NURS 401 FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC
HEALTH NURSING FINAL PRACTICE
EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2025 MARYVILLE
UNIVERSITY
1. What is the primary focus of public health nursing?
Health promotion and disease prevention for populations
Public health nursing emphasizes improving the health of
entire populations through preventive measures and health
education rather than focusing only on individual
treatment.
2. Which level of prevention aims to reduce the impact of a
disease that has already occurred?
, Tertiary prevention
Tertiary prevention focuses on managing disease post-
diagnosis to slow or stop progression and improve quality of
life.
3. What is the main purpose of a community health
assessment?
To identify health needs and resources of a community
A community health assessment helps nurses and health
professionals understand the community’s health status,
resources, and gaps to plan effective interventions.
4. Which public health nursing model emphasizes working
with communities to identify problems and develop
solutions collaboratively?
Community-oriented nursing model
This model focuses on community partnerships and
collective problem solving rather than individual patient
care.
5. What is the most important consideration when designing
culturally competent nursing interventions?
Respecting and incorporating cultural beliefs and practices
Culturally competent care requires acknowledging
patients' cultural backgrounds and tailoring interventions
that respect these differences.
,6. Which government agency is primarily responsible for
disease surveillance in the United States?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC collects, analyzes, and reports data on disease
incidence to inform public health actions.
7. What is herd immunity?
When a sufficient portion of a population is immune to an
infectious disease, reducing its spread
Herd immunity protects individuals who are not immune by
limiting disease transmission through population immunity.
8. What is the first step in the nursing process applied to public
health nursing?
Assessment
Assessment involves collecting data about the health
status and needs of individuals, families, or communities.
9. Which ethical principle requires that public health nurses
distribute resources fairly?
Justice
Justice involves fairness and equity in distribution of health
resources and access to care.
10. What does the term “social determinants of health”
refer to?
, Conditions in the environments where people live, learn,
work, and play that affect health risks and outcomes
Social determinants include factors like socioeconomic
status, education, and neighborhood safety impacting
health.
11. Which intervention is an example of primary
prevention?
Administering childhood immunizations
Primary prevention prevents the onset of disease before it
occurs.
12. In public health nursing, what is the significance of the
“upstream approach”?
Focusing on root causes and social determinants of health
to prevent problems
Upstream interventions aim to modify social, economic, or
environmental factors that lead to health issues.
13. What is the role of surveillance in public health?
To monitor health events and detect outbreaks early
Surveillance helps track disease trends and supports timely
interventions.
14. Which type of epidemiologic study examines data
collected at one point in time?
HEALTH NURSING FINAL PRACTICE
EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2025 MARYVILLE
UNIVERSITY
1. What is the primary focus of public health nursing?
Health promotion and disease prevention for populations
Public health nursing emphasizes improving the health of
entire populations through preventive measures and health
education rather than focusing only on individual
treatment.
2. Which level of prevention aims to reduce the impact of a
disease that has already occurred?
, Tertiary prevention
Tertiary prevention focuses on managing disease post-
diagnosis to slow or stop progression and improve quality of
life.
3. What is the main purpose of a community health
assessment?
To identify health needs and resources of a community
A community health assessment helps nurses and health
professionals understand the community’s health status,
resources, and gaps to plan effective interventions.
4. Which public health nursing model emphasizes working
with communities to identify problems and develop
solutions collaboratively?
Community-oriented nursing model
This model focuses on community partnerships and
collective problem solving rather than individual patient
care.
5. What is the most important consideration when designing
culturally competent nursing interventions?
Respecting and incorporating cultural beliefs and practices
Culturally competent care requires acknowledging
patients' cultural backgrounds and tailoring interventions
that respect these differences.
,6. Which government agency is primarily responsible for
disease surveillance in the United States?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC collects, analyzes, and reports data on disease
incidence to inform public health actions.
7. What is herd immunity?
When a sufficient portion of a population is immune to an
infectious disease, reducing its spread
Herd immunity protects individuals who are not immune by
limiting disease transmission through population immunity.
8. What is the first step in the nursing process applied to public
health nursing?
Assessment
Assessment involves collecting data about the health
status and needs of individuals, families, or communities.
9. Which ethical principle requires that public health nurses
distribute resources fairly?
Justice
Justice involves fairness and equity in distribution of health
resources and access to care.
10. What does the term “social determinants of health”
refer to?
, Conditions in the environments where people live, learn,
work, and play that affect health risks and outcomes
Social determinants include factors like socioeconomic
status, education, and neighborhood safety impacting
health.
11. Which intervention is an example of primary
prevention?
Administering childhood immunizations
Primary prevention prevents the onset of disease before it
occurs.
12. In public health nursing, what is the significance of the
“upstream approach”?
Focusing on root causes and social determinants of health
to prevent problems
Upstream interventions aim to modify social, economic, or
environmental factors that lead to health issues.
13. What is the role of surveillance in public health?
To monitor health events and detect outbreaks early
Surveillance helps track disease trends and supports timely
interventions.
14. Which type of epidemiologic study examines data
collected at one point in time?
