ATI Community Health Proctored Exam
Practice Questions and answers plus
rationales latest update 2026
1. A community health nurse is conducting a needs assessment. Which of the following data
sources is considered primary data?
a) Census data
b) Vital statistics reports
c) Interviews with community members
d) County health department annual report
Answer: c) Interviews with community members
Rationale: Primary data is collected directly by the nurse from the community (e.g., interviews,
surveys, observations). Secondary data is information that has already been collected by
someone else (e.g., census data, vital statistics, reports).
2. A nurse is planning a primary prevention program for a community. Which of the following
activities should the nurse include?
a) Screening for hypertension
b) Providing rehabilitation for stroke victims
c) Conducting a smoking cessation class
d) Administering influenza vaccines
,Answer: d) Administering influenza vaccines
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it occurs. Immunizations
are a classic example. Screening (a) is secondary prevention. Rehabilitation (b) is tertiary
prevention. A smoking cessation class (c) can be considered primary (preventing disease in
healthy smokers) or secondary (preventing progression in those with early disease), but
immunization is the clearest example of primary prevention.
3. During a community assessment, the nurse identifies a high rate of obesity and type 2
diabetes. Which of the following is the most appropriate secondary prevention strategy?
a) Lobbying for a new community gym
b) Organizing a health fair to screen for blood glucose levels
c) Teaching a nutrition class for school-aged children
d) Referring clients with diabetes to a dietitian
Answer: b) Organizing a health fair to screen for blood glucose levels
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and treatment of disease. Screening
for blood glucose levels can detect prediabetes or early diabetes, allowing for early intervention.
Primary prevention would be lobbying for a gym (a) or teaching nutrition (c). Tertiary
prevention would be referring for management (d).
4. The nurse is investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis at a local daycare center. Which of the
following is the priority action by the nurse?
a) Administering antibiotics to all affected children
b) Identifying the source of the infection
c) Closing the daycare center
d) Educating parents on hand hygiene
Answer: b) Identifying the source of the infection
,Rationale: The priority during an outbreak investigation is to identify the source (e.g.,
contaminated food, water, or surface) to stop the spread of the infection. While education (d) is
important, it is not the priority until the source is known.
5. A nurse is working with a client who has been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). Which of the
following is the nurse's priority intervention?
a) Initiating directly observed therapy (DOT)
b) Placing the client in a negative-pressure room
c) Reporting the case to the local health department
d) Teaching the client about the disease process
Answer: b) Placing the client in a negative-pressure room
Rationale: For a client with active TB, the priority is to prevent the spread of infection. Placing
the client in a negative-pressure room with airborne precautions is the first-line defense.
Reporting to the health department (c) and initiating DOT (a) are also critical, but immediate
isolation is the priority for safety.
6. Which of the following is an example of a notifiable disease that a nurse must report to the
public health department?
a) Hypertension
b) Measles
c) Asthma
d) Osteoarthritis
Answer: b) Measles
Rationale: Notifiable diseases are those that are of public health importance and must be reported
to the local or state health department. Measles is a highly contagious, reportable disease.
Hypertension, asthma, and osteoarthritis are chronic conditions, not typically notifiable.
, 7. A community health nurse is teaching a group of older adults about fall prevention. Which of
the following statements by a participant indicates a need for further teaching?
a) "I should install grab bars in my shower."
b) "I will keep my pathway clear of clutter."
c) "I should wear my reading glasses when I walk around the house."
d) "I will use a night light in the hallway."
Answer: c) "I should wear my reading glasses when I walk around the house."
Rationale: Reading glasses are for close-up work. Wearing them while walking can distort
distance vision and increase the risk of falls. The client should be educated to wear distance-
prescription glasses for walking. The other statements are correct fall prevention strategies.
8. The nurse is providing care for a family in the community. Which of the following best
describes the family as a unit of care?
a) Focusing on the health of the individual within the family
b) Assessing the family's structure, function, and environment
c) Treating the family only when a member is sick
d) Referring all family members to a single primary care provider
Answer: b) Assessing the family's structure, function, and environment
Rationale: The family as a unit of care means the nurse considers the entire family system—its
structure (who is in it), its function (how it interacts and meets needs), and its environment (the
context in which it lives)—rather than just the sum of its individual members.
9. A nurse is conducting a home visit for a new mother and her 2-week-old infant. Which of the
following is the primary focus of this visit?
a) Assessing the mother's mental health
Practice Questions and answers plus
rationales latest update 2026
1. A community health nurse is conducting a needs assessment. Which of the following data
sources is considered primary data?
a) Census data
b) Vital statistics reports
c) Interviews with community members
d) County health department annual report
Answer: c) Interviews with community members
Rationale: Primary data is collected directly by the nurse from the community (e.g., interviews,
surveys, observations). Secondary data is information that has already been collected by
someone else (e.g., census data, vital statistics, reports).
2. A nurse is planning a primary prevention program for a community. Which of the following
activities should the nurse include?
a) Screening for hypertension
b) Providing rehabilitation for stroke victims
c) Conducting a smoking cessation class
d) Administering influenza vaccines
,Answer: d) Administering influenza vaccines
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it occurs. Immunizations
are a classic example. Screening (a) is secondary prevention. Rehabilitation (b) is tertiary
prevention. A smoking cessation class (c) can be considered primary (preventing disease in
healthy smokers) or secondary (preventing progression in those with early disease), but
immunization is the clearest example of primary prevention.
3. During a community assessment, the nurse identifies a high rate of obesity and type 2
diabetes. Which of the following is the most appropriate secondary prevention strategy?
a) Lobbying for a new community gym
b) Organizing a health fair to screen for blood glucose levels
c) Teaching a nutrition class for school-aged children
d) Referring clients with diabetes to a dietitian
Answer: b) Organizing a health fair to screen for blood glucose levels
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and treatment of disease. Screening
for blood glucose levels can detect prediabetes or early diabetes, allowing for early intervention.
Primary prevention would be lobbying for a gym (a) or teaching nutrition (c). Tertiary
prevention would be referring for management (d).
4. The nurse is investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis at a local daycare center. Which of the
following is the priority action by the nurse?
a) Administering antibiotics to all affected children
b) Identifying the source of the infection
c) Closing the daycare center
d) Educating parents on hand hygiene
Answer: b) Identifying the source of the infection
,Rationale: The priority during an outbreak investigation is to identify the source (e.g.,
contaminated food, water, or surface) to stop the spread of the infection. While education (d) is
important, it is not the priority until the source is known.
5. A nurse is working with a client who has been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). Which of the
following is the nurse's priority intervention?
a) Initiating directly observed therapy (DOT)
b) Placing the client in a negative-pressure room
c) Reporting the case to the local health department
d) Teaching the client about the disease process
Answer: b) Placing the client in a negative-pressure room
Rationale: For a client with active TB, the priority is to prevent the spread of infection. Placing
the client in a negative-pressure room with airborne precautions is the first-line defense.
Reporting to the health department (c) and initiating DOT (a) are also critical, but immediate
isolation is the priority for safety.
6. Which of the following is an example of a notifiable disease that a nurse must report to the
public health department?
a) Hypertension
b) Measles
c) Asthma
d) Osteoarthritis
Answer: b) Measles
Rationale: Notifiable diseases are those that are of public health importance and must be reported
to the local or state health department. Measles is a highly contagious, reportable disease.
Hypertension, asthma, and osteoarthritis are chronic conditions, not typically notifiable.
, 7. A community health nurse is teaching a group of older adults about fall prevention. Which of
the following statements by a participant indicates a need for further teaching?
a) "I should install grab bars in my shower."
b) "I will keep my pathway clear of clutter."
c) "I should wear my reading glasses when I walk around the house."
d) "I will use a night light in the hallway."
Answer: c) "I should wear my reading glasses when I walk around the house."
Rationale: Reading glasses are for close-up work. Wearing them while walking can distort
distance vision and increase the risk of falls. The client should be educated to wear distance-
prescription glasses for walking. The other statements are correct fall prevention strategies.
8. The nurse is providing care for a family in the community. Which of the following best
describes the family as a unit of care?
a) Focusing on the health of the individual within the family
b) Assessing the family's structure, function, and environment
c) Treating the family only when a member is sick
d) Referring all family members to a single primary care provider
Answer: b) Assessing the family's structure, function, and environment
Rationale: The family as a unit of care means the nurse considers the entire family system—its
structure (who is in it), its function (how it interacts and meets needs), and its environment (the
context in which it lives)—rather than just the sum of its individual members.
9. A nurse is conducting a home visit for a new mother and her 2-week-old infant. Which of the
following is the primary focus of this visit?
a) Assessing the mother's mental health
