Community Health Nursing Updated 2026 | 190+ Questions and Answers |
Stanhope & Lancaster's Community Health Nursing Practice Exam,
Comprehensive Study Guide, Exam Prep Test Bank, Public Health Nursing,
Population Health, Community Assessment, Epidemiology, Health
Promotion, Disease Prevention, Environmental Health, Disaster
Preparedness, Vulnerable Populations, NCLEX-RN Style Questions,
Detailed Rationales and Complete Revision Material
Question 1: A community health nurse is conducting a windshield survey.
Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of this assessment
method?
A. To interview key community informants about their perceptions of health needs.
B. To analyze vital statistics and epidemiological data from the community.
C. To visually observe the community's physical environment, housing, and
infrastructure.
D. To review the minutes of community coalition meetings to identify health priorities.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. To visually observe the community's physical
environment, housing, and infrastructure.
Rationale: A windshield survey involves driving or walking through a community and
making systematic observations of its physical characteristics, such as housing
conditions, presence of parks, public transportation, and safety hazards. It provides a
foundational visual overview of the community's environment. Options A, B, and D are
other components of a community assessment but do not define a windshield survey.
Question 2: The nurse is using the epidemiological triangle to understand a
recent outbreak of tuberculosis. Which component of the triangle would the
tubercle bacillus represent?
A. Host
B. Environment
C. Agent
D. Vector
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Agent
Rationale: The epidemiological triangle consists of an agent, host, and environment.
The agent is the cause of the disease, which in the case of tuberculosis is the
bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the tubercle bacillus). The host is the affected
person, the environment includes external factors, and a vector is a living organism that
transmits an infectious agent.
,Question 3: A community health nurse is implementing a secondary
prevention strategy for cardiovascular disease. Which of the following
activities is most consistent with this level of prevention?
A. Leading a smoking cessation support group for high school students.
B. Conducting blood pressure screenings at a local senior center.
C. Developing a community walking trail to promote physical activity.
D. Providing case management for a client who had a myocardial infarction.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Conducting blood pressure screenings at a local senior
center.
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and prompt treatment of
disease. Blood pressure screening identifies individuals with hypertension so that
treatment can begin, thereby halting the progression of cardiovascular disease. Option A
and C are primary prevention (health promotion), and Option D is tertiary prevention
(rehabilitation).
Question 4: According to the Standards of Public Health Nursing, which of the
following is the core function of public health that involves the systematic
collection, analysis, and dissemination of health data?
A. Assurance
B. Assessment
C. Policy Development
D. Evaluation
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the core public health function that includes collecting and
analyzing data to identify community health problems and assets. This information is
then used to inform public health policy and plan interventions. Assurance focuses on
ensuring services are available, and Policy Development involves creating regulations
and laws.
Question 5: A nurse is applying the ethical principle of justice when allocating
resources. Which of the following actions best demonstrates this principle?
A. Respecting a client's decision to refuse a recommended vaccination.
B. Providing truthful information about a new medication's side effects.
C. Ensuring all clients, regardless of insurance, have access to a free diabetes clinic.
D. Maintaining a client's confidentiality when discussing their HIV status.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Ensuring all clients, regardless of insurance, have
access to a free diabetes clinic.
,Rationale: Justice in healthcare refers to the fair and equitable distribution of resources
and services. Ensuring access to care for all clients, regardless of their insurance status,
is an example of this principle. Option A is autonomy, Option B is veracity, and Option D
is confidentiality.
Question 6: A community health nurse is using the PRECEDE-PROCEED model
to plan a health promotion program. During which phase would the nurse
identify factors that reinforce or reward a specific behavior?
A. Social Assessment
B. Epidemiological Assessment
C. Behavioral and Environmental Assessment
D. Educational and Ecological Assessment
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Educational and Ecological Assessment
Rationale: The Educational and Ecological Assessment (Phase 4) of the PRECEDE-
PROCEED model identifies predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors that influence
health behaviors. Reinforcing factors are those that provide feedback and reward for
behavior, such as social support. The earlier phases focus on social and epidemiological
data.
Question 7: Which of the following is the most accurate measure of the burden
of a disease in a population, as it accounts for both mortality and morbidity?
A. Incidence rate
B. Prevalence rate
C. Mortality rate
D. Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY)
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY)
Rationale: DALY is a composite measure that quantifies the overall burden of a disease
by combining years of life lost due to premature mortality and years lived with disability.
Incidence is the number of new cases, prevalence is total existing cases, and mortality
rate is the number of deaths.
Question 8: A nurse is providing care to an immigrant family who speaks a
language different from their own. Which of the following actions
demonstrates cultural competence?
A. Using a professional interpreter to obtain a health history.
B. Speaking loudly and slowly to ensure the family understands.
C. Asking a family member to translate medical information.
D. Providing written materials in English.
, CORRECT ANSWER: A. Using a professional interpreter to obtain a health
history.
Rationale: Cultural competence includes providing effective care that is respectful of
and responsive to diverse cultural backgrounds. Using a professional, trained medical
interpreter ensures accurate and confidential communication. Using family members
(especially children) or speaking loudly are inappropriate and unethical practices.
Question 9: A community health nurse is assessing a client's home
environment for fall risk. Which of the following observations would require
immediate intervention?
A. The client uses a walker for mobility.
B. The client has a nightlight in the hallway.
C. The client has a small, unsecured throw rug in the living room.
D. The client's bed is set at a low height.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The client has a small, unsecured throw rug in the
living room.
Rationale: An unsecured throw rug is a significant tripping hazard and a leading cause
of falls in the home. It requires immediate intervention, such as removing the rug or
securing it with double-sided tape. Options A, B, and D are generally safety measures or
assistive devices that reduce fall risk.
Question 10: The nurse is evaluating a community-based diabetes
management program. Which outcome indicator would be most relevant to
measure the program's effectiveness?
A. The number of participants who attended the program.
B. The average decrease in participants' HbA1c levels over six months.
C. The cost of the educational materials distributed.
D. The number of nurses who volunteered to teach the classes.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The average decrease in participants' HbA1c levels
over six months.
Rationale: Effectiveness is measured by outcomes related to the health status of the
population. A decrease in HbA1c is a direct clinical outcome indicating improved
glycemic control, which is the primary goal of a diabetes management program. Options
A, C, and D are process or structure measures.
Question 11: According to the Health Belief Model, a person's belief that they
can successfully perform a behavior is known as which of the following?