Virginia Occupational Health Nurse 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
dizziness and headache after working near a gasoline-powered engine
in an enclosed area. Which exposure should the nurse suspect first?
A. Hydrogen sulfide
B. Carbon monoxide
C. Chlorine
D. Silica
Answer: B. Carbon monoxide
Rationale: Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by
incomplete combustion. Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea,
confusion, and potentially loss of consciousness are characteristic
findings. Enclosed areas with gasoline-powered engines are
particularly hazardous because carbon monoxide can accumulate
rapidly.
2. A factory employee sustains a minor puncture wound from a
potentially contaminated sharp object. What should the occupational
health nurse do first?
A. Complete the incident report
B. Send the employee home
1|Page
,C. Immediately wash the wound with soap and water
D. Wait for laboratory confirmation of contamination
Answer: C. Immediately wash the wound with soap and water
Rationale: Immediate cleansing is the first step after occupational
exposure to potentially infectious material. The nurse should then
initiate appropriate exposure assessment, reporting, source
evaluation when indicated, and timely post-exposure management
according to the workplace protocol.
3. Which activity is most appropriate for an occupational health nurse
conducting a workplace hazard assessment?
A. Reviewing only employee attendance records
B. Identifying physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and
psychosocial hazards
C. Determining which employees should receive disciplinary action
D. Eliminating all workplace hazards without employer involvement
Answer: B. Identifying physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and
psychosocial hazards
Rationale: A comprehensive occupational health assessment considers
multiple categories of workplace hazards. The nurse may observe
work processes, review safety data, evaluate injury patterns,
interview employees, and collaborate with safety professionals to
identify risks and recommend controls.
4. A nurse is teaching employees about hearing conservation. Which
statement indicates correct understanding?
2|Page
,A. “Hearing protection eliminates the need for noise monitoring.”
B. “Hearing loss from occupational noise always causes pain.”
C. “Consistent use of appropriate hearing protection can reduce noise
exposure.”
D. “Hearing conservation is necessary only for employees with existing
hearing loss.”
Answer: C. “Consistent use of appropriate hearing protection can
reduce noise exposure.”
Rationale: Appropriate hearing protection is an important component
of a hearing conservation program. Occupational noise-induced
hearing loss may develop gradually and often occurs without pain,
making exposure monitoring, engineering controls, administrative
controls, audiometry, education, and hearing protection important
preventive measures.
5. An employee develops low-back discomfort after repeatedly lifting
heavy boxes. Which intervention should the occupational health
nurse emphasize?
A. Avoid all physical activity permanently
B. Use appropriate lifting and material-handling techniques
C. Take medication before every work shift
D. Continue lifting without reporting symptoms
Answer: B. Use appropriate lifting and material-handling techniques
Rationale: Ergonomic interventions can reduce musculoskeletal injury
risk. Appropriate lifting techniques, mechanical assistance, task
redesign, load reduction, proper workstation design, and training may
all help reduce excessive physical strain.
3|Page
, 6. During a pre-placement assessment, an employee reports asthma
that becomes worse around certain industrial chemicals. What is the
nurse's priority?
A. Automatically exclude the employee from employment
B. Determine whether workplace exposures could aggravate the
condition
C. Tell the employee to resign
D. Ignore the condition because it is unrelated to employment
Answer: B. Determine whether workplace exposures could aggravate
the condition
Rationale: Occupational health nursing focuses on identifying
potential relationships between health conditions and workplace
exposures. The nurse should assess the employee's history, job duties,
potential exposures, and available controls while maintaining
appropriate confidentiality and avoiding discriminatory decisions.
7. Which intervention represents an engineering control?
A. Requiring employees to wear respirators
B. Posting warning signs
C. Installing local exhaust ventilation
D. Providing annual safety training
Answer: C. Installing local exhaust ventilation
Rationale: Engineering controls reduce or eliminate exposure by
modifying equipment, processes, or the work environment. Local
exhaust ventilation can capture hazardous contaminants near their
source before workers inhale them.
4|Page
Practice Questions & [Verified Answers],
Plus Explained Rationales|2027 Latest
Update| Instant Download PDF
1. An occupational health nurse is evaluating a worker who reports
dizziness and headache after working near a gasoline-powered engine
in an enclosed area. Which exposure should the nurse suspect first?
A. Hydrogen sulfide
B. Carbon monoxide
C. Chlorine
D. Silica
Answer: B. Carbon monoxide
Rationale: Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by
incomplete combustion. Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea,
confusion, and potentially loss of consciousness are characteristic
findings. Enclosed areas with gasoline-powered engines are
particularly hazardous because carbon monoxide can accumulate
rapidly.
2. A factory employee sustains a minor puncture wound from a
potentially contaminated sharp object. What should the occupational
health nurse do first?
A. Complete the incident report
B. Send the employee home
1|Page
,C. Immediately wash the wound with soap and water
D. Wait for laboratory confirmation of contamination
Answer: C. Immediately wash the wound with soap and water
Rationale: Immediate cleansing is the first step after occupational
exposure to potentially infectious material. The nurse should then
initiate appropriate exposure assessment, reporting, source
evaluation when indicated, and timely post-exposure management
according to the workplace protocol.
3. Which activity is most appropriate for an occupational health nurse
conducting a workplace hazard assessment?
A. Reviewing only employee attendance records
B. Identifying physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and
psychosocial hazards
C. Determining which employees should receive disciplinary action
D. Eliminating all workplace hazards without employer involvement
Answer: B. Identifying physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and
psychosocial hazards
Rationale: A comprehensive occupational health assessment considers
multiple categories of workplace hazards. The nurse may observe
work processes, review safety data, evaluate injury patterns,
interview employees, and collaborate with safety professionals to
identify risks and recommend controls.
4. A nurse is teaching employees about hearing conservation. Which
statement indicates correct understanding?
2|Page
,A. “Hearing protection eliminates the need for noise monitoring.”
B. “Hearing loss from occupational noise always causes pain.”
C. “Consistent use of appropriate hearing protection can reduce noise
exposure.”
D. “Hearing conservation is necessary only for employees with existing
hearing loss.”
Answer: C. “Consistent use of appropriate hearing protection can
reduce noise exposure.”
Rationale: Appropriate hearing protection is an important component
of a hearing conservation program. Occupational noise-induced
hearing loss may develop gradually and often occurs without pain,
making exposure monitoring, engineering controls, administrative
controls, audiometry, education, and hearing protection important
preventive measures.
5. An employee develops low-back discomfort after repeatedly lifting
heavy boxes. Which intervention should the occupational health
nurse emphasize?
A. Avoid all physical activity permanently
B. Use appropriate lifting and material-handling techniques
C. Take medication before every work shift
D. Continue lifting without reporting symptoms
Answer: B. Use appropriate lifting and material-handling techniques
Rationale: Ergonomic interventions can reduce musculoskeletal injury
risk. Appropriate lifting techniques, mechanical assistance, task
redesign, load reduction, proper workstation design, and training may
all help reduce excessive physical strain.
3|Page
, 6. During a pre-placement assessment, an employee reports asthma
that becomes worse around certain industrial chemicals. What is the
nurse's priority?
A. Automatically exclude the employee from employment
B. Determine whether workplace exposures could aggravate the
condition
C. Tell the employee to resign
D. Ignore the condition because it is unrelated to employment
Answer: B. Determine whether workplace exposures could aggravate
the condition
Rationale: Occupational health nursing focuses on identifying
potential relationships between health conditions and workplace
exposures. The nurse should assess the employee's history, job duties,
potential exposures, and available controls while maintaining
appropriate confidentiality and avoiding discriminatory decisions.
7. Which intervention represents an engineering control?
A. Requiring employees to wear respirators
B. Posting warning signs
C. Installing local exhaust ventilation
D. Providing annual safety training
Answer: C. Installing local exhaust ventilation
Rationale: Engineering controls reduce or eliminate exposure by
modifying equipment, processes, or the work environment. Local
exhaust ventilation can capture hazardous contaminants near their
source before workers inhale them.
4|Page
