Wilkes University NSG 505 Health Policy Politics Exam (pdf) |
2026/2027 | Health Policy Q&A | Nursing
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of health policy
in the United States?
A) To reduce healthcare costs for all citizens
B) To protect and promote the health of individuals and populations
C) To increase the profits of healthcare organizations
D) To limit access to healthcare services
Correct Answer: To protect and promote the health of individuals and
populations
Rationale: Health policy encompasses decisions, plans, and actions
undertaken to achieve specific healthcare goals within a society. The primary
purpose of health policy is to protect and promote the health of individuals
and populations through legislation, regulation, and resource allocation.
While cost reduction is a component, the overarching goal is health
improvement and protection.
2. A nurse is advocating for legislation to expand Medicaid coverage in their
state. This action is an example of which type of advocacy?
A) Individual advocacy
B) Systems-level advocacy
C) Clinical advocacy
D) Passive advocacy
Correct Answer: Systems-level advocacy
Rationale: Systems-level advocacy involves working to change policies,
systems, or laws that affect populations or communities. Advocating for
,legislation to expand Medicaid coverage is a systems-level action because it
aims to change the healthcare system to improve access for a population.
Individual advocacy focuses on a single patient, clinical advocacy involves
direct patient care, and passive advocacy is not a recognized category.
3. The "policy-making process" in the United States typically follows which
sequence?
A) Agenda setting, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy
implementation, policy evaluation
B) Policy formulation, agenda setting, policy adoption, policy evaluation,
policy implementation
C) Agenda setting, policy adoption, policy formulation, policy
implementation, policy evaluation
D) Policy formulation, policy adoption, agenda setting, policy evaluation,
policy implementation
Correct Answer: Agenda setting, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy
implementation, policy evaluation
Rationale: The policy-making process typically follows this sequence: agenda
setting (identifying problems requiring government attention), policy
formulation (developing proposed solutions), policy adoption (legislative
approval), policy implementation (putting policies into action), and policy
evaluation (assessing effectiveness). This cyclical process allows for ongoing
refinement of policies.
4. Which branch of government is primarily responsible for enacting
legislation related to healthcare policy?
A) Executive branch
B) Judicial branch
C) Legislative branch
D) Administrative branch
,Correct Answer: Legislative branch
Rationale: The legislative branch (Congress at the federal level, state
legislatures at the state level) is primarily responsible for enacting
legislation, including healthcare policy. The executive branch implements and
enforces laws, the judicial branch interprets laws, and administrative
agencies implement policies within the executive branch.
5. A nurse who contacts their elected representative to support a healthcare
bill is engaging in which political activity?
A) Lobbying
B) Campaigning
C) Voting
D) Fundraising
Correct Answer: Lobbying
Rationale: Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence legislators or
government officials on a specific issue or piece of legislation. Contacting an
elected representative to support a healthcare bill is a direct form of
lobbying. Campaigning involves working for a candidate's election, voting is
casting a ballot, and fundraising is raising money for political purposes.
6. Which of the following is a key component of the U.S. healthcare system
that significantly impacts health policy?
A) A single-payer system with universal coverage
B) A mixed public-private system with multiple payers
C) A fully government-run healthcare system
D) A system with no government involvement
, Correct Answer: A mixed public-private system with multiple payers
Rationale: The U.S. healthcare system is characterized by a mixed public-
private model with multiple payers, including Medicare, Medicaid, private
insurance, and out-of-pocket payments. This complexity significantly impacts
health policy development, as policies must navigate the interactions
between various public and private entities.
7. The "Iron Triangle" of healthcare consists of which three interrelated
components?
A) Quality, safety, and efficiency
B) Cost, quality, and access
C) Prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation
D) Public, private, and non-profit
Correct Answer: Cost, quality, and access
Rationale: The "Iron Triangle" of healthcare describes the interrelationship
between cost, quality, and access. Changes in one component typically
affect the others. Health policy decisions often involve trade-offs among
these three elements, and achieving balance is a central challenge in
healthcare policy.
8. A nurse is analyzing a proposed health policy. Which question is most
important for evaluating the policy's potential impact on health equity?
A) "How much will this policy cost to implement?"
B) "Will this policy reduce disparities in health outcomes among different
populations?"
C) "How many healthcare providers will be needed to implement this policy?"
2026/2027 | Health Policy Q&A | Nursing
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of health policy
in the United States?
A) To reduce healthcare costs for all citizens
B) To protect and promote the health of individuals and populations
C) To increase the profits of healthcare organizations
D) To limit access to healthcare services
Correct Answer: To protect and promote the health of individuals and
populations
Rationale: Health policy encompasses decisions, plans, and actions
undertaken to achieve specific healthcare goals within a society. The primary
purpose of health policy is to protect and promote the health of individuals
and populations through legislation, regulation, and resource allocation.
While cost reduction is a component, the overarching goal is health
improvement and protection.
2. A nurse is advocating for legislation to expand Medicaid coverage in their
state. This action is an example of which type of advocacy?
A) Individual advocacy
B) Systems-level advocacy
C) Clinical advocacy
D) Passive advocacy
Correct Answer: Systems-level advocacy
Rationale: Systems-level advocacy involves working to change policies,
systems, or laws that affect populations or communities. Advocating for
,legislation to expand Medicaid coverage is a systems-level action because it
aims to change the healthcare system to improve access for a population.
Individual advocacy focuses on a single patient, clinical advocacy involves
direct patient care, and passive advocacy is not a recognized category.
3. The "policy-making process" in the United States typically follows which
sequence?
A) Agenda setting, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy
implementation, policy evaluation
B) Policy formulation, agenda setting, policy adoption, policy evaluation,
policy implementation
C) Agenda setting, policy adoption, policy formulation, policy
implementation, policy evaluation
D) Policy formulation, policy adoption, agenda setting, policy evaluation,
policy implementation
Correct Answer: Agenda setting, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy
implementation, policy evaluation
Rationale: The policy-making process typically follows this sequence: agenda
setting (identifying problems requiring government attention), policy
formulation (developing proposed solutions), policy adoption (legislative
approval), policy implementation (putting policies into action), and policy
evaluation (assessing effectiveness). This cyclical process allows for ongoing
refinement of policies.
4. Which branch of government is primarily responsible for enacting
legislation related to healthcare policy?
A) Executive branch
B) Judicial branch
C) Legislative branch
D) Administrative branch
,Correct Answer: Legislative branch
Rationale: The legislative branch (Congress at the federal level, state
legislatures at the state level) is primarily responsible for enacting
legislation, including healthcare policy. The executive branch implements and
enforces laws, the judicial branch interprets laws, and administrative
agencies implement policies within the executive branch.
5. A nurse who contacts their elected representative to support a healthcare
bill is engaging in which political activity?
A) Lobbying
B) Campaigning
C) Voting
D) Fundraising
Correct Answer: Lobbying
Rationale: Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence legislators or
government officials on a specific issue or piece of legislation. Contacting an
elected representative to support a healthcare bill is a direct form of
lobbying. Campaigning involves working for a candidate's election, voting is
casting a ballot, and fundraising is raising money for political purposes.
6. Which of the following is a key component of the U.S. healthcare system
that significantly impacts health policy?
A) A single-payer system with universal coverage
B) A mixed public-private system with multiple payers
C) A fully government-run healthcare system
D) A system with no government involvement
, Correct Answer: A mixed public-private system with multiple payers
Rationale: The U.S. healthcare system is characterized by a mixed public-
private model with multiple payers, including Medicare, Medicaid, private
insurance, and out-of-pocket payments. This complexity significantly impacts
health policy development, as policies must navigate the interactions
between various public and private entities.
7. The "Iron Triangle" of healthcare consists of which three interrelated
components?
A) Quality, safety, and efficiency
B) Cost, quality, and access
C) Prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation
D) Public, private, and non-profit
Correct Answer: Cost, quality, and access
Rationale: The "Iron Triangle" of healthcare describes the interrelationship
between cost, quality, and access. Changes in one component typically
affect the others. Health policy decisions often involve trade-offs among
these three elements, and achieving balance is a central challenge in
healthcare policy.
8. A nurse is analyzing a proposed health policy. Which question is most
important for evaluating the policy's potential impact on health equity?
A) "How much will this policy cost to implement?"
B) "Will this policy reduce disparities in health outcomes among different
populations?"
C) "How many healthcare providers will be needed to implement this policy?"
