Concepts Exam 2 Study Guide &
150 Practice Questions Fortis
College 2026/2027
1. A community health nurse is investigating an outbreak of foodborne illness at a local
church picnic. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Implement control measures to prevent further transmission
B. Establish the existence of an outbreak by comparing observed cases to expected cases
C. Perform a case-control study to identify the source
D. Write a report for the health department
Correct Answer: B. Establish the existence of an outbreak by comparing observed cases to
expected cases
Rationale: The first step in outbreak investigation is to establish the existence of an outbreak
by determining whether the number of cases exceeds what is normally expected. Control
measures are implemented after the outbreak is confirmed.
2. A nurse is calculating the attack rate during a foodborne illness outbreak. Of 200 people
who ate potato salad at a community picnic, 80 became ill. What is the attack rate?
,A. 20%
B. 40%
C. 60%
D. 80%
Correct Answer: B. 40%
Rationale: Attack rate = (Number of cases among exposed ÷ Total number exposed) × 100. 80
÷ 200 × 100 = 40%.
3. A community health nurse is reviewing the epidemiological triad. Which component
represents the external factors that contribute to disease?
A. Agent
B. Host
C. Environment
D. Vector
, Correct Answer: C. Environment
Rationale: The epidemiological triad consists of agent, host, and environment. The
environment represents external factors that contribute to disease, such as living conditions,
climate, and socioeconomic factors.
4. A nurse is investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in a community. Which type of study
design is most appropriate for identifying the source of the outbreak?
A. Randomized controlled trial
B. Case-control study
C. Cohort study
D. Cross-sectional study
Correct Answer: B. Case-control study
Rationale: A case-control study compares individuals with the disease (cases) to those
without the disease (controls) to identify potential exposures. This design is efficient for
investigating outbreaks of rare diseases.