Community & Public Health Nursing
2026/2027 Exam Review: 200 Q&A with
Rationales
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC
HEALTH NURSING (Questions 1-35)
Question 1:
Which of the following best defines community health nursing
practice?
A) Focusing care on the individual within the family unit
B) Providing care in hospitals and acute care settings
C) Synthesizing nursing theory and public health theory to
promote, preserve, and maintain health of populations
D) Delivering care only in community-based clinics
Answer: C) Synthesizing nursing theory and public health
theory to promote, preserve, and maintain health of
populations
,Rationale: Community health nursing synthesizes nursing theory
and public health theory to promote, preserve, and maintain the
health of populations . It is population-focused, not limited to
individuals or families . The defining characteristic is the
population focus, which distinguishes it from individual-focused
care in acute settings.
Question 2:
Which of the following is a core function of public health as
identified by the Institute of Medicine (IOM)?
A) Diagnosis and treatment
B) Assessment, policy development, and assurance
C) Rehabilitation and long-term care
D) Emergency medical services
Answer: B) Assessment, policy development, and assurance
Rationale: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) identified three core
functions of public health: assessment, policy development, and
assurance . Assessment involves systematically collecting data on
the health of the population. Policy development involves using
evidence to develop policies that support health. Assurance
,involves ensuring that essential health services are available to
all members of the community .
Question 3:
A nurse is working with a community to address rising rates of
childhood obesity. The nurse organizes a coalition of schools,
parents, healthcare providers, and local government to develop
a community-wide intervention. This approach best demonstrates:
A) Tertiary prevention
B) The biomedical model of health
C) The population-focused model of care
D) Episodic care delivery
Answer: C) The population-focused model of care
Rationale: The population-focused model addresses the health
needs of entire populations through community-wide interventions
and partnerships . This approach is characteristic of public health
nursing and community health nursing practice.
Question 4:
, Which public health function is being carried out when a nurse
collects data and monitors the health status of a population?
A) Policy development
B) Assurance
C) Assessment
D) Prevention
Answer: C) Assessment
Rationale: Assessment involves systematically collecting,
analyzing, and making information available about the health of
a community . This is one of the three core functions of public
health. Policy development and assurance are the other core
functions.
Question 5:
A nurse is conducting blood pressure screening at a community
health fair. This activity represents which level of prevention?
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Health promotion
2026/2027 Exam Review: 200 Q&A with
Rationales
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC
HEALTH NURSING (Questions 1-35)
Question 1:
Which of the following best defines community health nursing
practice?
A) Focusing care on the individual within the family unit
B) Providing care in hospitals and acute care settings
C) Synthesizing nursing theory and public health theory to
promote, preserve, and maintain health of populations
D) Delivering care only in community-based clinics
Answer: C) Synthesizing nursing theory and public health
theory to promote, preserve, and maintain health of
populations
,Rationale: Community health nursing synthesizes nursing theory
and public health theory to promote, preserve, and maintain the
health of populations . It is population-focused, not limited to
individuals or families . The defining characteristic is the
population focus, which distinguishes it from individual-focused
care in acute settings.
Question 2:
Which of the following is a core function of public health as
identified by the Institute of Medicine (IOM)?
A) Diagnosis and treatment
B) Assessment, policy development, and assurance
C) Rehabilitation and long-term care
D) Emergency medical services
Answer: B) Assessment, policy development, and assurance
Rationale: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) identified three core
functions of public health: assessment, policy development, and
assurance . Assessment involves systematically collecting data on
the health of the population. Policy development involves using
evidence to develop policies that support health. Assurance
,involves ensuring that essential health services are available to
all members of the community .
Question 3:
A nurse is working with a community to address rising rates of
childhood obesity. The nurse organizes a coalition of schools,
parents, healthcare providers, and local government to develop
a community-wide intervention. This approach best demonstrates:
A) Tertiary prevention
B) The biomedical model of health
C) The population-focused model of care
D) Episodic care delivery
Answer: C) The population-focused model of care
Rationale: The population-focused model addresses the health
needs of entire populations through community-wide interventions
and partnerships . This approach is characteristic of public health
nursing and community health nursing practice.
Question 4:
, Which public health function is being carried out when a nurse
collects data and monitors the health status of a population?
A) Policy development
B) Assurance
C) Assessment
D) Prevention
Answer: C) Assessment
Rationale: Assessment involves systematically collecting,
analyzing, and making information available about the health of
a community . This is one of the three core functions of public
health. Policy development and assurance are the other core
functions.
Question 5:
A nurse is conducting blood pressure screening at a community
health fair. This activity represents which level of prevention?
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Health promotion
