ATI RN Community Health Proctored Exam 2026–
2027 – Complete Test Bank – Comprehensive
Practice Questions with Answers
1. A community health nurse is reviewing the historical evolution of community health
nursing. Which of the following individuals is credited with founding the Henry Street
Settlement and pioneering public health nursing in the United States?
A. Florence Nightingale
B. Lillian Wald
C. Mary Breckinridge
D. Dorothea Dix
Correct Answer: B. Lillian Wald
Rationale: Lillian Wald founded the Henry Street Settlement in New York City in 1893, which
became the model for public health nursing in the United States. She coined the term "public
health nurse" and advocated for nursing care of the poor. Florence Nightingale is credited with
modern nursing and sanitation reform during the Crimean War. Mary Breckinridge founded the
Frontier Nursing Service in rural Appalachia. Dorothea Dix advocated for mental health reform.
2. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of community health nursing?
A. Providing direct care to individuals in acute care settings
B. Promoting and preserving the health of populations
C. Focusing solely on curative medical interventions
D. Managing hospital-based infection control programs
Correct Answer: B. Promoting and preserving the health of populations
Rationale: Community health nursing focuses on promoting and preserving the health of
populations, with an emphasis on prevention, health promotion, and addressing determinants
of health. Acute care settings focus on individual illness care. Community health nursing
encompasses a broader scope than curative interventions alone and is not limited to hospital-
based infection control.
,3. A community health nurse is differentiating between community-based nursing and
community-oriented nursing. Which of the following statements accurately describes
community-oriented nursing?
A. It focuses on illness care of individuals and families in the community.
B. It emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention for the entire population.
C. It is limited to providing care in ambulatory care settings.
D. It primarily addresses acute episodic illnesses in home settings.
Correct Answer: B. It emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention for the entire
population.
Rationale: Community-oriented nursing focuses on the health of the population as a whole,
emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention. Community-based nursing focuses on
illness care of individuals and families. Community-oriented nursing is not limited to ambulatory
settings and addresses more than acute episodic illnesses.
4. Which of the following are core functions of public health as defined by the Institute of
Medicine (IOM)? (Select all that apply.)
A. Assessment
B. Policy development
C. Assurance
D. Direct patient care
E. Surgical intervention
Correct Answers: A, B, C
Rationale: The three core functions of public health as defined by the IOM are assessment,
policy development, and assurance. Direct patient care and surgical intervention are clinical
services, not core public health functions. Assessment involves monitoring health status; policy
development involves developing laws and regulations; assurance involves ensuring access to
necessary health services.
5. A community health nurse is working with a population that has a high rate of obesity and
type 2 diabetes. The nurse organizes a community-wide walking program and nutrition
education classes. This is an example of which level of prevention?
,A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Quaternary prevention
Correct Answer: A. Primary prevention
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it occurs.
Community-wide walking programs and nutrition education are examples of primary prevention
strategies that target risk factors before disease develops. Secondary prevention involves early
detection and treatment (e.g., screening). Tertiary prevention focuses on rehabilitation and
preventing complications in those already diagnosed. Quaternary prevention refers to avoiding
unnecessary medical interventions.
6. Which of the following statements best describes the concept of "community as partner" in
community health nursing?
A. The nurse makes all decisions for the community.
B. The community actively participates in identifying and addressing its health needs.
C. The nurse partners only with local government officials.
D. The community is viewed as a passive recipient of care.
Correct Answer: B. The community actively participates in identifying and addressing its
health needs.
Rationale: The "community as partner" model emphasizes collaboration between the nurse
and community members. The community is an active participant in assessing needs, planning
interventions, and evaluating outcomes. This approach empowers communities and promotes
sustainable health improvements. The nurse does not make all decisions for the community, nor
is the community a passive recipient.
7. A community health nurse is conducting a windshield survey. Which of the following
observations would be documented during this assessment?
A. Blood pressure readings of community members
B. Housing conditions, road infrastructure, and availability of grocery stores
C. Individual dietary habits of residents
D. Laboratory results of water samples
, Correct Answer: B. Housing conditions, road infrastructure, and availability of grocery
stores
Rationale: A windshield survey is a visual assessment of a community conducted by driving
or walking through the area. It documents observable characteristics such as housing
conditions, road infrastructure, availability of grocery stores, parks, schools, and healthcare
facilities. Blood pressure readings, dietary habits, and laboratory results are not part of a
windshield survey.
8. Which of the following are components of the community health assessment process?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Defining the community
B. Collecting data on community health status
C. Analyzing and interpreting data
D. Implementing individual treatment plans
E. Identifying community strengths and resources
Correct Answers: A, B, C, E
Rationale: The community health assessment process includes defining the community,
collecting data on health status, analyzing and interpreting data, and identifying community
strengths and resources. Implementing individual treatment plans is part of clinical practice, not
community assessment.
9. A nurse is using the Community Health Assessment and Group Evaluation (CHANGE) tool.
What is the primary purpose of this tool?
A. To diagnose individual medical conditions
B. To help communities assess and improve their health through policy, systems, and
environmental changes
C. To provide direct clinical care to underserved populations
D. To evaluate hospital readmission rates
Correct Answer: B. To help communities assess and improve their health through policy,
systems, and environmental changes
2027 – Complete Test Bank – Comprehensive
Practice Questions with Answers
1. A community health nurse is reviewing the historical evolution of community health
nursing. Which of the following individuals is credited with founding the Henry Street
Settlement and pioneering public health nursing in the United States?
A. Florence Nightingale
B. Lillian Wald
C. Mary Breckinridge
D. Dorothea Dix
Correct Answer: B. Lillian Wald
Rationale: Lillian Wald founded the Henry Street Settlement in New York City in 1893, which
became the model for public health nursing in the United States. She coined the term "public
health nurse" and advocated for nursing care of the poor. Florence Nightingale is credited with
modern nursing and sanitation reform during the Crimean War. Mary Breckinridge founded the
Frontier Nursing Service in rural Appalachia. Dorothea Dix advocated for mental health reform.
2. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of community health nursing?
A. Providing direct care to individuals in acute care settings
B. Promoting and preserving the health of populations
C. Focusing solely on curative medical interventions
D. Managing hospital-based infection control programs
Correct Answer: B. Promoting and preserving the health of populations
Rationale: Community health nursing focuses on promoting and preserving the health of
populations, with an emphasis on prevention, health promotion, and addressing determinants
of health. Acute care settings focus on individual illness care. Community health nursing
encompasses a broader scope than curative interventions alone and is not limited to hospital-
based infection control.
,3. A community health nurse is differentiating between community-based nursing and
community-oriented nursing. Which of the following statements accurately describes
community-oriented nursing?
A. It focuses on illness care of individuals and families in the community.
B. It emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention for the entire population.
C. It is limited to providing care in ambulatory care settings.
D. It primarily addresses acute episodic illnesses in home settings.
Correct Answer: B. It emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention for the entire
population.
Rationale: Community-oriented nursing focuses on the health of the population as a whole,
emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention. Community-based nursing focuses on
illness care of individuals and families. Community-oriented nursing is not limited to ambulatory
settings and addresses more than acute episodic illnesses.
4. Which of the following are core functions of public health as defined by the Institute of
Medicine (IOM)? (Select all that apply.)
A. Assessment
B. Policy development
C. Assurance
D. Direct patient care
E. Surgical intervention
Correct Answers: A, B, C
Rationale: The three core functions of public health as defined by the IOM are assessment,
policy development, and assurance. Direct patient care and surgical intervention are clinical
services, not core public health functions. Assessment involves monitoring health status; policy
development involves developing laws and regulations; assurance involves ensuring access to
necessary health services.
5. A community health nurse is working with a population that has a high rate of obesity and
type 2 diabetes. The nurse organizes a community-wide walking program and nutrition
education classes. This is an example of which level of prevention?
,A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Quaternary prevention
Correct Answer: A. Primary prevention
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it occurs.
Community-wide walking programs and nutrition education are examples of primary prevention
strategies that target risk factors before disease develops. Secondary prevention involves early
detection and treatment (e.g., screening). Tertiary prevention focuses on rehabilitation and
preventing complications in those already diagnosed. Quaternary prevention refers to avoiding
unnecessary medical interventions.
6. Which of the following statements best describes the concept of "community as partner" in
community health nursing?
A. The nurse makes all decisions for the community.
B. The community actively participates in identifying and addressing its health needs.
C. The nurse partners only with local government officials.
D. The community is viewed as a passive recipient of care.
Correct Answer: B. The community actively participates in identifying and addressing its
health needs.
Rationale: The "community as partner" model emphasizes collaboration between the nurse
and community members. The community is an active participant in assessing needs, planning
interventions, and evaluating outcomes. This approach empowers communities and promotes
sustainable health improvements. The nurse does not make all decisions for the community, nor
is the community a passive recipient.
7. A community health nurse is conducting a windshield survey. Which of the following
observations would be documented during this assessment?
A. Blood pressure readings of community members
B. Housing conditions, road infrastructure, and availability of grocery stores
C. Individual dietary habits of residents
D. Laboratory results of water samples
, Correct Answer: B. Housing conditions, road infrastructure, and availability of grocery
stores
Rationale: A windshield survey is a visual assessment of a community conducted by driving
or walking through the area. It documents observable characteristics such as housing
conditions, road infrastructure, availability of grocery stores, parks, schools, and healthcare
facilities. Blood pressure readings, dietary habits, and laboratory results are not part of a
windshield survey.
8. Which of the following are components of the community health assessment process?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Defining the community
B. Collecting data on community health status
C. Analyzing and interpreting data
D. Implementing individual treatment plans
E. Identifying community strengths and resources
Correct Answers: A, B, C, E
Rationale: The community health assessment process includes defining the community,
collecting data on health status, analyzing and interpreting data, and identifying community
strengths and resources. Implementing individual treatment plans is part of clinical practice, not
community assessment.
9. A nurse is using the Community Health Assessment and Group Evaluation (CHANGE) tool.
What is the primary purpose of this tool?
A. To diagnose individual medical conditions
B. To help communities assess and improve their health through policy, systems, and
environmental changes
C. To provide direct clinical care to underserved populations
D. To evaluate hospital readmission rates
Correct Answer: B. To help communities assess and improve their health through policy,
systems, and environmental changes
