Public Health Nursing Chapter 1: Study Bank – Q&A |
2026-2027
Comprehensive study bank featuring key questions and verified Answers for Chapter 1
foundations of public health nursing. Covers historical evolution, core functions, population-
based practice, and nursing roles with year-specific updates (2026–2027). Includes multiple-
choice, true/false, and scenario-based questions with rationales. Essential for exam readiness,
reinforcing community health principles, and mastering the intersection of nursing science and
public health practice.
,One of the primaries focuses of improving the health of the American people in the twenty-first
century is to address:
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. - Answer -ANS: A
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. The others are not related to public
health or are concerns that have been present for many years.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding REF: p. 5 TOP: Nursing process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
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 of bioterrorism may divert funds from other public safety health care programs.
d. Fear of bioterrorism will increase the need for shelters. - Answer -ANS: C
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 that there would be an
increase in the need for shelter. However, all of these things would happen because of the
diversion of funds.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing REF: p. 5 TOP: Nursing process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
,Which of the following describes the consequence of the successful implementation of the
Affordable Care Act?
a. Americans will pay closer attention to their health status.
b. The majority of the population will be covered by insurance.
c. Public health departments will need to increase the number of nursing positions.
d. The prevalence of obesity will decrease. - Answer -ANS: B
One consequence of successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act might actually 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. The Affordable Care Act will not directly cause Americans to pay closer attention
to their health status or decrease the prevalence of obesity.
DIF: Cognitive level: Remembering REF: p. 5
TOP: Nursing process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
The 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 of public health?
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 - Answer -ANS: C
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.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding REF: p. 8 (How to Box)
TOP: Nursing process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
, 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?
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 in Atlanta -
Answer -ANS: A
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. Keeping track of the use of alternative therapies
does nothing to prevent disease or promote health of the population. Keeping snake antivenom
is aimed at disease care for an individual, not health promotion or disease prevention.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing REF: p. 6
TOP: Nursing process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
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. Assessment
c. Assurance
d. Scientific knowledge-based care - Answer -ANS: C
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 the health-related aspects of a community or a specific population. Public
health is based on scientific knowledge, but is not a core function.
2026-2027
Comprehensive study bank featuring key questions and verified Answers for Chapter 1
foundations of public health nursing. Covers historical evolution, core functions, population-
based practice, and nursing roles with year-specific updates (2026–2027). Includes multiple-
choice, true/false, and scenario-based questions with rationales. Essential for exam readiness,
reinforcing community health principles, and mastering the intersection of nursing science and
public health practice.
,One of the primaries focuses of improving the health of the American people in the twenty-first
century is to address:
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. - Answer -ANS: A
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. The others are not related to public
health or are concerns that have been present for many years.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding REF: p. 5 TOP: Nursing process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
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 of bioterrorism may divert funds from other public safety health care programs.
d. Fear of bioterrorism will increase the need for shelters. - Answer -ANS: C
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 that there would be an
increase in the need for shelter. However, all of these things would happen because of the
diversion of funds.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing REF: p. 5 TOP: Nursing process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
,Which of the following describes the consequence of the successful implementation of the
Affordable Care Act?
a. Americans will pay closer attention to their health status.
b. The majority of the population will be covered by insurance.
c. Public health departments will need to increase the number of nursing positions.
d. The prevalence of obesity will decrease. - Answer -ANS: B
One consequence of successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act might actually 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. The Affordable Care Act will not directly cause Americans to pay closer attention
to their health status or decrease the prevalence of obesity.
DIF: Cognitive level: Remembering REF: p. 5
TOP: Nursing process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
The 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 of public health?
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 - Answer -ANS: C
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.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding REF: p. 8 (How to Box)
TOP: Nursing process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
, 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?
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 in Atlanta -
Answer -ANS: A
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. Keeping track of the use of alternative therapies
does nothing to prevent disease or promote health of the population. Keeping snake antivenom
is aimed at disease care for an individual, not health promotion or disease prevention.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing REF: p. 6
TOP: Nursing process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
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. Assessment
c. Assurance
d. Scientific knowledge-based care - Answer -ANS: C
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 the health-related aspects of a community or a specific population. Public
health is based on scientific knowledge, but is not a core function.
