Virginia Occupational Health Nursing
Certification Exam Practice Questions &
[Verified Answers], Plus Explained
Rationales|2027 Latest Update| Instant
Download PDF
1. An occupational health nurse is evaluating a worker who reports
new-onset wheezing that occurs primarily during the workweek
and improves on weekends. Which finding most strongly suggests
work-related asthma?
A. Symptoms occur only after strenuous exercise outside work
B. Symptoms consistently improve during workdays
C. Symptoms worsen during work exposure and improve away from
work
D. Symptoms occur exclusively during sleep
Answer: C. Symptoms worsen during work exposure and improve
away from work
Rationale: A characteristic pattern of occupational asthma is
worsening of respiratory symptoms during periods of workplace
exposure with improvement during weekends, vacations, or other
periods away from the workplace. The occupational health nurse
should investigate potential sensitizers or irritants and coordinate
appropriate medical evaluation.
1|Page
, 2. Which activity is most appropriate when conducting a workplace
hazard assessment?
A. Reviewing only the employer's written policies
B. Identifying hazards, evaluating exposure, and determining
appropriate controls
C. Waiting until an employee develops symptoms
D. Focusing exclusively on chemical hazards
Answer: B. Identifying hazards, evaluating exposure, and determining
appropriate controls
Rationale: A comprehensive hazard assessment considers physical,
chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards. The nurse
evaluates how workers may be exposed and helps determine
appropriate prevention and control strategies.
3. An employee sustains a needlestick injury from a used needle.
What should the occupational health nurse instruct the employee
to do first?
A. Apply a tourniquet
B. Wash the affected area with soap and water
C. Cover the area with an occlusive dressing without cleaning it
D. Wait for symptoms of infection before reporting the injury
Answer: B. Wash the affected area with soap and water
Rationale: After a needlestick injury, immediate washing with soap
and water is appropriate. The exposure should then be reported
promptly so that occupational exposure assessment, source
evaluation when permitted, baseline testing, and indicated post-
exposure management can occur.
2|Page
, 4. Which principle is central to the hierarchy of controls?
A. Personal protective equipment should always be the first
intervention
B. Administrative controls eliminate every hazard
C. Elimination and substitution generally provide more effective
protection than PPE
D. Employee education completely eliminates workplace hazards
Answer: C. Elimination and substitution generally provide more
effective protection than PPE
Rationale: The hierarchy of controls prioritizes elimination,
substitution, engineering controls, administrative/work-practice
controls, and finally personal protective equipment. Controls higher in
the hierarchy generally provide more reliable protection because they
do not depend as heavily on individual behavior.
5. An occupational health nurse is assessing a worker who reports
low-back pain associated with repetitive lifting. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A. Tell the worker to tolerate the discomfort
B. Recommend evaluation of lifting tasks and ergonomic controls
C. Require permanent removal from all work activities
D. Recommend that the worker purchase a back brace
Answer: B. Recommend evaluation of lifting tasks and ergonomic
controls
Rationale: Ergonomic assessment can identify excessive loads,
awkward postures, repetitive movements, and poor work
3|Page
, organization. Engineering and administrative interventions may
reduce musculoskeletal risk while allowing safe continuation of
productive work when medically appropriate.
6. Which statement best describes an occupational health nurse's
role in return-to-work planning?
A. Automatically return every employee to full duty
B. Determine whether the employee is medically safe for unrestricted
work without provider input
C. Coordinate medical restrictions with essential job functions and
workplace capabilities
D. Permanently restrict employees with any work-related injury
Answer: C. Coordinate medical restrictions with essential job
functions and workplace capabilities
Rationale: Return-to-work planning requires consideration of the
worker's functional abilities, medical restrictions, essential job duties,
and available accommodations or modified work. Collaboration
among the employee, healthcare provider, employer, and
occupational health professionals is often necessary.
7. A worker exposed to a chemical develops acute eye irritation.
What is the occupational health nurse's priority?
A. Determine whether the employee wants to continue working
B. Identify the chemical and initiate appropriate emergency
decontamination
C. Complete the annual employee health questionnaire
D. Schedule the employee for a routine physical examination
4|Page
Certification Exam Practice Questions &
[Verified Answers], Plus Explained
Rationales|2027 Latest Update| Instant
Download PDF
1. An occupational health nurse is evaluating a worker who reports
new-onset wheezing that occurs primarily during the workweek
and improves on weekends. Which finding most strongly suggests
work-related asthma?
A. Symptoms occur only after strenuous exercise outside work
B. Symptoms consistently improve during workdays
C. Symptoms worsen during work exposure and improve away from
work
D. Symptoms occur exclusively during sleep
Answer: C. Symptoms worsen during work exposure and improve
away from work
Rationale: A characteristic pattern of occupational asthma is
worsening of respiratory symptoms during periods of workplace
exposure with improvement during weekends, vacations, or other
periods away from the workplace. The occupational health nurse
should investigate potential sensitizers or irritants and coordinate
appropriate medical evaluation.
1|Page
, 2. Which activity is most appropriate when conducting a workplace
hazard assessment?
A. Reviewing only the employer's written policies
B. Identifying hazards, evaluating exposure, and determining
appropriate controls
C. Waiting until an employee develops symptoms
D. Focusing exclusively on chemical hazards
Answer: B. Identifying hazards, evaluating exposure, and determining
appropriate controls
Rationale: A comprehensive hazard assessment considers physical,
chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards. The nurse
evaluates how workers may be exposed and helps determine
appropriate prevention and control strategies.
3. An employee sustains a needlestick injury from a used needle.
What should the occupational health nurse instruct the employee
to do first?
A. Apply a tourniquet
B. Wash the affected area with soap and water
C. Cover the area with an occlusive dressing without cleaning it
D. Wait for symptoms of infection before reporting the injury
Answer: B. Wash the affected area with soap and water
Rationale: After a needlestick injury, immediate washing with soap
and water is appropriate. The exposure should then be reported
promptly so that occupational exposure assessment, source
evaluation when permitted, baseline testing, and indicated post-
exposure management can occur.
2|Page
, 4. Which principle is central to the hierarchy of controls?
A. Personal protective equipment should always be the first
intervention
B. Administrative controls eliminate every hazard
C. Elimination and substitution generally provide more effective
protection than PPE
D. Employee education completely eliminates workplace hazards
Answer: C. Elimination and substitution generally provide more
effective protection than PPE
Rationale: The hierarchy of controls prioritizes elimination,
substitution, engineering controls, administrative/work-practice
controls, and finally personal protective equipment. Controls higher in
the hierarchy generally provide more reliable protection because they
do not depend as heavily on individual behavior.
5. An occupational health nurse is assessing a worker who reports
low-back pain associated with repetitive lifting. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A. Tell the worker to tolerate the discomfort
B. Recommend evaluation of lifting tasks and ergonomic controls
C. Require permanent removal from all work activities
D. Recommend that the worker purchase a back brace
Answer: B. Recommend evaluation of lifting tasks and ergonomic
controls
Rationale: Ergonomic assessment can identify excessive loads,
awkward postures, repetitive movements, and poor work
3|Page
, organization. Engineering and administrative interventions may
reduce musculoskeletal risk while allowing safe continuation of
productive work when medically appropriate.
6. Which statement best describes an occupational health nurse's
role in return-to-work planning?
A. Automatically return every employee to full duty
B. Determine whether the employee is medically safe for unrestricted
work without provider input
C. Coordinate medical restrictions with essential job functions and
workplace capabilities
D. Permanently restrict employees with any work-related injury
Answer: C. Coordinate medical restrictions with essential job
functions and workplace capabilities
Rationale: Return-to-work planning requires consideration of the
worker's functional abilities, medical restrictions, essential job duties,
and available accommodations or modified work. Collaboration
among the employee, healthcare provider, employer, and
occupational health professionals is often necessary.
7. A worker exposed to a chemical develops acute eye irritation.
What is the occupational health nurse's priority?
A. Determine whether the employee wants to continue working
B. Identify the chemical and initiate appropriate emergency
decontamination
C. Complete the annual employee health questionnaire
D. Schedule the employee for a routine physical examination
4|Page
