Lancaster's Community Health Nursing Updated 2026 |
190+ Questions and Answers | Stanhope & Lancaster's
Community Health Nursing Exam Prep, Comprehensive
Study Guide, Practice Exam, Test Bank, Population
Health, Public Health Nursing, Community Assessment,
Epidemiology, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention,
Environmental Health, Disaster Preparedness, Vulnerable
Populations, NCLEX-RN Review, Detailed Rationales and
Complete Revision Material
Question 1: A community health nurse is conducting a windshield survey. Which of
the following data would be the PRIMARY focus of this assessment?
A. The number of hospital beds available in the local facility
B. The demographic data from the most recent census
C. The observable physical environment, including housing and infrastructure
D. The results of a community health survey mailed to residents
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The observable physical environment, including housing
and infrastructure
Rationale: A windshield survey is a visual assessment conducted by driving or walking
through a community. Its primary purpose is to observe and document the physical
environment, such as housing conditions, infrastructure, green spaces, and signs of
decay or renewal. While demographic data and hospital beds are important, they are
not the primary focus of a windshield survey, which is a direct observational method.
Question 2: A public health nurse is using the epidemiological triangle to
investigate an outbreak of foodborne illness. Which component of the triangle
would the Salmonella bacteria represent?
A. Agent
B. Host
C. Environment
D. Vector
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Agent
Rationale: The epidemiological triangle consists of an agent, a host, and the
environment. The agent is the cause of the disease, which in this case is the Salmonella
bacteria. The host is the human or animal that harbors the disease, and the
environment includes external factors that influence transmission.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the primary focus of community
health nursing practice?
,A. Providing direct bedside care to acutely ill patients in hospitals
B. Promoting and preserving the health of populations and communities
C. Administering immunizations only to children under age five
D. Conducting research on advanced surgical techniques
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Promoting and preserving the health of populations and
communities
Rationale: Community health nursing is population-focused. The primary goal is to
promote and preserve the health of the community as a whole, utilizing prevention
strategies and health education. It extends beyond individual care, unlike hospital-
based nursing, which is more focused on individual acute care.
Question 4: A community health nurse is planning a primary prevention
intervention. Which of the following activities would be most appropriate?
A. Providing a support group for clients with diabetes
B. Administering a flu vaccine to healthy adults in a senior center
C. Conducting hypertension screening at a local health fair
D. Case management for a client with tuberculosis
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Administering a flu vaccine to healthy adults in a senior
center
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs. Immunization,
such as administering a flu vaccine, is a classic primary prevention strategy. Screening
(C) is secondary prevention, and support groups or case management (A and D) are
tertiary prevention.
Question 5: The Health Belief Model suggests that a person is more likely to take a
recommended preventive health action if they:
A. Have a family history of a chronic illness
B. Perceive themselves as susceptible to the condition and believe the benefits
outweigh the barriers
C. Have a high income and excellent health insurance
D. Are required to do so by their employer
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Perceive themselves as susceptible to the condition and
believe the benefits outweigh the barriers
Rationale: The Health Belief Model posits that health behaviors are influenced by
perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers.
A person is most likely to act if they feel susceptible to a threat, believe the threat is
serious, and see the recommended action as beneficial and not overly difficult.
,Question 6: A nurse is using the nursing process to address a community health
issue. What is the first step in this process?
A. Planning
B. Implementation
C. Assessment
D. Evaluation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Assessment
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic method. The first step is assessment,
which involves collecting and analyzing data about the community, its population, and
its health status. This is followed by diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation.
Question 7: Which type of prevention is a nurse practicing when they provide
education to a patient on how to manage their insulin to prevent diabetic
ketoacidosis?
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Primordial prevention
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Tertiary prevention
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on managing disease in an individual who
already has it, to prevent complications and improve quality of life. Education on insulin
management to prevent DKA is a tertiary prevention activity. Primary prevention
prevents disease, and secondary prevention detects it early.
Question 8: A community health nurse is examining the social determinants of
health. Which of the following is considered a primary social determinant of
health?
A. Genetic predisposition to cancer
B. The quality of the local public school system
C. The effectiveness of a prescribed medication
D. The virulence of a specific infectious agent
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The quality of the local public school system
Rationale: Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born,
grow, live, work, and age. Education, including the quality of the public school system, is
, a key social determinant. Genetics and agent virulence are biological factors, not social
determinants.
Question 9: During a home visit, the nurse notices clutter, poor lighting, and a loose
rug. This assessment is primarily focused on:
A. Psychosocial assessment
B. Environmental safety assessment
C. Nutritional assessment
D. Financial assessment
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Environmental safety assessment
Rationale: The observations of clutter, poor lighting, and a loose rug are all potential fall
hazards. This is a direct assessment of the physical safety of the home environment. It
is not related to psychosocial status, nutrition, or finances.
Question 10: A nurse is providing care to an individual but also considering the
impact on the family and the community. This perspective is best described as:
A. Community-oriented nursing
B. Hospital-based nursing
C. Palliative nursing
D. Occupational nursing
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Community-oriented nursing
Rationale: Community-oriented nursing, or community health nursing, emphasizes a
population and community perspective while also focusing on the individual and family
as they relate to the community's health. It contrasts with a purely individual-focused
model of care.
Question 11: A public health department uses surveillance data to track the
incidence of Lyme disease in the state. This is an example of:
A. A community health intervention
B. A health policy initiative
C. An epidemiological function
D. A tertiary prevention effort
CORRECT ANSWER: C. An epidemiological function
Rationale: Surveillance, which is the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and
interpretation of health data, is a core function of epidemiology. It is used to monitor