NR 442 Community Health Exam 2 – 80 Multiple-
Choice Questions with Rationales-Chamberlain
EPIDEMIOLOGY & THE EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRIANGLE (~5
questions)
1. The epidemiological triangle includes which primary components? (Select all that
apply)
A. Host
B. Agent
C. Time
D. Socioeconomic factors
E. Environment
Answer: A, B, E
Rationale: The classic epidemiologic triangle consists of host, agent, and environment.
Time is sometimes added but is not one of the three primary components.
Socioeconomic factors are part of the environment.
2. A nurse is investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in a community. Which
component of the epidemiologic triangle is the virus?
A. Host
B. Agent
C. Environment
D. Vector
Answer: B
Rationale: The agent is the cause of the disease (virus, bacteria, chemical). The host is
the person who gets the disease. The environment includes external factors that allow
transmission.
3. A nurse is studying the spread of tuberculosis in a homeless shelter. Which factor
is considered part of the environment in the epidemiologic triangle?
A. The bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis
B. The homeless individual’s immune status
C. Crowded living conditions and poor ventilation
D. The individual’s age
Answer: C
,Rationale: Environment includes physical, social, and biologic factors that influence
transmission. Crowding and poor ventilation are environmental factors.
4. Which is an example of a host factor in the epidemiologic triangle?
A. Contaminated water supply
B. The influenza virus
C. A person’s nutritional status
D. Mosquito breeding sites
Answer: C
Rationale: Host factors include age, immune status, genetics, nutrition, and behaviors
that affect susceptibility.
5. A nurse is educating staff about breaking the chain of transmission. Which action
targets the agent link?
A. Use heat sterilization on used equipment
B. Provide nutritional supplements to the host
C. Use personal protective equipment
D. Administer vaccines to at-risk populations
Answer: A
Rationale: Heat sterilization kills the agent (e.g., bacteria, viruses). Nutritional
supplements target the host; PPE targets the portal of entry; vaccines target the host.
PREVENTION LEVELS (PRIMARY, SECONDARY, TERTIARY) (~6
questions)
6. Which action is an example of primary prevention against widespread
community violence?
A. Classes on parenting and supportive follow-up for new parents
B. Screening for elder abuse during home visits
C. Asking women in the ED about abuse
D. Providing counseling for victims of violence
Answer: A
Rationale: Primary prevention prevents the problem before it occurs. Parenting classes
reduce risk factors for violence. Screening and asking about abuse are secondary
prevention.
, 7. A nurse is implementing a community media campaign to decrease acceptance
of violence. This is an example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Health promotion only
Answer: A
Rationale: Changing social norms to prevent violence from occurring is primary
prevention.
8. A community health nurse monitors workers for chemical exposures. This is an
example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Environmental remediation
Answer: B
Rationale: Monitoring workers for early signs of chemical exposure is secondary
prevention (early detection).
9. An occupational health nurse develops a guidebook for clinic workers. Which
action is a secondary prevention strategy?
A. Help plant workers identify signs of carpal tunnel syndrome
B. Set up an influenza immunization campaign
C. Collaborate with a physical therapist to develop return-to-work programs
D. Teach proper lifting techniques
Answer: A
Rationale: Identifying early signs of carpal tunnel syndrome is secondary prevention
(early detection). Immunization and teaching proper lifting are primary prevention.
Return-to-work programs are tertiary.
10. A nurse is supporting the cleanup of toxic waste sites. This is an example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Environmental assessment
Answer: C
Choice Questions with Rationales-Chamberlain
EPIDEMIOLOGY & THE EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRIANGLE (~5
questions)
1. The epidemiological triangle includes which primary components? (Select all that
apply)
A. Host
B. Agent
C. Time
D. Socioeconomic factors
E. Environment
Answer: A, B, E
Rationale: The classic epidemiologic triangle consists of host, agent, and environment.
Time is sometimes added but is not one of the three primary components.
Socioeconomic factors are part of the environment.
2. A nurse is investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in a community. Which
component of the epidemiologic triangle is the virus?
A. Host
B. Agent
C. Environment
D. Vector
Answer: B
Rationale: The agent is the cause of the disease (virus, bacteria, chemical). The host is
the person who gets the disease. The environment includes external factors that allow
transmission.
3. A nurse is studying the spread of tuberculosis in a homeless shelter. Which factor
is considered part of the environment in the epidemiologic triangle?
A. The bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis
B. The homeless individual’s immune status
C. Crowded living conditions and poor ventilation
D. The individual’s age
Answer: C
,Rationale: Environment includes physical, social, and biologic factors that influence
transmission. Crowding and poor ventilation are environmental factors.
4. Which is an example of a host factor in the epidemiologic triangle?
A. Contaminated water supply
B. The influenza virus
C. A person’s nutritional status
D. Mosquito breeding sites
Answer: C
Rationale: Host factors include age, immune status, genetics, nutrition, and behaviors
that affect susceptibility.
5. A nurse is educating staff about breaking the chain of transmission. Which action
targets the agent link?
A. Use heat sterilization on used equipment
B. Provide nutritional supplements to the host
C. Use personal protective equipment
D. Administer vaccines to at-risk populations
Answer: A
Rationale: Heat sterilization kills the agent (e.g., bacteria, viruses). Nutritional
supplements target the host; PPE targets the portal of entry; vaccines target the host.
PREVENTION LEVELS (PRIMARY, SECONDARY, TERTIARY) (~6
questions)
6. Which action is an example of primary prevention against widespread
community violence?
A. Classes on parenting and supportive follow-up for new parents
B. Screening for elder abuse during home visits
C. Asking women in the ED about abuse
D. Providing counseling for victims of violence
Answer: A
Rationale: Primary prevention prevents the problem before it occurs. Parenting classes
reduce risk factors for violence. Screening and asking about abuse are secondary
prevention.
, 7. A nurse is implementing a community media campaign to decrease acceptance
of violence. This is an example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Health promotion only
Answer: A
Rationale: Changing social norms to prevent violence from occurring is primary
prevention.
8. A community health nurse monitors workers for chemical exposures. This is an
example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Environmental remediation
Answer: B
Rationale: Monitoring workers for early signs of chemical exposure is secondary
prevention (early detection).
9. An occupational health nurse develops a guidebook for clinic workers. Which
action is a secondary prevention strategy?
A. Help plant workers identify signs of carpal tunnel syndrome
B. Set up an influenza immunization campaign
C. Collaborate with a physical therapist to develop return-to-work programs
D. Teach proper lifting techniques
Answer: A
Rationale: Identifying early signs of carpal tunnel syndrome is secondary prevention
(early detection). Immunization and teaching proper lifting are primary prevention.
Return-to-work programs are tertiary.
10. A nurse is supporting the cleanup of toxic waste sites. This is an example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Environmental assessment
Answer: C
