ATI RN COMMUNITY HEALTH CMS EXAM
200 Questions with Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales
2026 Edition | Verified Solutions | Graded A+
SECTION 1: EPIDEMIOLOGY & DISEASE PREVENTION
(Questions 1-35)
Q1. A community health nurse is conducting an epidemiological investigation of a
communicable disease outbreak. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take first?
• A) Implement control measures to prevent further transmission
• B) Confirm the diagnosis of reported cases
• C) Identify the source of the outbreak
• D) Define and identify cases
Answer: D – Define and identify cases
Rationale: In outbreak investigation, the first step is to define and identify cases to
establish the existence of an outbreak. This involves creating a case definition and
actively finding cases. Only after cases are identified can the nurse proceed to confirm
diagnoses, identify sources, and implement control measures.
, Q2. A nurse is calculating the incidence rate of influenza in a community of 50,000
people. During the past year, 500 new cases were reported. What is the incidence
rate per 1,000 population?
• A) 5 per 1,000
• B) 10 per 1,000
• C) 50 per 1,000
• D) 100 per 1,000
Answer: B – 10 per 1,000
Rationale: Incidence rate measures NEW cases occurring during a specific time period.
Calculation: (Number of new cases / Total population) × 1,000 = (,000) × 1,000
= 10 per 1,000 population.
Q3. A nurse is calculating the prevalence of diabetes in a community. Which of the
following should the nurse include in the numerator?
• A) Only new cases diagnosed in the past year
• B) All existing cases (both new and pre-existing) at a specific point in time
• C) Only cases that resulted in hospitalization
• D) Only cases confirmed by laboratory testing
Answer: B – All existing cases (both new and pre-existing) at a specific point in
time
Rationale: Prevalence measures ALL existing cases (both new and pre-existing) in a
population at a specific point in time. Incidence measures only NEW cases.
Q4. Which of the following is an example of a vector-borne disease?
• A) Influenza
• B) Tuberculosis
• C) Lyme disease
• D) Hepatitis A
, Answer: C – Lyme disease
Rationale: Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of infected black-legged ticks
(vectors). Influenza is airborne, tuberculosis is droplet, and hepatitis A is fecal-oral
transmission. Vectors are living organisms that transmit infectious pathogens between
humans or from animals to humans.
Q5. A smoking cessation program is an example of which level of prevention?
• A) Primary prevention
• B) Secondary prevention
• C) Tertiary prevention
• D) Quaternary prevention
Answer: A – Primary prevention
Rationale: Smoking cessation programs are considered primary prevention because they
aim to prevent the initiation of smoking-related diseases by eliminating the risk factor
(smoking). Even for current smokers, cessation reduces future disease risk.
Q6. A nurse is screening a community for hypertension. This is an example of
which level of prevention?
• A) Primary prevention
• B) Secondary prevention
• C) Tertiary prevention
• D) Health promotion
Answer: B – Secondary prevention
Rationale: Screening for hypertension is secondary prevention because it involves early
detection of disease in asymptomatic individuals to enable early intervention and
prevent progression.
, Q7. A nurse is providing rehabilitation services to a client who had a stroke. This is
an example of which level of prevention?
• A) Primary prevention
• B) Secondary prevention
• C) Tertiary prevention
• D) Health promotion
Answer: C – Tertiary prevention
Rationale: Rehabilitation after a stroke is tertiary prevention because it aims to reduce
disability and restore function after a disease has occurred.
Q8. A community health nurse is planning an immunization clinic in a rural village.
Which action should the nurse take FIRST?
• A) Arrange for vaccine storage equipment
• B) Notify community leaders of clinic date
• C) Develop an outreach and education plan
• D) Conduct a community needs assessment
Answer: D – Conduct a community needs assessment
Rationale: The nursing process always begins with assessment. A needs assessment
identifies population-specific barriers, baseline knowledge, and gaps before planning or
implementation.
Q9. A nurse is calculating the attack rate of a disease among attendees at a
community event. Which formula should the nurse use?
• A) (Number of new cases / Total population) × 100
• B) (Number of cases among exposed / Total exposed) × 100
• C) (Number of deaths / Number of cases) × 100
• D) (Number of cases / Population at risk) × 100,000
200 Questions with Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales
2026 Edition | Verified Solutions | Graded A+
SECTION 1: EPIDEMIOLOGY & DISEASE PREVENTION
(Questions 1-35)
Q1. A community health nurse is conducting an epidemiological investigation of a
communicable disease outbreak. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take first?
• A) Implement control measures to prevent further transmission
• B) Confirm the diagnosis of reported cases
• C) Identify the source of the outbreak
• D) Define and identify cases
Answer: D – Define and identify cases
Rationale: In outbreak investigation, the first step is to define and identify cases to
establish the existence of an outbreak. This involves creating a case definition and
actively finding cases. Only after cases are identified can the nurse proceed to confirm
diagnoses, identify sources, and implement control measures.
, Q2. A nurse is calculating the incidence rate of influenza in a community of 50,000
people. During the past year, 500 new cases were reported. What is the incidence
rate per 1,000 population?
• A) 5 per 1,000
• B) 10 per 1,000
• C) 50 per 1,000
• D) 100 per 1,000
Answer: B – 10 per 1,000
Rationale: Incidence rate measures NEW cases occurring during a specific time period.
Calculation: (Number of new cases / Total population) × 1,000 = (,000) × 1,000
= 10 per 1,000 population.
Q3. A nurse is calculating the prevalence of diabetes in a community. Which of the
following should the nurse include in the numerator?
• A) Only new cases diagnosed in the past year
• B) All existing cases (both new and pre-existing) at a specific point in time
• C) Only cases that resulted in hospitalization
• D) Only cases confirmed by laboratory testing
Answer: B – All existing cases (both new and pre-existing) at a specific point in
time
Rationale: Prevalence measures ALL existing cases (both new and pre-existing) in a
population at a specific point in time. Incidence measures only NEW cases.
Q4. Which of the following is an example of a vector-borne disease?
• A) Influenza
• B) Tuberculosis
• C) Lyme disease
• D) Hepatitis A
, Answer: C – Lyme disease
Rationale: Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of infected black-legged ticks
(vectors). Influenza is airborne, tuberculosis is droplet, and hepatitis A is fecal-oral
transmission. Vectors are living organisms that transmit infectious pathogens between
humans or from animals to humans.
Q5. A smoking cessation program is an example of which level of prevention?
• A) Primary prevention
• B) Secondary prevention
• C) Tertiary prevention
• D) Quaternary prevention
Answer: A – Primary prevention
Rationale: Smoking cessation programs are considered primary prevention because they
aim to prevent the initiation of smoking-related diseases by eliminating the risk factor
(smoking). Even for current smokers, cessation reduces future disease risk.
Q6. A nurse is screening a community for hypertension. This is an example of
which level of prevention?
• A) Primary prevention
• B) Secondary prevention
• C) Tertiary prevention
• D) Health promotion
Answer: B – Secondary prevention
Rationale: Screening for hypertension is secondary prevention because it involves early
detection of disease in asymptomatic individuals to enable early intervention and
prevent progression.
, Q7. A nurse is providing rehabilitation services to a client who had a stroke. This is
an example of which level of prevention?
• A) Primary prevention
• B) Secondary prevention
• C) Tertiary prevention
• D) Health promotion
Answer: C – Tertiary prevention
Rationale: Rehabilitation after a stroke is tertiary prevention because it aims to reduce
disability and restore function after a disease has occurred.
Q8. A community health nurse is planning an immunization clinic in a rural village.
Which action should the nurse take FIRST?
• A) Arrange for vaccine storage equipment
• B) Notify community leaders of clinic date
• C) Develop an outreach and education plan
• D) Conduct a community needs assessment
Answer: D – Conduct a community needs assessment
Rationale: The nursing process always begins with assessment. A needs assessment
identifies population-specific barriers, baseline knowledge, and gaps before planning or
implementation.
Q9. A nurse is calculating the attack rate of a disease among attendees at a
community event. Which formula should the nurse use?
• A) (Number of new cases / Total population) × 100
• B) (Number of cases among exposed / Total exposed) × 100
• C) (Number of deaths / Number of cases) × 100
• D) (Number of cases / Population at risk) × 100,000
