,NURS 6050 Policy and Advocacy for Improving
Population Health Exam Prep — Comprehensive
Review + Practice MCQs — Walden University
2025/2026
1. Which of the following best describes health policy?
A. Clinical guidelines used by nurses at the bedside
B. Rules created only by hospitals for staff behavior
C. Decisions, plans, and actions undertaken to achieve health goals
D. Nursing procedures for patient care
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Health policy is defined as decisions, plans, and actions undertaken to achieve specific healthcare
goals within a society. It provides a framework for improving population health outcomes. Options A, B, and D
describe narrower aspects of healthcare practice .
2. Which level of government is primarily responsible for regulating healthcare professionals?
A. Federal
B. State
C. Local
D. International
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: States have the constitutional authority under the Tenth Amendment to regulate healthcare
professionals through licensing boards, scope of practice laws, and disciplinary actions. This state-level
authority means nurse practice acts and scope of practice regulations vary significantly across states .
,3. What is the primary purpose of health policy?
A. To increase hospital profits
B. To guide decisions and achieve specific health outcomes
C. To limit patient autonomy
D. To reduce the number of healthcare providers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary purpose of health policy is to guide decisions and achieve specific health outcomes.
Health policy provides a framework for improving population health outcomes, not primarily for financial or
restrictive purposes .
4. What is the first step in the policy-making process?
A. Policy evaluation
B. Problem identification
C. Policy adoption
D. Policy implementation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Recognizing and defining the health problem is the first step in policy development. The policy-
making process includes agenda setting, problem identification, formulation, adoption, implementation, and
evaluation. Without clear problem identification, subsequent policy steps lack direction .
5. Which branch of government is primarily responsible for writing and passing health-related laws?
A. Executive
, B. Judicial
C. Legislative
D. Administrative
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The legislative branch (Congress at the federal level) creates and passes health policy laws. The
executive branch implements laws, and the judicial branch interprets them .
6. Which description most accurately captures agenda setting in health policy?
A. The process through which a health problem gains policymakers' attention
B. The administrative implementation of an enacted policy
C. The measurement of outcomes after a program ends
D. The judicial review of a healthcare regulation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Agenda setting occurs when an issue becomes sufficiently visible or important to receive
policymakers' attention. It precedes formulation and adoption of policy. Nurses can influence this stage by
presenting credible evidence and communicating population needs .
7. Which factor is most likely to increase the likelihood that a health issue will reach a policymaker's agenda?
A. Lack of measurable evidence
B. Strong public concern combined with credible evidence of a significant problem
C. Absence of affected stakeholders
D. Unclear definition of the issue
Correct Answer: B
Population Health Exam Prep — Comprehensive
Review + Practice MCQs — Walden University
2025/2026
1. Which of the following best describes health policy?
A. Clinical guidelines used by nurses at the bedside
B. Rules created only by hospitals for staff behavior
C. Decisions, plans, and actions undertaken to achieve health goals
D. Nursing procedures for patient care
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Health policy is defined as decisions, plans, and actions undertaken to achieve specific healthcare
goals within a society. It provides a framework for improving population health outcomes. Options A, B, and D
describe narrower aspects of healthcare practice .
2. Which level of government is primarily responsible for regulating healthcare professionals?
A. Federal
B. State
C. Local
D. International
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: States have the constitutional authority under the Tenth Amendment to regulate healthcare
professionals through licensing boards, scope of practice laws, and disciplinary actions. This state-level
authority means nurse practice acts and scope of practice regulations vary significantly across states .
,3. What is the primary purpose of health policy?
A. To increase hospital profits
B. To guide decisions and achieve specific health outcomes
C. To limit patient autonomy
D. To reduce the number of healthcare providers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary purpose of health policy is to guide decisions and achieve specific health outcomes.
Health policy provides a framework for improving population health outcomes, not primarily for financial or
restrictive purposes .
4. What is the first step in the policy-making process?
A. Policy evaluation
B. Problem identification
C. Policy adoption
D. Policy implementation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Recognizing and defining the health problem is the first step in policy development. The policy-
making process includes agenda setting, problem identification, formulation, adoption, implementation, and
evaluation. Without clear problem identification, subsequent policy steps lack direction .
5. Which branch of government is primarily responsible for writing and passing health-related laws?
A. Executive
, B. Judicial
C. Legislative
D. Administrative
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The legislative branch (Congress at the federal level) creates and passes health policy laws. The
executive branch implements laws, and the judicial branch interprets them .
6. Which description most accurately captures agenda setting in health policy?
A. The process through which a health problem gains policymakers' attention
B. The administrative implementation of an enacted policy
C. The measurement of outcomes after a program ends
D. The judicial review of a healthcare regulation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Agenda setting occurs when an issue becomes sufficiently visible or important to receive
policymakers' attention. It precedes formulation and adoption of policy. Nurses can influence this stage by
presenting credible evidence and communicating population needs .
7. Which factor is most likely to increase the likelihood that a health issue will reach a policymaker's agenda?
A. Lack of measurable evidence
B. Strong public concern combined with credible evidence of a significant problem
C. Absence of affected stakeholders
D. Unclear definition of the issue
Correct Answer: B
