Public Health Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation Stanhope: Foundations for Population Health in Community/Public Health Nursing, 6th Edition Test Bank – With Questions & Answers (Graded A+)

Public Health Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation Stanhope: Foundations for Population Health in Community/Public Health Nursing, 6th Edition Test Bank – With Questions & Answers (Graded A+) Public Health Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation Stanhope: Foundations for Population Health in Community/Public Health Nursing, 6th Edition Test Bank – With Questions & Answers (Graded A+) A nurse considered copying last month's surveillance report and changing the date because the number of occurrences per month had not noticeably changed. Which of the following best explains why the nurse should continue to spend time collecting and reporting data that is always nearly the same? Because such data are legally required Because it is still part of the nurse's responsibilities, even if on minimal value To determine a local baseline rate and immediately notice any change To determine differences among communities in need for state assistance - ANSWER - ANS: C Disease surveillance generates knowledge of a disease or event outbreak patterns. Surveillance systems help nurses and other professionals monitor emerging infections and bioterrorist outbreaks. Surveillance provides a means for nurses to monitor disease trends to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve health. Disease surveillance is not part of a legal requirement. There are many useful purposes for surveillance including monitoring for emerging infections and disease trends. The purpose of the monthly surveillance report is not for comparison among communities, rather it is a description of what is happening within the local community. A nurse attends a conference to learn more about public health surveillance. Why is it so important that the nurse be knowledgeable about this topic? Because nurses are employed in public health agencies Because nurses are often the first to recognize and respond to a problem Because nurses are responsible for ensuring that action is taken when necessary Because nurses are typically the ones to interact with the public and the media - ANSWER - ANS: B Nurses are often in the forefront of responses to be made in the surveillance process whether working in a small rural agency or a large urban agency; within the health department, school, or urgent care center; or on the telephone performing triage services during a disaster. It is the nurse who sees the event first. Nurses may work in a variety of community agencies, including public health agencies. Nurses will collaborate with others to take action as necessary; it would not be the sole responsibility of the nurse. A wide variety of public health professionals interact with the public and the media, not only nurses. A rural public health nurse is spending time reviewing death certificates. Which of the following best explains the purpose of this activity? To ensure that local causes of death are consistent with national causes of death To confirm that no local health problems are beginning To evaluate effectiveness of health promotion programs To obtain mortality data for the local area - ANSWER - ANS: D Mortality data are often the only source of health-related data available for small geographic areas. Vital statistics reports, such as death certificates, are reviewed. Useful information also comes from administrative data such as discharge reports and billing records. It is not necessary that the local causes of death are consistent with national causes, rather it is important that the nurse be aware of the major causes of mortality in the community so that the needs of the community can be addressed. Mortality data can occasionally be used to evaluate the effectiveness of health promotion programs, but this would not be the primary purpose of reviewing death certificates. Other data can be used to detect the start of local health problems. Analyzing death certificates as the only means of examining local health problems would provide the nurse with data that is not current.