Public Health Nursing 11th Edition (Stanhope, 2025) Final
Exam Questions and 100% Verified Answers With
Rationales | Already Passed.
QUESTION: A co-worker asks the nurse to explain spirituality. What is the nurse's best
response?
a. It has a minor effect on health.
b. It is awareness of one's inner self.
c. It is not as essential as physical needs.
d. It refers to fire or giving of life to a person. ANS: B
Spirituality is often defined as an awareness of one's inner self and a sense of connection to
a higher being, to nature, or to some purpose greater than oneself. Spirituality is an
important factor that helps individuals achieve the balance needed to maintain health and
well-being and to cope with illness. Florence Nightingale believed that spirituality was a
force that provided energy needed to promote a healthy hospital environment and that
caring for a person's spiritual needs was just as essential as caring for his or her physical
needs. The word spirituality comes from the Latin word spiritus, which refers to breath or
wind. The spirit gives life to a person.
QUESTION: The nurse is caring for a patient who is professes to being an agnostic. Which
information should the nurse consider when planning care for this patient belief system?
a. The patient is devoid of spirituality.
b. Is certain there is no such entity as God.
c. Believes there is no known ultimate reality.
d. Finds no meaning through relationship with others. ANS: C
Some people do not believe in the existence of God (atheist), or they believe that there is no
known ultimate reality (agnostic). Nonetheless, spirituality is important regardless of a
person's religious beliefs. Agnostics discover meaning in what they do or how they live
because they find no ultimate meaning for the way things are. They believe that people
bring meaning to what they do.
1|Page
, QUESTION: The nurse is caring for an Islamic patient who wants to pray. Which intervention
is most appropriate?
a. Postponing their bath until after they are finished praying
b. Offering to turn on their music in preparation for prayer
c. Ask their roommate to leave while they pray
d. Set aside time for their praying 3 times a day ANS: B
A patient who is a follower of Islam will want to say daily prayers (Salah) five times a day.
Patients pray in private or participate in group prayer with family, friends, or clergy. Muslims
must be clean before they pray, so offer hygiene measures according to Islam practices.
Some pray while listening to music.
QUESTION: A nurse is teaching a patient how to meditate. Which behavior presented by the
patient indicates effective learning?
a. Lying on the floor
b. Breathing quickly
c. Focusing on an particular image
d. Engaging for 10 minutes every day ANS: C
The steps of meditation include sitting in a comfortable position with the back straight;
breathe slowly; and focus on a sound, prayer, or image. Meditation should occur for 10 to 20
minutes twice a day.
QUESTION: The nurse is admitting a patient to the hospital. The patient claims to be a very
spiritual person but does not practice any specific religion. How will the nurse interpret this
finding?
a. This indicates a strong religious affiliation.
b. This statement is contradictory.
c. This statement is reasonable.
d. This indicates a lack of hope. ANS: C
The patient's statement is reasonable and is not contradictory. Many people tend to use the
terms spirituality and religion interchangeably. Although closely associated, these terms are
not synonymous. Religious practices encompass spirituality, but spirituality does not need to
2|Page
,include religious practice. When a person has the attitude of something to live for and look
forward to, hope is present.
QUESTION: Which patient comment should the nurse identify as a demonstration of faith?
a. I go to church every Sunday.
b. I believe there is life after death.
c. I have something to look forward to each day.
d. I get a feeling of awe when looking at the sunset. ANS: B
Faith allows people to have firm beliefs despite lack of physical evidence (life after death).
Religion refers to the system of organized beliefs and worship that a person practices to
outwardly express spirituality (go to church). When a person has the attitude of something
to live for and look forward to, hope is present (look forward to each day). Self-
transcendence is the belief that there is a force outside of and greater than the person (awe
when looking at a sunset).
QUESTION: A nurse is caring for a Roman Catholic patient. Which action will the nurse plan
time for?
a. Practice the Five Pillars
b. Practice Blessingway
c. Avoiding meat on Fridays
d. The purity rituals ANS: C
Fasting on Fridays is practiced by some Roman Catholics. Hindus practice prayer and purity
rituals. Blessingway is a practice of the Navajos that attempts to remove ill health by means
of stories, songs, rituals, prayers, symbols, and sand paintings. Islams must be able to
practice the Five Pillars of Islam.
QUESTION: The nurse is caring for a patient with a chronic illness who is having conflicts
with beliefs. Which health care team member will the nurse ask to see this patient?
a. The clergy
b. A psychiatrist
c. A social worker
3|Page
, d. An occupational therapist ANS: A
Other important resources to patients are spiritual advisors and members of the clergy.
Spiritual care helps people identify meaning and purpose in life, look beyond the present,
and maintain personal relationships, as well as a relationship with a higher being or life
force. A psychiatrist is for emotional health. A social worker focuses on social, financial, and
community resources. An occupational therapist provides care with vocational issues and
functioning within physical limitations.
QUESTION: The nurse caring for a terminally ill patient sits down and lightly touches the
patient's hand. Which technique is the nurse using?
a. ―Doing foR ||
b. Establishing presence
c. Offering transcendence
d. Providing health promotion ANS: B
Establishing presence by sitting with a patient to attentively listen to his or her feelings and
situation, talking with the patient, crying with the patient, and simply offering time are
powerful spiritual care approaches. Benner explains that presence involves ―being with‖ a
patient versus ―doing for‖ a patient. Transcendence is the belief that a force outside of and
greater than the person exists beyond the material world. In settings where health
promotion activities occur, patients often need information, counseling, and guidance to
make the necessary choices to remain healthy.
QUESTION: The nurse and the patient have the same religious affiliation. Which action will
the nurse take to support the patient spiritually?
a. Must use a formal assessment tool to determine patient's beliefs.
b. Assume that both have the same spiritual beliefs.
c. Do not impose personal values on the patient.
d. Skip the spiritual belief assessment. ANS: C
It is important not to impose personal value systems on the patient. This is particularly true
when the patient's values and beliefs are similar to those of the nurse because it then
becomes very easy to make false assumptions. It is not a must to use a formal assessment
tool when assessing a patient's beliefs. It is important to conduct the spiritual belief
assessment; conducting an assessment is therapeutic because it expresses a level of caring
and support.
4|Page
Exam Questions and 100% Verified Answers With
Rationales | Already Passed.
QUESTION: A co-worker asks the nurse to explain spirituality. What is the nurse's best
response?
a. It has a minor effect on health.
b. It is awareness of one's inner self.
c. It is not as essential as physical needs.
d. It refers to fire or giving of life to a person. ANS: B
Spirituality is often defined as an awareness of one's inner self and a sense of connection to
a higher being, to nature, or to some purpose greater than oneself. Spirituality is an
important factor that helps individuals achieve the balance needed to maintain health and
well-being and to cope with illness. Florence Nightingale believed that spirituality was a
force that provided energy needed to promote a healthy hospital environment and that
caring for a person's spiritual needs was just as essential as caring for his or her physical
needs. The word spirituality comes from the Latin word spiritus, which refers to breath or
wind. The spirit gives life to a person.
QUESTION: The nurse is caring for a patient who is professes to being an agnostic. Which
information should the nurse consider when planning care for this patient belief system?
a. The patient is devoid of spirituality.
b. Is certain there is no such entity as God.
c. Believes there is no known ultimate reality.
d. Finds no meaning through relationship with others. ANS: C
Some people do not believe in the existence of God (atheist), or they believe that there is no
known ultimate reality (agnostic). Nonetheless, spirituality is important regardless of a
person's religious beliefs. Agnostics discover meaning in what they do or how they live
because they find no ultimate meaning for the way things are. They believe that people
bring meaning to what they do.
1|Page
, QUESTION: The nurse is caring for an Islamic patient who wants to pray. Which intervention
is most appropriate?
a. Postponing their bath until after they are finished praying
b. Offering to turn on their music in preparation for prayer
c. Ask their roommate to leave while they pray
d. Set aside time for their praying 3 times a day ANS: B
A patient who is a follower of Islam will want to say daily prayers (Salah) five times a day.
Patients pray in private or participate in group prayer with family, friends, or clergy. Muslims
must be clean before they pray, so offer hygiene measures according to Islam practices.
Some pray while listening to music.
QUESTION: A nurse is teaching a patient how to meditate. Which behavior presented by the
patient indicates effective learning?
a. Lying on the floor
b. Breathing quickly
c. Focusing on an particular image
d. Engaging for 10 minutes every day ANS: C
The steps of meditation include sitting in a comfortable position with the back straight;
breathe slowly; and focus on a sound, prayer, or image. Meditation should occur for 10 to 20
minutes twice a day.
QUESTION: The nurse is admitting a patient to the hospital. The patient claims to be a very
spiritual person but does not practice any specific religion. How will the nurse interpret this
finding?
a. This indicates a strong religious affiliation.
b. This statement is contradictory.
c. This statement is reasonable.
d. This indicates a lack of hope. ANS: C
The patient's statement is reasonable and is not contradictory. Many people tend to use the
terms spirituality and religion interchangeably. Although closely associated, these terms are
not synonymous. Religious practices encompass spirituality, but spirituality does not need to
2|Page
,include religious practice. When a person has the attitude of something to live for and look
forward to, hope is present.
QUESTION: Which patient comment should the nurse identify as a demonstration of faith?
a. I go to church every Sunday.
b. I believe there is life after death.
c. I have something to look forward to each day.
d. I get a feeling of awe when looking at the sunset. ANS: B
Faith allows people to have firm beliefs despite lack of physical evidence (life after death).
Religion refers to the system of organized beliefs and worship that a person practices to
outwardly express spirituality (go to church). When a person has the attitude of something
to live for and look forward to, hope is present (look forward to each day). Self-
transcendence is the belief that there is a force outside of and greater than the person (awe
when looking at a sunset).
QUESTION: A nurse is caring for a Roman Catholic patient. Which action will the nurse plan
time for?
a. Practice the Five Pillars
b. Practice Blessingway
c. Avoiding meat on Fridays
d. The purity rituals ANS: C
Fasting on Fridays is practiced by some Roman Catholics. Hindus practice prayer and purity
rituals. Blessingway is a practice of the Navajos that attempts to remove ill health by means
of stories, songs, rituals, prayers, symbols, and sand paintings. Islams must be able to
practice the Five Pillars of Islam.
QUESTION: The nurse is caring for a patient with a chronic illness who is having conflicts
with beliefs. Which health care team member will the nurse ask to see this patient?
a. The clergy
b. A psychiatrist
c. A social worker
3|Page
, d. An occupational therapist ANS: A
Other important resources to patients are spiritual advisors and members of the clergy.
Spiritual care helps people identify meaning and purpose in life, look beyond the present,
and maintain personal relationships, as well as a relationship with a higher being or life
force. A psychiatrist is for emotional health. A social worker focuses on social, financial, and
community resources. An occupational therapist provides care with vocational issues and
functioning within physical limitations.
QUESTION: The nurse caring for a terminally ill patient sits down and lightly touches the
patient's hand. Which technique is the nurse using?
a. ―Doing foR ||
b. Establishing presence
c. Offering transcendence
d. Providing health promotion ANS: B
Establishing presence by sitting with a patient to attentively listen to his or her feelings and
situation, talking with the patient, crying with the patient, and simply offering time are
powerful spiritual care approaches. Benner explains that presence involves ―being with‖ a
patient versus ―doing for‖ a patient. Transcendence is the belief that a force outside of and
greater than the person exists beyond the material world. In settings where health
promotion activities occur, patients often need information, counseling, and guidance to
make the necessary choices to remain healthy.
QUESTION: The nurse and the patient have the same religious affiliation. Which action will
the nurse take to support the patient spiritually?
a. Must use a formal assessment tool to determine patient's beliefs.
b. Assume that both have the same spiritual beliefs.
c. Do not impose personal values on the patient.
d. Skip the spiritual belief assessment. ANS: C
It is important not to impose personal value systems on the patient. This is particularly true
when the patient's values and beliefs are similar to those of the nurse because it then
becomes very easy to make false assumptions. It is not a must to use a formal assessment
tool when assessing a patient's beliefs. It is important to conduct the spiritual belief
assessment; conducting an assessment is therapeutic because it expresses a level of caring
and support.
4|Page
