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PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING: POPULATION-CENTERED HEALTH
CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, 9TH EDITION (STANHOPE &
LANCASTER) EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 EDITION
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING: POPULATION-CENTERED HEALTH CARE IN
THE COMMUNITY, 9TH EDITION (STANHOPE & LANCASTER) – 250 EXAM-
STYLE QUESTIONS
SECTION 1: PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATIONS AND POPULATION HEALTH
(CHAPTER 1)
Questions 1-50
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
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 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 .
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 cause the health care system to collapse.
C) The threat may divert funds from other public safety health care programs.
D) Fear of bioterrorism will increase the need for shelters.
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Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 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 there
would be an increase in the need for shelter .
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.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 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 .
4. A public health nurse (PHN) must participate in the essential services of public
health. Which of the following most accurately describes one of the essential services?
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
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 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 .
5. A public health department is using the mission of public health as described by the
Institute of Medicine when planning its health programming. Which of the following
activities will most likely be implemented?
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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
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 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 .
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) Assurance
C) Assessment
D) Scientific knowledge-based care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 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 health-related aspects of a community or a specific
population .
7. 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) Assessment
B) Policy development
C) Assurance
D) Prevention
Correct Answer: C
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Rationale: Assurance refers to making sure that essential community-oriented health services
are available and that competent staff members are providing those services . 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 .
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 personal behavior.
D) Reform of the medical insurance system is the single change needed to improve health of
Americans.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 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 .
9. A PHN collects data and monitors the health status of the population. Which of the
following core public health functions is being implemented?
A) Policy development
B) Prevention
C) Assurance
D) Assessment
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: 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 .
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING: POPULATION-CENTERED HEALTH
CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, 9TH EDITION (STANHOPE &
LANCASTER) EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 EDITION
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING: POPULATION-CENTERED HEALTH CARE IN
THE COMMUNITY, 9TH EDITION (STANHOPE & LANCASTER) – 250 EXAM-
STYLE QUESTIONS
SECTION 1: PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATIONS AND POPULATION HEALTH
(CHAPTER 1)
Questions 1-50
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
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 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 .
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 cause the health care system to collapse.
C) The threat may divert funds from other public safety health care programs.
D) Fear of bioterrorism will increase the need for shelters.
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Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 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 there
would be an increase in the need for shelter .
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.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 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 .
4. A public health nurse (PHN) must participate in the essential services of public
health. Which of the following most accurately describes one of the essential services?
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
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 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 .
5. A public health department is using the mission of public health as described by the
Institute of Medicine when planning its health programming. Which of the following
activities will most likely be implemented?
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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
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 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 .
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) Assurance
C) Assessment
D) Scientific knowledge-based care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 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 health-related aspects of a community or a specific
population .
7. 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) Assessment
B) Policy development
C) Assurance
D) Prevention
Correct Answer: C
, Page 4 of 79
Rationale: Assurance refers to making sure that essential community-oriented health services
are available and that competent staff members are providing those services . 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 .
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 personal behavior.
D) Reform of the medical insurance system is the single change needed to improve health of
Americans.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 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 .
9. A PHN collects data and monitors the health status of the population. Which of the
following core public health functions is being implemented?
A) Policy development
B) Prevention
C) Assurance
D) Assessment
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: 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 .
