilation measures

Respiratory precautions, adherence support, contact evaluation, and cough/ventilation education help reduce transmission and support cure.

Question 10 of 15

Case excerpt

Community Health Nursing Practice Questions: A community health nurse is developing a plan for people experiencing homelessness. Which principles should guide the service.

A community health nurse is developing a plan for people experiencing homelessness. Which principles should guide the service? (Select all that apply)

A. Low-barrier access
B. Respectful, nonstigmatizing communication
C. Flexible follow-up options
D. Requiring a fixed address before urgent care
E. Coordination with housing and social services

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Low-barrier access; B. Respectful, nonstigmatizing communication; C. Flexible follow-up options; E. Coordination with housing and social services

Low-barrier, respectful, coordinated care helps address health needs while reducing structural barriers.

Question 11 of 15

Case excerpt

Community Health Nursing Practice Questions: A nurse is teaching a family about safe drinking water after a flood. Which actions are appropriate.

A nurse is teaching a family about safe drinking water after a flood. Which actions are appropriate? (Select all that apply)

A. Avoid using water from a potentially contaminated well until cleared
B. Use bottled or properly treated water when advised
C. Follow local boil-water or safe-water advisories
D. Assume clear water is always safe
E. Clean and disinfect containers used for safe water

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Avoid using water from a potentially contaminated well until cleared; B. Use bottled or properly treated water when advised; C. Follow local boil-water or safe-water advisories; E. Clean and disinfect containers used for safe water

Follow official advisories, use safe water sources, and clean storage containers; appearance alone does not establish water safety.

Question 12 of 15

Case excerpt

Community Health Nursing Practice Questions: A community nurse is planning a program for adults with diabetes who have difficulty affording food and medication. Which referrals may help.

A community nurse is planning a program for adults with diabetes who have difficulty affording food and medication. Which referrals may help? (Select all that apply)

A. Food assistance programs
B. Medication assistance or low-cost pharmacy resources
C. Benefits enrollment support
D. Community diabetes education
E. Advice to ration insulin without contacting the care team

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Food assistance programs; B. Medication assistance or low-cost pharmacy resources; C. Benefits enrollment support; D. Community diabetes education

Food, medication, benefits, and education resources address practical barriers; medication rationing without clinical guidance is unsafe.

Question 13 of 15

Case excerpt

Community Health Nursing Practice Questions: A nurse is preparing a disaster plan for residents with disabilities. Which elements should be included.

A nurse is preparing a disaster plan for residents with disabilities. Which elements should be included? (Select all that apply)

A. Backup power planning for essential devices
B. Communication formats that meet residents' needs
C. Medication and equipment continuity plans
D. A single plan that assumes every resident has identical needs
E. Accessible evacuation routes and transport

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Backup power planning for essential devices; B. Communication formats that meet residents' needs; C. Medication and equipment continuity plans; E. Accessible evacuation routes and transport

Disaster planning should be individualized and accessible, with transport, communication, power, medication, and equipment needs addressed.

Question 14 of 15

Case excerpt

Community Health Nursing Practice Questions: A public health clinic schedules 96 vaccine appointments over 4 equal clinic sessions. What is the average number of appointments per session? Enter the number only.

A public health clinic schedules 96 vaccine appointments over 4 equal clinic sessions. What is the average number of appointments per session? Enter the number only.

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: 24

96 appointments ÷ 4 sessions = 24 appointments per session.

Question 15 of 15

Case excerpt

Community Health Nursing Practice Questions: A nurse is arranging follow-up for a client with tuberculosis who has missed treatment visits. Place the actions in the appropriate order.

A nurse is arranging follow-up for a client with tuberculosis who has missed treatment visits. Place the actions in the appropriate order.

A. Contact the client respectfully and privately
B. Assess barriers such as transport, adverse effects, or stigma
C. Coordinate with the TB program and agree on practical supports
D. Reinforce the treatment plan and follow-up schedule
E. Monitor attendance and treatment progress

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Contact the client respectfully and privately; B. Assess barriers such as transport, adverse effects, or stigma; C. Coordinate with the TB program and agree on practical supports; D. Reinforce the treatment plan and follow-up schedule; E. Monitor attendance and treatment progress

Engage respectfully, identify barriers, coordinate support, reinforce the plan, and monitor progress.

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