,NSG 323 Community and Public Health Nursing
Exam Prep — Comprehensive Review + Practice
MCQs — Herzing University 2026/2027
SECTION 1: COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND EPIDEMIOLOGY (Questions 1–30)
1. A community health nurse is conducting a windshield survey. Which action best describes this assessment
method?
A. Reviewing census data from government databases
B. Systematically observing the community's physical, social, and environmental characteristics while driving or
walking through it
C. Interviewing individual patients in their homes
D. Analyzing hospital discharge records
Correct Answer: B — Systematically observing the community's physical, social, and environmental
characteristics while driving or walking through it
Rationale: A windshield survey is a direct observational method in which the nurse assesses the community's
physical environment, housing, infrastructure, and social patterns. Census data (A) and discharge records (D)
are secondary data sources. Home interviews (C) are individual assessments, not community-level observation.
2. Which measure describes the total number of existing cases of a disease in a population at a specific point in
time?
,A. Incidence
B. Prevalence
C. Mortality rate
D. Case-fatality rate
Correct Answer: B — Prevalence
Rationale: Prevalence measures all existing cases (new and old) of a disease within a population at a given
time. Incidence (A) measures new cases occurring during a specified period. Mortality (C) measures deaths.
Case-fatality (D) measures the proportion of diagnosed cases that result in death.
3. A nurse is calculating the incidence rate of influenza in a community. Which data is required?
A. The total number of existing influenza cases
B. The number of new influenza cases during a specified period divided by the population at risk
C. The number of influenza deaths
D. The number of hospital admissions for influenza
Correct Answer: B — The number of new influenza cases during a specified period divided by the population at
risk
Rationale: Incidence measures new cases occurring in a population at risk during a defined time period.
Existing cases (A) describe prevalence. Deaths (C) describe mortality. Hospital admissions (D) are a healthcare
utilization measure, not incidence.
4. Which source is most appropriate for obtaining population-level demographic and health indicator data for a
community assessment?
, A. A single patient's medical record
B. Government public health agencies and census data
C. Social media comments
D. Staff meeting minutes
Correct Answer: B — Government public health agencies and census data
Rationale: Government agencies (e.g., CDC, state health departments, Census Bureau) provide systematically
collected population-level data on demographics, morbidity, and mortality. Individual records (A) are not
population-level. Social media (C) and staff minutes (D) are unreliable and non-representative.
5. A community health nurse compares local diabetes rates with state and national rates. What is the primary
purpose of this comparison?
A. To determine individual patient diagnoses
B. To identify population patterns, disparities, and priority health concerns
C. To evaluate hospital staffing needs
D. To replace the need for a community assessment
Correct Answer: B — To identify population patterns, disparities, and priority health concerns
Rationale: Comparing local data with broader benchmarks helps identify whether a community has unusually
high rates of disease, revealing disparities and priorities for intervention. This does not determine individual
diagnoses (A), staffing (C), or replace assessment (D).
Exam Prep — Comprehensive Review + Practice
MCQs — Herzing University 2026/2027
SECTION 1: COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND EPIDEMIOLOGY (Questions 1–30)
1. A community health nurse is conducting a windshield survey. Which action best describes this assessment
method?
A. Reviewing census data from government databases
B. Systematically observing the community's physical, social, and environmental characteristics while driving or
walking through it
C. Interviewing individual patients in their homes
D. Analyzing hospital discharge records
Correct Answer: B — Systematically observing the community's physical, social, and environmental
characteristics while driving or walking through it
Rationale: A windshield survey is a direct observational method in which the nurse assesses the community's
physical environment, housing, infrastructure, and social patterns. Census data (A) and discharge records (D)
are secondary data sources. Home interviews (C) are individual assessments, not community-level observation.
2. Which measure describes the total number of existing cases of a disease in a population at a specific point in
time?
,A. Incidence
B. Prevalence
C. Mortality rate
D. Case-fatality rate
Correct Answer: B — Prevalence
Rationale: Prevalence measures all existing cases (new and old) of a disease within a population at a given
time. Incidence (A) measures new cases occurring during a specified period. Mortality (C) measures deaths.
Case-fatality (D) measures the proportion of diagnosed cases that result in death.
3. A nurse is calculating the incidence rate of influenza in a community. Which data is required?
A. The total number of existing influenza cases
B. The number of new influenza cases during a specified period divided by the population at risk
C. The number of influenza deaths
D. The number of hospital admissions for influenza
Correct Answer: B — The number of new influenza cases during a specified period divided by the population at
risk
Rationale: Incidence measures new cases occurring in a population at risk during a defined time period.
Existing cases (A) describe prevalence. Deaths (C) describe mortality. Hospital admissions (D) are a healthcare
utilization measure, not incidence.
4. Which source is most appropriate for obtaining population-level demographic and health indicator data for a
community assessment?
, A. A single patient's medical record
B. Government public health agencies and census data
C. Social media comments
D. Staff meeting minutes
Correct Answer: B — Government public health agencies and census data
Rationale: Government agencies (e.g., CDC, state health departments, Census Bureau) provide systematically
collected population-level data on demographics, morbidity, and mortality. Individual records (A) are not
population-level. Social media (C) and staff minutes (D) are unreliable and non-representative.
5. A community health nurse compares local diabetes rates with state and national rates. What is the primary
purpose of this comparison?
A. To determine individual patient diagnoses
B. To identify population patterns, disparities, and priority health concerns
C. To evaluate hospital staffing needs
D. To replace the need for a community assessment
Correct Answer: B — To identify population patterns, disparities, and priority health concerns
Rationale: Comparing local data with broader benchmarks helps identify whether a community has unusually
high rates of disease, revealing disparities and priorities for intervention. This does not determine individual
diagnoses (A), staffing (C), or replace assessment (D).
