ATI RN Community Health Proctored Exam
Practice Questions and answers 2026/2027 latest
update
1. A community health nurse is conducting a home visit for a family with a newborn. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
a) Assess the newborn's feeding and sleeping patterns.
b) Perform a home safety assessment.
c) Evaluate the family's support system.
d) Screen for postpartum depression in the mother.
Answer a) Assess the newborn's feeding and sleeping patterns.
Rationale: According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, physiological needs (such as feeding and
sleeping) are the priority. The nurse must first ensure the basic physical needs of the newborn are
being met before addressing other important factors like safety, support systems, or psychosocial
issues.
2. A nurse is planning a community health education program on primary prevention. Which of
the following topics is most appropriate to include?
a) Teaching a group of clients how to perform breast self-examinations.
b) Providing a workshop on smoking cessation.
c) Organizing a blood pressure screening event at a local mall.
d) Conducting a rehabilitation program for clients who have had a stroke.
,Answer b) Providing a workshop on smoking cessation.
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent a disease or injury before it ever occurs. Smoking
cessation education prevents the initiation of smoking or helps people quit before they develop
smoking-related diseases. Breast self-exams and blood pressure screenings are examples of
secondary prevention (early detection). Rehabilitation is an example of tertiary prevention
(managing an existing disease to prevent further complications).
3. A community health nurse is investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis in a local daycare
center. Which of the following is the most important initial step?
a) Administering antibiotics to all affected children.
b) Closing the daycare center immediately.
c) Identifying the causative agent and mode of transmission.
d) Educating parents on proper hand hygiene.
Answer c) Identifying the causative agent and mode of transmission.
Rationale: The first step in outbreak investigation is to establish the existence of an outbreak,
verify the diagnosis, and then determine the causative agent and its mode of transmission. This
information is crucial for implementing effective control measures. While hand hygiene
education is important, it is a control measure that should be targeted based on the identified
mode of transmission. Closing the center and administering antibiotics may be premature before
the cause is known.
4. A public health nurse is triaging clients during a mass casualty event. Which of the following
clients should the nurse identify as needing immediate treatment (red tag)?
a) A client with a closed fracture of the femur.
b) A client with a sucking chest wound.
c) A client with a minor laceration to the arm.
d) A client who is deceased.
, Answer b) A client with a sucking chest wound.
Rationale: In disaster triage, a red tag indicates the highest priority for immediate treatment and
transport. These clients have life-threatening injuries but a high probability of survival with
immediate intervention. A sucking chest wound (open pneumothorax) is a life-threatening
condition that requires immediate intervention to prevent respiratory collapse. A femur fracture
is urgent (yellow tag), a minor laceration is non-urgent (green tag), and a deceased client is
expectant (black tag).
5. A nurse is calculating the incidence rate of a new disease in a community. Which of the
following formulas should the nurse use?
a) (Number of existing cases / Total population) x 1,000
b) (Number of new cases / Total population at risk) x 1,000
c) (Number of deaths from a disease / Total population) x 1,000
d) (Number of new cases / Number of existing cases) x 100
Answer b) (Number of new cases / Total population at risk) x 1,000
Rationale: Incidence rate measures the risk of developing a new disease. It is calculated by
dividing the number of new cases by the total population at risk during a specific time period.
This is distinct from prevalence, which measures all existing cases (both new and old).
6. A community health nurse is working with a population of migrant farmworkers. Which of the
following factors is a priority for the nurse to address?
a) Providing education on heart-healthy diets.
b) Ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
c) Organizing a screening for glaucoma.
d) Developing a program for smoking cessation.
Practice Questions and answers 2026/2027 latest
update
1. A community health nurse is conducting a home visit for a family with a newborn. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take first?
a) Assess the newborn's feeding and sleeping patterns.
b) Perform a home safety assessment.
c) Evaluate the family's support system.
d) Screen for postpartum depression in the mother.
Answer a) Assess the newborn's feeding and sleeping patterns.
Rationale: According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, physiological needs (such as feeding and
sleeping) are the priority. The nurse must first ensure the basic physical needs of the newborn are
being met before addressing other important factors like safety, support systems, or psychosocial
issues.
2. A nurse is planning a community health education program on primary prevention. Which of
the following topics is most appropriate to include?
a) Teaching a group of clients how to perform breast self-examinations.
b) Providing a workshop on smoking cessation.
c) Organizing a blood pressure screening event at a local mall.
d) Conducting a rehabilitation program for clients who have had a stroke.
,Answer b) Providing a workshop on smoking cessation.
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent a disease or injury before it ever occurs. Smoking
cessation education prevents the initiation of smoking or helps people quit before they develop
smoking-related diseases. Breast self-exams and blood pressure screenings are examples of
secondary prevention (early detection). Rehabilitation is an example of tertiary prevention
(managing an existing disease to prevent further complications).
3. A community health nurse is investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis in a local daycare
center. Which of the following is the most important initial step?
a) Administering antibiotics to all affected children.
b) Closing the daycare center immediately.
c) Identifying the causative agent and mode of transmission.
d) Educating parents on proper hand hygiene.
Answer c) Identifying the causative agent and mode of transmission.
Rationale: The first step in outbreak investigation is to establish the existence of an outbreak,
verify the diagnosis, and then determine the causative agent and its mode of transmission. This
information is crucial for implementing effective control measures. While hand hygiene
education is important, it is a control measure that should be targeted based on the identified
mode of transmission. Closing the center and administering antibiotics may be premature before
the cause is known.
4. A public health nurse is triaging clients during a mass casualty event. Which of the following
clients should the nurse identify as needing immediate treatment (red tag)?
a) A client with a closed fracture of the femur.
b) A client with a sucking chest wound.
c) A client with a minor laceration to the arm.
d) A client who is deceased.
, Answer b) A client with a sucking chest wound.
Rationale: In disaster triage, a red tag indicates the highest priority for immediate treatment and
transport. These clients have life-threatening injuries but a high probability of survival with
immediate intervention. A sucking chest wound (open pneumothorax) is a life-threatening
condition that requires immediate intervention to prevent respiratory collapse. A femur fracture
is urgent (yellow tag), a minor laceration is non-urgent (green tag), and a deceased client is
expectant (black tag).
5. A nurse is calculating the incidence rate of a new disease in a community. Which of the
following formulas should the nurse use?
a) (Number of existing cases / Total population) x 1,000
b) (Number of new cases / Total population at risk) x 1,000
c) (Number of deaths from a disease / Total population) x 1,000
d) (Number of new cases / Number of existing cases) x 100
Answer b) (Number of new cases / Total population at risk) x 1,000
Rationale: Incidence rate measures the risk of developing a new disease. It is calculated by
dividing the number of new cases by the total population at risk during a specific time period.
This is distinct from prevalence, which measures all existing cases (both new and old).
6. A community health nurse is working with a population of migrant farmworkers. Which of the
following factors is a priority for the nurse to address?
a) Providing education on heart-healthy diets.
b) Ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
c) Organizing a screening for glaucoma.
d) Developing a program for smoking cessation.
