Test Bank - Chapter 01
1. One of the primary 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.
ANS: 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. The others are not
related to public health or are concerns that have been present for many years.
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 of bioterrorism may divert funds from other public safety health care programs.
D. Fear of bioterrorism will increase the need for shelters.
ANS: 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 that there would be
an increase in the need for shelter. However, all of these things would happen because of the
diversion of funds.
3. 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.
ANS: B
Rationale: 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.
4. 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
ANS: 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?
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
ANS: 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. 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.
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. Assessment
C. Assurance
D. Scientific knowledge-based care
ANS: C
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 the health-related aspects of a community or a specific
population. Public health is based on scientific knowledge, but is not a core function.
7. The purpose of public health core functions is to:
, A. clarify the role of the government in fulfilling the mission of public health.
B. ensure the safety of populations in receiving quality health care.
C. provide community-based individualized care to every person in the United States.
D. unite public and private providers of care in a comprehensive approach to providing health
care.
ANS: A
Rationale: As defined by the Institute of Medicine in its 1988 report The Future of Public
Health , assessment, policy development, and assurance are core functions at all levels of
government for the purpose of clarifying the government’s role.
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 the health of
Americans.
ANS: 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.
Although reform of the medical insurance system may help improve the health of Americans,
there are many other factors that will need to be addressed.
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. Assessment
B. Prevention
C. Assurance
D. Policy development
ANS: A
Rationale: Assessment consists of systematic data collection and monitoring health status.
Prevention is not a core function, assurance is making sure essential services are available, and
policy development is needed to provide leadership in developing policies.
10. The PHN compares the rate of teenage pregnancy in various areas of the city. Which of the core
functions of public health is being implemented?
A. Assurance
B. Assessment
, C. Prevention
D. Policy development
ANS: B
Rationale: Assessment refers to systematic data collection, which this nurse is doing for
teenage pregnancy. Prevention is not a core function, assurance is making sure essential
services are available, and policy development is needed to provide leadership in developing
policies.
11. A PHN develops and implements local public health policies through partnerships with
agencies, organizations, and consumers within the community. Which of the following core public
health functions is being used?
A. Assessment
B. Prevention
C. Assurance
D. Policy development
ANS: 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.
12. A nurse provides for the availability of essential personal health services for people who would
otherwise not receive health care. Which of the public health core functions is being used?
A. Assessment
B. Prevention
C. Assurance
D. Policy development
ANS: C
Rationale: 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.
13. 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. Assurance
B. Assessment
C. Prevention
D. Policy development
ANS: A
Rationale: Assurance refers to making sure a competent health care workforce is available.
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.
1. One of the primary 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.
ANS: 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. The others are not
related to public health or are concerns that have been present for many years.
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 of bioterrorism may divert funds from other public safety health care programs.
D. Fear of bioterrorism will increase the need for shelters.
ANS: 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 that there would be
an increase in the need for shelter. However, all of these things would happen because of the
diversion of funds.
3. 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.
ANS: B
Rationale: 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.
4. 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
ANS: 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?
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
ANS: 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. 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.
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. Assessment
C. Assurance
D. Scientific knowledge-based care
ANS: C
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 the health-related aspects of a community or a specific
population. Public health is based on scientific knowledge, but is not a core function.
7. The purpose of public health core functions is to:
, A. clarify the role of the government in fulfilling the mission of public health.
B. ensure the safety of populations in receiving quality health care.
C. provide community-based individualized care to every person in the United States.
D. unite public and private providers of care in a comprehensive approach to providing health
care.
ANS: A
Rationale: As defined by the Institute of Medicine in its 1988 report The Future of Public
Health , assessment, policy development, and assurance are core functions at all levels of
government for the purpose of clarifying the government’s role.
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 the health of
Americans.
ANS: 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.
Although reform of the medical insurance system may help improve the health of Americans,
there are many other factors that will need to be addressed.
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. Assessment
B. Prevention
C. Assurance
D. Policy development
ANS: A
Rationale: Assessment consists of systematic data collection and monitoring health status.
Prevention is not a core function, assurance is making sure essential services are available, and
policy development is needed to provide leadership in developing policies.
10. The PHN compares the rate of teenage pregnancy in various areas of the city. Which of the core
functions of public health is being implemented?
A. Assurance
B. Assessment
, C. Prevention
D. Policy development
ANS: B
Rationale: Assessment refers to systematic data collection, which this nurse is doing for
teenage pregnancy. Prevention is not a core function, assurance is making sure essential
services are available, and policy development is needed to provide leadership in developing
policies.
11. A PHN develops and implements local public health policies through partnerships with
agencies, organizations, and consumers within the community. Which of the following core public
health functions is being used?
A. Assessment
B. Prevention
C. Assurance
D. Policy development
ANS: 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.
12. A nurse provides for the availability of essential personal health services for people who would
otherwise not receive health care. Which of the public health core functions is being used?
A. Assessment
B. Prevention
C. Assurance
D. Policy development
ANS: C
Rationale: 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.
13. 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. Assurance
B. Assessment
C. Prevention
D. Policy development
ANS: A
Rationale: Assurance refers to making sure a competent health care workforce is available.
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.
