WGU D227 – Public Health Assessment
Exam Questions With Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales|
2026/2027 Q&A | Instant Download
Pdf.
Question 1
A public health nurse is conducting a community health assessment.
Which action should the nurse perform first?
A. Develop interventions for identified health problems
B. Identify and analyze the community's health needs and resources
C. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs
D. Implement educational programs for high-risk populations
Correct Answer: B. Identify and analyze the community's health needs
and resources
Rationale: A community health assessment begins with systematic
collection and analysis of information about the population, including
health status, demographics, environmental conditions, resources, and
community priorities. Interventions should be developed only after the
needs and available resources have been assessed. Evaluation occurs
after interventions or programs have been implemented.
,Question 2
Which statement best describes the primary purpose of a public health
assessment?
A. To diagnose individual patients
B. To determine hospital staffing requirements
C. To identify population health needs and factors affecting health
D. To establish individual treatment plans
Correct Answer: C. To identify population health needs and factors
affecting health
Rationale: Public health assessment focuses on populations rather than
individual patients. It examines patterns of disease, health behaviors,
social determinants, environmental conditions, available resources, and
other factors that influence population health. This information
supports evidence-based planning and prioritization of public health
interventions.
Question 3
A nurse wants to determine the percentage of adults in a county who
have been diagnosed with hypertension. Which measure should the
nurse calculate?
A. Incidence
B. Prevalence
C. Mortality
D. Case-fatality rate
Correct Answer: B. Prevalence
,Rationale: Prevalence represents the proportion of a population that
has a particular disease or condition at a specified point in time or
during a specified period. Incidence measures new cases occurring
during a defined period. Mortality describes deaths, while case-fatality
rate measures the proportion of people with a specific disease who die
from that disease.
Question 4
Which example represents disease incidence?
A. The number of people currently living with diabetes in a city
B. The percentage of adults who have ever smoked cigarettes
C. The number of new tuberculosis cases reported during one year
D. The proportion of residents who have received a vaccination
Correct Answer: C. The number of new tuberculosis cases reported
during one year
Rationale: Incidence measures new cases of a disease occurring within a
specified population during a defined period. The key distinction is that
incidence concerns newly occurring cases. Prevalence includes existing
cases, regardless of when the disease began.
Question 5
A community health assessment reveals that a neighborhood has a high
rate of childhood asthma. Which factor should the public health nurse
investigate as a potential environmental determinant?
, A. Local air pollution levels
B. Average household income alone
C. Number of primary care physicians
D. Percentage of adults with college degrees
Correct Answer: A. Local air pollution levels
Rationale: Environmental exposures such as air pollution, allergens,
tobacco smoke, and occupational or industrial contaminants can
contribute to respiratory conditions such as asthma. A comprehensive
assessment should examine environmental factors alongside social,
behavioral, economic, and healthcare-related determinants.
Question 6
Which source would provide the most appropriate information about
the age and sex distribution of a community?
A. Hospital discharge summaries
B. Census data
C. Individual nursing notes
D. Medication administration records
Correct Answer: B. Census data
Rationale: Census data provide demographic information about
populations, including age, sex, race and ethnicity, household
characteristics, and geographic distribution. These data are valuable for
understanding population composition and planning health services.
Hospital and clinical records generally represent only people who
interact with the healthcare system.
Exam Questions With Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales|
2026/2027 Q&A | Instant Download
Pdf.
Question 1
A public health nurse is conducting a community health assessment.
Which action should the nurse perform first?
A. Develop interventions for identified health problems
B. Identify and analyze the community's health needs and resources
C. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs
D. Implement educational programs for high-risk populations
Correct Answer: B. Identify and analyze the community's health needs
and resources
Rationale: A community health assessment begins with systematic
collection and analysis of information about the population, including
health status, demographics, environmental conditions, resources, and
community priorities. Interventions should be developed only after the
needs and available resources have been assessed. Evaluation occurs
after interventions or programs have been implemented.
,Question 2
Which statement best describes the primary purpose of a public health
assessment?
A. To diagnose individual patients
B. To determine hospital staffing requirements
C. To identify population health needs and factors affecting health
D. To establish individual treatment plans
Correct Answer: C. To identify population health needs and factors
affecting health
Rationale: Public health assessment focuses on populations rather than
individual patients. It examines patterns of disease, health behaviors,
social determinants, environmental conditions, available resources, and
other factors that influence population health. This information
supports evidence-based planning and prioritization of public health
interventions.
Question 3
A nurse wants to determine the percentage of adults in a county who
have been diagnosed with hypertension. Which measure should the
nurse calculate?
A. Incidence
B. Prevalence
C. Mortality
D. Case-fatality rate
Correct Answer: B. Prevalence
,Rationale: Prevalence represents the proportion of a population that
has a particular disease or condition at a specified point in time or
during a specified period. Incidence measures new cases occurring
during a defined period. Mortality describes deaths, while case-fatality
rate measures the proportion of people with a specific disease who die
from that disease.
Question 4
Which example represents disease incidence?
A. The number of people currently living with diabetes in a city
B. The percentage of adults who have ever smoked cigarettes
C. The number of new tuberculosis cases reported during one year
D. The proportion of residents who have received a vaccination
Correct Answer: C. The number of new tuberculosis cases reported
during one year
Rationale: Incidence measures new cases of a disease occurring within a
specified population during a defined period. The key distinction is that
incidence concerns newly occurring cases. Prevalence includes existing
cases, regardless of when the disease began.
Question 5
A community health assessment reveals that a neighborhood has a high
rate of childhood asthma. Which factor should the public health nurse
investigate as a potential environmental determinant?
, A. Local air pollution levels
B. Average household income alone
C. Number of primary care physicians
D. Percentage of adults with college degrees
Correct Answer: A. Local air pollution levels
Rationale: Environmental exposures such as air pollution, allergens,
tobacco smoke, and occupational or industrial contaminants can
contribute to respiratory conditions such as asthma. A comprehensive
assessment should examine environmental factors alongside social,
behavioral, economic, and healthcare-related determinants.
Question 6
Which source would provide the most appropriate information about
the age and sex distribution of a community?
A. Hospital discharge summaries
B. Census data
C. Individual nursing notes
D. Medication administration records
Correct Answer: B. Census data
Rationale: Census data provide demographic information about
populations, including age, sex, race and ethnicity, household
characteristics, and geographic distribution. These data are valuable for
understanding population composition and planning health services.
Hospital and clinical records generally represent only people who
interact with the healthcare system.
