Updated HESI RN Community Health 2026
with NGN Questions and Answers
1. A community health nurse is reviewing vital statistics. The number
of new cases of HIV in a county during 2025 was 150. The population
at mid-year was 75,000. What is the incidence rate per 1,000?
• A) 0.5
• B) 2.0
• C) 5.0
• D) 20.0
Answer: B (2.0)
Rationale: Incidence rate = (New cases / Population) × 1,000 = (150 /
75,000) × 1,000 = 2.0.
2. A nurse is conducting a windshield survey. Which data is the
nurse most likely to collect?
• A) Family medical histories
• B) Housing conditions and zoning
• C) Blood pressure screenings
• D) Employee satisfaction rates
Answer: B
Rationale: A windshield survey involves observing the community
visually while driving; it includes housing, open spaces, and
infrastructure. It does not involve individual health data.
,3. A migrant farmworker presents with a persistent cough and night
sweats. Which action is the priority?
• A) Provide over-the-counter cough syrup
• B) Arrange for tuberculosis (TB) screening
• C) Refer to a dermatologist
• D) Administer the influenza vaccine
Answer: B
Rationale: Migrant workers have high rates of TB due to crowded living
conditions. Night sweats and cough are hallmark signs requiring
immediate screening.
4. (NGN - Cues) A nurse visits a homebound elderly client. The client
has an infected pressure ulcer and expired canned food in the pantry.
Which finding is the priority cue?
• A) Expired canned food
• B) Infected pressure ulcer
• C) Age over 80
• D) Lives in a rural area
Answer: B
Rationale: The infected pressure ulcer is an immediate physiologic
threat (risk of sepsis). Expired food is important but secondary to active
infection.
,5. A community health nurse is teaching about the chain of infection.
Which link is broken by properly covering the mouth when coughing?
• A) Reservoir
• B) Portal of exit
• C) Mode of transmission
• D) Portal of entry
Answer: B
Rationale: Covering the mouth blocks the portal of exit (respiratory
tract), preventing droplets from leaving the host.
6. Which level of prevention is a nurse providing when administering
a flu vaccine at a senior center?
• A) Primary
• B) Secondary
• C) Tertiary
• D) Quaternary
Answer: A
Rationale: Vaccination prevents the disease from occurring at all, which
defines primary prevention.
7. A school nurse screens 1,000 children for scoliosis and finds 20
cases. 5 of those were previously diagnosed. What is the prevalence?
• A) 15 per 1,000
• B) 20 per 1,000
, • C) 5 per 1,000
• D) 25 per 1,000
Answer: B (20 per 1,000)
Rationale: Prevalence includes all existing cases (new + old) at a point in
time. (,000).
8. During a disaster triage, a victim has a respiratory rate of 6/min and
is unresponsive. Which triage tag should the nurse assign?
• A) Green (Minor)
• B) Yellow (Delayed)
• C) Red (Immediate)
• D) Black (Expectant)
Answer: D
Rationale: In START triage, a respiratory rate <10 or unresponsiveness
indicates imminent death (Black tag) in a mass casualty situation where
resources are limited.
9. A nurse is advocating for a community water fluoridation program.
This is an example of which ethical principle?
• A) Autonomy
• B) Beneficence
• C) Justice
• D) Fidelity
with NGN Questions and Answers
1. A community health nurse is reviewing vital statistics. The number
of new cases of HIV in a county during 2025 was 150. The population
at mid-year was 75,000. What is the incidence rate per 1,000?
• A) 0.5
• B) 2.0
• C) 5.0
• D) 20.0
Answer: B (2.0)
Rationale: Incidence rate = (New cases / Population) × 1,000 = (150 /
75,000) × 1,000 = 2.0.
2. A nurse is conducting a windshield survey. Which data is the
nurse most likely to collect?
• A) Family medical histories
• B) Housing conditions and zoning
• C) Blood pressure screenings
• D) Employee satisfaction rates
Answer: B
Rationale: A windshield survey involves observing the community
visually while driving; it includes housing, open spaces, and
infrastructure. It does not involve individual health data.
,3. A migrant farmworker presents with a persistent cough and night
sweats. Which action is the priority?
• A) Provide over-the-counter cough syrup
• B) Arrange for tuberculosis (TB) screening
• C) Refer to a dermatologist
• D) Administer the influenza vaccine
Answer: B
Rationale: Migrant workers have high rates of TB due to crowded living
conditions. Night sweats and cough are hallmark signs requiring
immediate screening.
4. (NGN - Cues) A nurse visits a homebound elderly client. The client
has an infected pressure ulcer and expired canned food in the pantry.
Which finding is the priority cue?
• A) Expired canned food
• B) Infected pressure ulcer
• C) Age over 80
• D) Lives in a rural area
Answer: B
Rationale: The infected pressure ulcer is an immediate physiologic
threat (risk of sepsis). Expired food is important but secondary to active
infection.
,5. A community health nurse is teaching about the chain of infection.
Which link is broken by properly covering the mouth when coughing?
• A) Reservoir
• B) Portal of exit
• C) Mode of transmission
• D) Portal of entry
Answer: B
Rationale: Covering the mouth blocks the portal of exit (respiratory
tract), preventing droplets from leaving the host.
6. Which level of prevention is a nurse providing when administering
a flu vaccine at a senior center?
• A) Primary
• B) Secondary
• C) Tertiary
• D) Quaternary
Answer: A
Rationale: Vaccination prevents the disease from occurring at all, which
defines primary prevention.
7. A school nurse screens 1,000 children for scoliosis and finds 20
cases. 5 of those were previously diagnosed. What is the prevalence?
• A) 15 per 1,000
• B) 20 per 1,000
, • C) 5 per 1,000
• D) 25 per 1,000
Answer: B (20 per 1,000)
Rationale: Prevalence includes all existing cases (new + old) at a point in
time. (,000).
8. During a disaster triage, a victim has a respiratory rate of 6/min and
is unresponsive. Which triage tag should the nurse assign?
• A) Green (Minor)
• B) Yellow (Delayed)
• C) Red (Immediate)
• D) Black (Expectant)
Answer: D
Rationale: In START triage, a respiratory rate <10 or unresponsiveness
indicates imminent death (Black tag) in a mass casualty situation where
resources are limited.
9. A nurse is advocating for a community water fluoridation program.
This is an example of which ethical principle?
• A) Autonomy
• B) Beneficence
• C) Justice
• D) Fidelity
