NUR 225 POPULATION HEALTH EXAM GUIDE 2026
EDITION Q&A
Which of the following activities best defines epidemiology in
population health nursing?
A. Prescribing prophylactic antibiotics for an individual suspected of
having been exposed to anthrax
B. Teaching a community class to those newly diagnosed with diabetes
C. Recommending that a restaurant temporarily close for deep cleaning
after implicating it as the source of a norovirus outbreak
D. Encouraging families in the community to eat dinner together every
night
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Epidemiology focuses on identifying disease sources and
patterns in populations to implement public health interventions.
Closing a restaurant as a source control measure represents population-
level epidemiologic action. Options A and B are individual-level
interventions, while D is health promotion without epidemiologic
investigation.
Which factors make up the epidemiological triad?
A. Agent, host, environment
B. Person, place, time
C. Source, mode of transmission, host
D. Portal of entry, agent, portal of exit
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The epidemiological triad consists of agent (pathogen),
host (organism susceptible to disease), and environment (external
,factors affecting transmission). Options B, C, and D represent other
epidemiologic concepts but not the classic triad.
The school nurse is developing a plan to reduce direct transmission of
disease. Which mode of transmission will be included in this plan?
A. Droplet spread
B. Foodborne
C. Mosquito borne
D. Surface spread
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Droplet spread is a form of direct transmission where
pathogens travel through respiratory droplets over short distances.
Foodborne and mosquito-borne are indirect transmission, while surface
spread involves fomites (also indirect).
Which description of disease activity in a single area corresponds to
endemic levels of disease?
A. There are usually 20–30 cases each week, and this past week there
were 29 cases.
B. There are usually fewer than 20 cases per year, and this past week
there were 2 cases.
C. There are usually up to 10 cases per week, and this past week there
were 40 cases.
D. There are usually 100,000 cases worldwide each month, and this past
month there were 10 million cases worldwide.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Endemic disease maintains a predictable, constant
,presence in a population at expected baseline levels. Option A shows
disease at expected levels. Option C indicates an epidemic (sudden
increase), and D indicates a pandemic.
What type of study is the public health nurse using to collect exposure
and lifestyle information to assess the relationship between these
factors and consequent occurrence of disease at a single point in time?
A. Experimental
B. Cross-sectional
C. Cohort
D. Case-control
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Cross-sectional studies collect exposure and outcome data
simultaneously at one point in time. Cohort studies follow participants
forward, case-control looks backward, and experimental involves
intervention.
What is the hallmark feature of an analytic study in epidemiology?
A. Use of an appropriate comparison group
B. Randomization in recruiting study participants
C. Confirmation of diagnosis via lab testing
D. Testing a hypothesis
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Analytic epidemiology requires a comparison group to test
hypotheses about disease determinants. Randomization is specific to
experimental studies, and hypothesis testing occurs but requires
comparison groups.
, What type of study randomly assigns an individual to receive the
currently available formulation of a blood pressure medication or the
newly formulated slow-release formulation?
A. Experimental
B. Observational
C. Case-control
D. Cohort
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Experimental studies involve investigator-controlled
intervention with random assignment to treatment groups.
Observational studies (including case-control and cohort) do not involve
intervention.
Which action highlights Florence Nightingale's role as an
epidemiologist?
A. Dressing soldiers' infected wounds
B. Connecting poor sanitation with negative health outcomes
C. Developing training schools for nurses and midwives
D. Changing linens and frequently bathing clients
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Nightingale's epidemiologic contribution was identifying
environmental factors (poor sanitation) and their relationship to disease
outcomes through data analysis. Other options represent nursing care
but not epidemiologic investigation.
EDITION Q&A
Which of the following activities best defines epidemiology in
population health nursing?
A. Prescribing prophylactic antibiotics for an individual suspected of
having been exposed to anthrax
B. Teaching a community class to those newly diagnosed with diabetes
C. Recommending that a restaurant temporarily close for deep cleaning
after implicating it as the source of a norovirus outbreak
D. Encouraging families in the community to eat dinner together every
night
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Epidemiology focuses on identifying disease sources and
patterns in populations to implement public health interventions.
Closing a restaurant as a source control measure represents population-
level epidemiologic action. Options A and B are individual-level
interventions, while D is health promotion without epidemiologic
investigation.
Which factors make up the epidemiological triad?
A. Agent, host, environment
B. Person, place, time
C. Source, mode of transmission, host
D. Portal of entry, agent, portal of exit
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The epidemiological triad consists of agent (pathogen),
host (organism susceptible to disease), and environment (external
,factors affecting transmission). Options B, C, and D represent other
epidemiologic concepts but not the classic triad.
The school nurse is developing a plan to reduce direct transmission of
disease. Which mode of transmission will be included in this plan?
A. Droplet spread
B. Foodborne
C. Mosquito borne
D. Surface spread
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Droplet spread is a form of direct transmission where
pathogens travel through respiratory droplets over short distances.
Foodborne and mosquito-borne are indirect transmission, while surface
spread involves fomites (also indirect).
Which description of disease activity in a single area corresponds to
endemic levels of disease?
A. There are usually 20–30 cases each week, and this past week there
were 29 cases.
B. There are usually fewer than 20 cases per year, and this past week
there were 2 cases.
C. There are usually up to 10 cases per week, and this past week there
were 40 cases.
D. There are usually 100,000 cases worldwide each month, and this past
month there were 10 million cases worldwide.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Endemic disease maintains a predictable, constant
,presence in a population at expected baseline levels. Option A shows
disease at expected levels. Option C indicates an epidemic (sudden
increase), and D indicates a pandemic.
What type of study is the public health nurse using to collect exposure
and lifestyle information to assess the relationship between these
factors and consequent occurrence of disease at a single point in time?
A. Experimental
B. Cross-sectional
C. Cohort
D. Case-control
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Cross-sectional studies collect exposure and outcome data
simultaneously at one point in time. Cohort studies follow participants
forward, case-control looks backward, and experimental involves
intervention.
What is the hallmark feature of an analytic study in epidemiology?
A. Use of an appropriate comparison group
B. Randomization in recruiting study participants
C. Confirmation of diagnosis via lab testing
D. Testing a hypothesis
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Analytic epidemiology requires a comparison group to test
hypotheses about disease determinants. Randomization is specific to
experimental studies, and hypothesis testing occurs but requires
comparison groups.
, What type of study randomly assigns an individual to receive the
currently available formulation of a blood pressure medication or the
newly formulated slow-release formulation?
A. Experimental
B. Observational
C. Case-control
D. Cohort
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Experimental studies involve investigator-controlled
intervention with random assignment to treatment groups.
Observational studies (including case-control and cohort) do not involve
intervention.
Which action highlights Florence Nightingale's role as an
epidemiologist?
A. Dressing soldiers' infected wounds
B. Connecting poor sanitation with negative health outcomes
C. Developing training schools for nurses and midwives
D. Changing linens and frequently bathing clients
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Nightingale's epidemiologic contribution was identifying
environmental factors (poor sanitation) and their relationship to disease
outcomes through data analysis. Other options represent nursing care
but not epidemiologic investigation.
