A community/public health nurse is best defined as a nurse who
a. Applies concepts and knowledge from nursing and public health.
b. Gives care to families in the community.
c. Has a baccalaureate and previous experience in community health.
d. Is employed outside of an acute care setting. - Answers d. Is employed outside of an acute
care setting.
The term community health nursing is an umbrella term used for all nurses who work in a
community. This term denotes the setting of practice for the nurse.
What is workers' compensation? - Answers Workers' compensation is a system of benefits
provided by law to most employees who experience work-related injuries or occupational
diseases. Generally, benefits are paid regardless of fault.
The only clear distinction between a community health nurse and a public health nurse is that
a. The community health nurse gives care in community settings regardless of personal
education, whereas public health nurses have specific educational preparation.
b. Community health nurse is a title that has historically been used, whereas public health nurse
is the new in title for the role.
c. The community health nurse is employed to give care to families and groups, whereas the
public health nurse works in public health departments.
d. Community health nurse is the broader term that includes public health nursing, school
nursing, and home health nursing. - Answers a. The community health nurse gives care in
community settings regardless of personal education, whereas public health nurses have
specific educational preparation.
Public health nurses synthesize all their nursing expertise, as well as knowledge, from public
health, whereas nurses with varied educational backgrounds may be employed in community
,settings.
When the nurse is caring for a family or a community, it is important that the nurse provide care
that is
a. Similar to that described in the textbook or procedure manual
b. Consistent with agency policies
c. Inexpensive
d. Culturally congruent - Answers d. Culturally congruent
Although the nurse should provide care in all the ways described, for recipients to accept the
care, the care must be consistent with their cultural expectations and norms.
What is the meaning of the term aggregate as used in community health?
a. A group of persons who reside in a specific geographic area
b. All the persons who live in a specific community
c. A set of persons who have some characteristic in common
d. The public in professional terminology - Answers c. A set of persons who have some
characteristic in common
By definition, an aggregate is a group of persons who have one or more characteristics in
common, particularly a set of persons under statistical study with some common personal or
environmental characteristic. Aggregate is a synonym for population.
What is the appropriate approach for the community/public health nurse in balancing individual
privacy and autonomy and the communitys needs for safety and security?
a. Fulfill agency policies first.
b. Implement professional standards of nursing practice.
c. Seek a balance between individuals needs and the communitys needs.
d. Remember that group needs outrank individual needs. - Answers c. Seek a balance between
,individuals needs and the communitys needs.
While the nurses practice should be consistent with employing agency policies, legal mandates,
and professional standards, the nurse must seek a balance between individual autonomy and
other individual rights and the rights of all other community members. It is a delicate balance.
In which situation would the community/public health nurse be applying the ethical principle of
doing good for the greatest number of persons with the least amount of harm?
a. Asking the agency supervisor how to approach an ethical dilemma
b. Focusing on providing basic services for everyone in the community
c. Following agency policies
d. Delivering care to families who have health insurance - Answers b. Focusing on providing
basic services for everyone in the community
To provide for the greatest good to the greatest number, it is often necessary to focus on basic
services, such as immunization or prenatal care, because such care has the most effect on the
whole community.
When faced with an ethical conflict about limited resources and unlimited need, which action is
the most just?
a. Giving care to clients whose needs most closely match the nurses abilities
b. Giving care to whichever prospective clients ask for care first
c. Working as hard as possible and not worrying about it
d. Trying to achieve the outcome of the greatest good for the greatest number of persons -
Answers d. Trying to achieve the outcome of the greatest good for the greatest number of
persons
, Although option B fulfills the criteria of egalitarian (equal) justice, it is a short-term answer to an
ongoing problem. Trying to achieve the outcome of the greatest good for the greatest number
of persons is a utilitarian approach to justice, which is more helpful in dealing with large
populations such as clients seen by the community/public health nurse.
Which document is helpful in describing competent and appropriate nursing care in the
community?
a. Community Health: Standards of Nursing
b. Healthy People 2020
c. The Joint Commission: The Comprehensive Accreditation Manual
d. Public Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice - Answers d. Public Health Nursing:
Scope and Standards of Practice
The document Public Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (2007) was developed in
concert with the steps of the nursing process to help nurses promote the health of persons.
Healthy People 2020 focuses on achieving health goals for persons living in the United States.
The Joint Commission Manual is used by organizations pursuing accreditation from this
organization. There is no such document as Community Health: Standards of Nursing.
How does a community/public health nurse provide indirect care to clients in homes, clinics,
senior citizen centers, schools, prisons, homeless shelters, and other living environments?
a. Being employed in community settings such as outpatient clinics
b. Providing anticipatory guidance and health promotion activities to community members
c. Providing care in mobile vans to citizens in their own neighborhoods
d. Being involved on a political action committee to create new client services - Answers d.
Being involved on a political action committee to create new client services
Nurses give care directly, as in all the answers given, but provide care indirectly by trying to
promote health and well-being through creating new resources, improving the environment, or
using social and political mechanisms for solving problems.