NUR 217 PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING EXAM SUMMARY Q&A
2026 EDITION
Which of the following best describes the primary focus of public health
nursing practice?
A. Individual patient care in hospital settings
B. Population-based health care with emphasis on prevention
C. Acute care management for critically ill patients
D. Specialized surgical nursing interventions
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Public health nursing focuses on population-based health
care needs with attention to social determinants of health and emphasis
on preventative strategies, rather than individual acute care. Options A,
C, and D describe acute/hospital care settings, not public health
nursing's population-focused approach.
A public health nurse is conducting a community assessment. Which
domain of the Quad Council Coalition competencies is being
demonstrated?
A. Policy development/program planning skills
B. Assessment and analytic skills
C. Financial planning skills
D. Evaluation and management skills
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Assessment and analytic skills (Domain 1) include assessing
health status, using epidemiological data, and identifying health risks
for populations. Community assessment is a core function of this
,domain. The other options represent different competency domains not
primarily focused on assessment.
Which health belief model component is most relevant when designing
a vaccination campaign for a reluctant community?
A. Perceived severity and susceptibility to the disease
B. Hospital funding mechanisms
C. Nursing staff patient ratios
D. Medical equipment availability
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The Health Belief Model includes perceived severity and
susceptibility as key concepts influencing health behavior.
Understanding these helps nurses address vaccination hesitancy.
Options B, C, and D are system-level factors not part of the Health Belief
Model.
What is the infant mortality rate formula used in epidemiological
measurements?
A. (Number of infant deaths / Total population) × 1,000
B. (Number of infant deaths / Live births) × 1,000
C. (Number of infant deaths / Number of pregnancies) × 1,000
D. (Number of infant deaths / Number of mothers) × 1,000
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Infant mortality rate is calculated as (number of infant
deaths / live births) × 1,000. This is the standard epidemiological tool for
measuring infant mortality. Options A, C, and D use incorrect
denominators.
,Which level of prevention is demonstrated when a public health nurse
provides tuberculosis screening at a community center?
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Quaternary prevention
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Screening for disease in asymptomatic individuals is
secondary prevention, which aims for early detection and treatment.
Primary prevention prevents disease occurrence, while tertiary
prevention manages established disease to prevent complications.
A nurse is working with a diverse community and adapts health
education materials to match cultural values. Which competency
domain is being demonstrated?
A. Communication skills
B. Cultural competency skills
C. Public health sciences skills
D. Assessment and analytic skills
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Cultural competency skills (Domain 4) involve adapting
practices to respect and address cultural values and beliefs. This is
essential for effective community engagement. While communication is
involved, the primary competency is cultural competency.
, What is the primary purpose of home-based care in community health
nursing?
A. To replace hospital care completely
B. To provide care in the patient's natural environment following
principles of community health
C. To reduce nursing staff workload
D. To increase hospital revenue
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Home-based care provides nursing care in the patient's
natural environment based on community health nursing principles. It
complements rather than replaces hospital care. Options C and D are
not primary purposes.
Which of the following is a key component of the family-centered
nursing process?
A. Focusing only on the individual patient
B. Assessing family dynamics and functions
C. Ignoring family input in care planning
D. Using only hospital-based interventions
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Family-centered nursing process includes assessing family
dynamics, functions, and the family's role in health and illness. Options
A, C, and D contradict family-centered care principles.
When calculating case fatality rate, what is the correct formula?
A. (Number of deaths from disease / Total population) × 1,000
B. (Number of deaths from disease / Number of cases of disease) × 100
2026 EDITION
Which of the following best describes the primary focus of public health
nursing practice?
A. Individual patient care in hospital settings
B. Population-based health care with emphasis on prevention
C. Acute care management for critically ill patients
D. Specialized surgical nursing interventions
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Public health nursing focuses on population-based health
care needs with attention to social determinants of health and emphasis
on preventative strategies, rather than individual acute care. Options A,
C, and D describe acute/hospital care settings, not public health
nursing's population-focused approach.
A public health nurse is conducting a community assessment. Which
domain of the Quad Council Coalition competencies is being
demonstrated?
A. Policy development/program planning skills
B. Assessment and analytic skills
C. Financial planning skills
D. Evaluation and management skills
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Assessment and analytic skills (Domain 1) include assessing
health status, using epidemiological data, and identifying health risks
for populations. Community assessment is a core function of this
,domain. The other options represent different competency domains not
primarily focused on assessment.
Which health belief model component is most relevant when designing
a vaccination campaign for a reluctant community?
A. Perceived severity and susceptibility to the disease
B. Hospital funding mechanisms
C. Nursing staff patient ratios
D. Medical equipment availability
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The Health Belief Model includes perceived severity and
susceptibility as key concepts influencing health behavior.
Understanding these helps nurses address vaccination hesitancy.
Options B, C, and D are system-level factors not part of the Health Belief
Model.
What is the infant mortality rate formula used in epidemiological
measurements?
A. (Number of infant deaths / Total population) × 1,000
B. (Number of infant deaths / Live births) × 1,000
C. (Number of infant deaths / Number of pregnancies) × 1,000
D. (Number of infant deaths / Number of mothers) × 1,000
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Infant mortality rate is calculated as (number of infant
deaths / live births) × 1,000. This is the standard epidemiological tool for
measuring infant mortality. Options A, C, and D use incorrect
denominators.
,Which level of prevention is demonstrated when a public health nurse
provides tuberculosis screening at a community center?
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Quaternary prevention
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Screening for disease in asymptomatic individuals is
secondary prevention, which aims for early detection and treatment.
Primary prevention prevents disease occurrence, while tertiary
prevention manages established disease to prevent complications.
A nurse is working with a diverse community and adapts health
education materials to match cultural values. Which competency
domain is being demonstrated?
A. Communication skills
B. Cultural competency skills
C. Public health sciences skills
D. Assessment and analytic skills
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Cultural competency skills (Domain 4) involve adapting
practices to respect and address cultural values and beliefs. This is
essential for effective community engagement. While communication is
involved, the primary competency is cultural competency.
, What is the primary purpose of home-based care in community health
nursing?
A. To replace hospital care completely
B. To provide care in the patient's natural environment following
principles of community health
C. To reduce nursing staff workload
D. To increase hospital revenue
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Home-based care provides nursing care in the patient's
natural environment based on community health nursing principles. It
complements rather than replaces hospital care. Options C and D are
not primary purposes.
Which of the following is a key component of the family-centered
nursing process?
A. Focusing only on the individual patient
B. Assessing family dynamics and functions
C. Ignoring family input in care planning
D. Using only hospital-based interventions
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Family-centered nursing process includes assessing family
dynamics, functions, and the family's role in health and illness. Options
A, C, and D contradict family-centered care principles.
When calculating case fatality rate, what is the correct formula?
A. (Number of deaths from disease / Total population) × 1,000
B. (Number of deaths from disease / Number of cases of disease) × 100
