Test Bank for Public Health Nursing 10th Edition Stanhope.
,Chapter 01: Public Health Foundations and Population Health
Stanhope: Public Health Nursing: Population-Centered Health Care in the
Community, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What is the primary focus to be addressed concerning the improvement of the health of the
American people in the twenty-first century?
a. Bioterrorism and global health threats
b. Delivery of individual care and hygiene
c. The need for increased hospital and acute care
d. Chronic disease and disability management
ANS: A
There are new concerns, and of the most serious are bioterrorism and globally induced
infections, such as the avian flu. These threats will divert health care funds and resources
from other health care programs to be spent for public safety. The others are not related to
public health or are concerns that have been present for many years.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding TOP: Nursing process:
Planning MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. A community is concerned about the threat of bioterrorism. Which of the following best
describes the basis for this concern?
a. Bioterrorism has the potential to dissolve community-based programs.
b. This threat could causeNthUeRhSeaIlthNcGaTreBs.ysCteOmMto collapse.
c. The threat may divert funds from other public safety health care programs.
d. Fear of bioterrorism will increase the need for shelters.
ANS: C
Bioterrorism may have an impact on the availability of resources for public safety health
care programs. Because funds are diverted it is possible that community-based programs
would be eliminated, the health care system could experience changes, and that there would
be an increase in the need for shelter. However, all the remaining options would happen
because of the diversion of funds.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing TOP: Nursing process:
Diagnosis MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
3. Which statement describes the consequence of the successful implementation of the
Affordable Care Act?
a. Americans will pay closer attention to their health status.
b. Most of the population will be covered by health insurance.
c. Public health departments will need to increase the number of nursing positions.
d. The prevalence of obesity will
decrease. ANS: B
, One consequence of successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act might be that the
majority of the population would be covered by insurance and public health agencies will
not need to provide direct clinical services in order to assure that those who need them can
receive them. The Affordable Care Act will not directly cause Americans to pay closer
attention to their health status or decrease the prevalence of obesity.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. The public health nurse (PHN) must participate in the essential services of public health.
What is one of the essential services of public health nursing?
a. Monitoring health status by completing a community assessment
b. Diagnosing and investigating health problems in the world
c. Informing, educating, and empowering people about health issues
d. Working in law enforcement to regulate health and ensure safety
ANS: C
The PHN monitors health status in several ways, completing a community assessment is
only one way that health status is monitored. The PHN would not diagnose or solve “world”
problems, or work in law enforcement. Rather, the PHN would participate with local
regulators to protect communities and empower people to address health issues.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding TOP: Nursing process:
Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. A public health department is using the mission of public health as described by the Institute
of Medicine when planningNitsRheaIlth pGrogBra.mCminMg. Which of the following
activities will most likely be implemented?
a. Tracking avian flu outbreaks and doing surveillance in the United States
b. Providing a flu shot for an elderly person at the health department
c. Keeping track of alternative therapies in use in the United States
d. Keeping snake antivenom at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in
Atlanta
ANS: A
The Institute of Medicine’s stated mission on public health is “to generate organized
community and technical knowledge to prevent disease and promote health.” Tracking avian
flu outbreaks and doing surveillance applies this concept at a population level. Providing a
flu shot for an elderly person only addresses individual care. Keeping track of the use of
alternative therapies does nothing to prevent disease or promote health of the population.
Keeping snake antivenom is aimed at disease care for an individual, not health promotion or
disease prevention.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. A public health department makes sure that the essential community-oriented health
services are available in the community. Which of the following core public health functions
is being implemented?
a. Policy development
, b. Assessment
c. Assurance
d. Scientific knowledge-based care
ANS: C
Assurance focuses on the responsibility of public health agencies to ensure certain activities
have been appropriately carried out to meet public health goals and plans. Policy
development seeks to build constituencies that can help bring about change in public policy.
Assessment includes activities that involve collecting, analyzing, and disseminating
information on both the health status and the health-related aspects of a community or a
specific population. Public health is based on scientific knowledge but is not a core function.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
7. What is the purpose of public health core functions?
a. Clarifying the role of the government in fulfilling the mission of public health
b. Ensuring the safety of populations in receiving quality health care
c. Providing community-based individualized care to every person in the United
States
d. Uniting public and private providers of care in a comprehensive approach to
providing health care
ANS: A
As defined by the Institute of Medicine in its 1988 report The Future of Public Health,
assessment, policy development, and assurance are core functions at all levels of
government for the purposeNofRclarIifyiGng tBhe.gCoveMrnment’s role.
U S N T O
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
8. Which of the following statements about public health is accurate?
a. Prevention of early deaths can be more effectively accomplished by medical
treatment than by public health approaches.
b. Expenditures and resources for public health have increased in recent years.
c. Historically, gains in the health of populations have been related largely to changes
in safety, sanitation, and food safety.
d. Reform of the medical insurance system is the single change needed to improve
the health of Americans.
ANS: C
Fielding and Tilson have asserted that most of the increase in life span has been made
through improvements in sanitation, clean water supplies, making workplaces safer,
improving food and drug safety, immunizing children, and improving nutrition, hygiene,
and housing. Medical treatment has not made as significant of an impact on the life span as
public health measures. Funding for public health in recent years has been on a gradual
decline. Although reform of the medical insurance system may help improve the health of
Americans, there are many other factors that will need to be addressed.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
, MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
9. A public health nurse (PHN) collects data and monitors the health status of the population.
Which of the following core public health functions is the nurse addressing?
a. Assessment
b. Prevention
c. Assurance
d. Policy development
ANS: A
Assessment consists of systematic data collection and monitoring health status.
Prevention is not a core function, assurance is making sure essential services are available,
and policy development is needed to provide leadership in developing policies.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
10. The public health nurse (PHN) compares the rate of teenage pregnancy in various areas of
the city. Which of the core functions of public health is the nurse addressing?
a. Assurance
b. Assessment
c. Prevention
d. Policy development
ANS: B
Assessment refers to systematic data collection, which this nurse is doing for teenage
pregnancy. Prevention is not a core function, assurance is making sure essential services are
U S N T O
available, and policy develop men t is nee ded to provide leadership in developing
policies.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
11. A public health nurse (PHN) develops and implements local public health policies through
partnerships with agencies, organizations, and consumers within the community. Which of
the following core public health functions is the nurse addressing?
a. Assessment
b. Prevention
c. Assurance
d. Policy development
ANS: D
Policy development deals with developing and implementing health policies. Prevention is
not a core function, assurance is making sure essential services are available, and
assessment refers to systematic data collection.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
,12. A nurse provides for the availability of essential personal health services for people who
would otherwise not receive health care. Which of the public health core functions is the
nurse addressing
a. Assessment
b. Prevention
c. Assurance
d. Policy development
ANS: C
Assurance deals with the availability of health services. Prevention is not a core function,
assessment refers to systematic data collection, and policy development refers to the need to
provide leadership in developing health policies.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
13. The nurse manager makes sure that the staff members who work in a local clinic are
competent in their job responsibilities. Which of the public health core functions is being
demonstrated?
a. Assurance
b. Assessment
c. Prevention
d. Policy development
ANS: A
Assurance refers to making sure a competent health care workforce is available. Prevention
is not a core function, assessment refers to systematic data collection, and policy
U S N T O
development refers to the nee d to pro vid e leade rship in developing health policies.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
14. Which intervention is the nurse most likely to implement when addressing one of the
primary goals of public health?
a. Ensuring that a newly diagnosed 40-year-old hypertensive man takes his
medication
b. Finding home care for a 70-year-old client recuperating from a hip replacement
c. Conducting an infant car seat safety check
d. Contacting a local hospice to admit a terminally ill 60-year-old woman
ANS: C
The correct answer is concerned with the health of many people, while the other answers
address individual interventions. According to the Core Functions Project, all levels of
health care, including population-based public health care, must be funded or the goal of
health of populations may never be reached.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
, 15. A community health nurse collects data about the number and proportion of persons aged
25 or older with less than a high school education. Which term best describes this type of
data?
a. Sociodemographic characteristics
b. Health status data
c. Health risk factors
d. Health care resource consumption information
ANS: A
The number and proportion of people is a sociodemographic characteristic. Health status
includes birth and death rates. Health risk factors discuss proportions of populations who
have particular health conditions or health risks. Health care resource consumption refers to
spending on health care per capita.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
16. The public health nurse (PHN) analyzes data related to the number and type of United States
Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards that a community failed to meet.
This data is an example of using which community health profile indicator?
a. Sociodemographic characteristics
b. Health status
c. Health risk factor
d. Functional status
ANS: C
Health risk factors discuss proportions of populations who have particular health conditions
or health risks; breathing air of poor quality is a risk to health. The number and proportion
U S N T O
of people is a sociodemograp hic cha ract eristic. Health status includes birth and
death rates.
Functional status refers to reports of good health status by members of the population.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
17. A nurse is implementing quality performance standards in a public health department.
Which statement best describes the importance of this action?
a. Quality performance standards are used to guide improvement in the public health
system.
b. Quality performance standards rigidly control public health.
c. Quality performance standards guide administrators to monitor public health at the
national level.
d. Quality performance standards can be used as hiring guidelines for nurses.
ANS: A
These standards were developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1998.
They set the bar for the level of performance that is necessary to deliver essential public
health services (PHSs). These standards were developed around the 10 essential PHSs. They
focus on the overall public health system rather than on single organizations and describe an
optimal level of performance. They are intended to support a process of quality
improvement. State and local communities can assess their performance using certain
available tools. They are not meant to control public health or be used for hiring guidelines.
