Community and Public Health Nursing · Public Health Nursing Practice Test Practice Questions

Question 1 of 15

Case excerpt

A public health nurse is reviewing surveillance data showing a rise in measles cases in a county.

Which action is most appropriate in this situation: A public health nurse is reviewing surveillance data showing a rise in measles cases in a county?

A. Wait until every resident develops symptoms

B. Stop routine immunization clinics

C. Share identifiable patient data publicly

D. Verify reports, coordinate with public health authorities, and support timely case investigation and vaccination measures

E. Assume the increase is caused by seasonal allergies

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: D. Verify reports, coordinate with public health authorities, and support timely case investigation and vaccination measures

Measles is highly contagious. Timely surveillance, case investigation, isolation guidance, and vaccination response are essential.

Question 2 of 15

Case excerpt

A nurse is teaching a group about the difference between primary and secondary prevention.

Which activity is an example of secondary prevention?

A. Rehabilitating a person after a stroke

B. Teaching safe storage of household chemicals

C. Providing palliative care for advanced cancer

D. Providing a smoking-prevention program to adolescents

E. Screening adults for hypertension to identify disease early

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: E. Screening adults for hypertension to identify disease early

Secondary prevention involves early detection through screening, such as identifying hypertension before complications develop.

Question 3 of 15

Case excerpt

A county is planning a program to reduce injuries from motor vehicle crashes.

Which intervention is an example of primary prevention?

A. Promote seat-belt use and child safety-seat installation before crashes occur

B. Arrange long-term care after a collision

C. Measure disability after hospitalization

D. Screen crash survivors for depression

E. Provide rehabilitation after spinal injury

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Promote seat-belt use and child safety-seat installation before crashes occur

Primary prevention aims to prevent injury before it occurs, including seat-belt and child-restraint use.

Question 4 of 15

Case excerpt

A public health nurse is evaluating a tuberculosis contact investigation.

Which result best indicates that the investigation process is reaching exposed people?

A. The average length of staff meetings

B. The proportion of identified contacts who complete recommended evaluation

C. The number of brochures printed

D. The number of unrelated vaccinations given

E. The total number of clinic windows

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: B. The proportion of identified contacts who complete recommended evaluation

Completion of recommended evaluation among identified contacts is a direct process measure of contact investigation reach.

Question 5 of 15

Case excerpt

A nurse is helping a community prepare for a flood.

Which group may need additional planning for evacuation?

A. Adults with personal vehicles and no health needs

B. Residents who depend on powered medical equipment

C. Residents who have already registered for transport

D. People with multiple support contacts

E. People living in a designated elevated shelter

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: B. Residents who depend on powered medical equipment

People dependent on powered medical devices may need transport, backup power, and continuity-of-care planning.

Question 6 of 15

Case excerpt

A public health nurse receives a report of a suspected foodborne illness cluster at a wedding.

Which information is most useful to collect from attendees?

A. Names of unrelated household pets only

B. Political opinions

C. Foods eaten, symptom onset times, and symptoms experienced

D. Favorite music and clothing colors

E. Preferred wedding decorations

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: C. Foods eaten, symptom onset times, and symptoms experienced

Food histories, onset times, and symptoms help identify common exposures and guide outbreak investigation.

Question 7 of 15

Case excerpt

A community is considering a new needle-exchange program to reduce blood-borne infections.

Which outcome should be monitored?

A. Number of chairs replaced

B. Staff uniform preferences

C. Changes in access to sterile injection equipment and testing/referral uptake

D. Number of unrelated school events

E. Number of posters in the waiting room

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: C. Changes in access to sterile injection equipment and testing/referral uptake

Program evaluation should measure access to sterile supplies and engagement with testing and treatment services.

Question 8 of 15

Case excerpt

A nurse is planning a public health response to an extreme cold warning.

Which outreach strategy is most appropriate?

A. Identify people at risk, coordinate warming centers, and provide targeted outreach

B. Assume everyone has adequate heating

C. Wait for hypothermia cases before acting

D. Close community shelters

E. Advise residents to use outdoor grills indoors

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Identify people at risk, coordinate warming centers, and provide targeted outreach

Risk-based outreach, warming centers, and safe-heating information help prevent cold-related illness and death.

Question 9 of 15

Case excerpt

Public Health Nursing Practice Test: A public health nurse is investigating a possible foodborne outbreak. Which information should be collected.

A public health nurse is investigating a possible foodborne outbreak. Which information should be collected? (Select all that apply)

A. Date and time symptoms began

B. Foods consumed during the relevant period

C. Unrelated opinions about the event venue

D. Other people with similar illness

E. Symptoms and duration

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Date and time symptoms began; B. Foods consumed during the relevant period; D. Other people with similar illness; E. Symptoms and duration

Food exposure histories, onset times, symptoms, and linked cases help identify the source and scope of an outbreak.

Question 10 of 15

Case excerpt

Public Health Nursing Practice Test: A nurse is preparing for a flood evacuation. Which residents may need targeted assistance.

A nurse is preparing for a flood evacuation. Which residents may need targeted assistance? (Select all that apply)

A. People with multiple independent evacuation options and no support needs

B. People dependent on powered medical devices

C. Residents who need language-access support

D. Residents with mobility limitations

E. People without reliable transportation

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: B. People dependent on powered medical devices; C. Residents who need language-access support; D. Residents with mobility limitations; E. People without reliable transportation

Evacuation plans should identify medical, mobility, transport, and communication needs before an emergency.

Question 11 of 15

Case excerpt

Public Health Nursing Practice Test: A nurse is evaluating a community vaccination campaign. Which indicators are useful.

A nurse is evaluating a community vaccination campaign. Which indicators are useful? (Select all that apply)

A. The color of campaign posters

B. Number of eligible people reached

C. Missed-opportunity rates

D. Equitable uptake across neighborhoods

E. Vaccination coverage in the target population

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: B. Number of eligible people reached; C. Missed-opportunity rates; D. Equitable uptake across neighborhoods; E. Vaccination coverage in the target population

Coverage, reach, missed opportunities, and equity of uptake provide meaningful measures of campaign performance.

Question 12 of 15

Case excerpt

Public Health Nursing Practice Test: A public health nurse is teaching about primary and secondary prevention. Which activities are examples of primary prevention.

A public health nurse is teaching about primary and secondary prevention. Which activities are examples of primary prevention? (Select all that apply)

A. Seat-belt safety education

B. Installing safe playground surfaces

C. Smoking-prevention education

D. Screening adults for colorectal cancer

E. Childhood immunization

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Seat-belt safety education; B. Installing safe playground surfaces; C. Smoking-prevention education; E. Childhood immunization

Primary prevention prevents disease or injury before it occurs. Screening is secondary prevention.

Question 13 of 15

Case excerpt

Public Health Nursing Practice Test: A nurse is planning outreach during an extreme cold warning. Which actions are appropriate.

A nurse is planning outreach during an extreme cold warning. Which actions are appropriate? (Select all that apply)

A. Share locations and hours of warming centers

B. Provide safe-heating guidance

C. Identify people at high risk of hypothermia

D. Recommend using a charcoal grill indoors for heat

E. Coordinate wellness checks for isolated residents

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Share locations and hours of warming centers; B. Provide safe-heating guidance; C. Identify people at high risk of hypothermia; E. Coordinate wellness checks for isolated residents

Risk identification, warming centers, safe-heating education, and wellness checks reduce cold-related illness.

Question 14 of 15

Case excerpt

Public Health Nursing Practice Test: A vaccination team administers 315 doses over 7 days at an even average rate. How many doses per day is that? Enter the number only.

A vaccination team administers 315 doses over 7 days at an even average rate. How many doses per day is that? Enter the number only.

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: 45

315 doses ÷ 7 days = 45 doses per day.

Question 15 of 15

Case excerpt

Public Health Nursing Practice Test: A nurse is planning an accessible evacuation for a resident who uses powered medical equipment. Place the actions in the appropriate order.

A nurse is planning an accessible evacuation for a resident who uses powered medical equipment. Place the actions in the appropriate order.

A. Assess mobility, equipment, power, and medication needs

B. Identify accessible transport and evacuation destination

C. Coordinate backup power and continuity-of-care arrangements

D. Confirm communication and support contacts

E. Recheck the plan and update it as conditions change

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Assess mobility, equipment, power, and medication needs; B. Identify accessible transport and evacuation destination; C. Coordinate backup power and continuity-of-care arrangements; D. Confirm communication and support contacts; E. Recheck the plan and update it as conditions change

Assess needs first, coordinate transport and continuity supports, confirm communication, and update the plan.

Community and Public Health Nursing · Public Health Nursing Practice Test

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