NCLEX-Style Questions
Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health
1. A nurse is caring for a pregnant Hispanic woman who speaks limited English. The most
appropriate nursing intervention to address potential health disparities is:
a) Use simple medical terminology when speaking to the patient
b) Provide discharge instructions in English and encourage her to ask questions
c) Obtain a certified medical interpreter to facilitate communication
d) Speak slowly and loudly to enhance understanding
Answer: c) Obtain a certified medical interpreter to facilitate communication
Rationale: Language barriers can contribute to health disparities. Using trained
interpreters ensures accurate communication, improving health literacy and patient
outcomes.
2. A community health nurse identifies that African American women in the community
have higher rates of maternal mortality. Which factor is the most significant
contributor?
a) Higher rates of pre-existing conditions
b) Implicit bias and structural racism in healthcare
c) Genetic predisposition to pregnancy complications
d) Poor prenatal nutrition
Answer: b) Implicit bias and structural racism in healthcare
Rationale: Studies show systemic racism and provider bias lead to disparities in
maternal care. African American women often receive lower-quality care regardless of
socioeconomic status.
3. A homeless woman presents to the clinic with uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension.
The nurse understands that social determinants of health affecting this patient include:
a) Lack of health insurance, limited access to food, and unstable housing
b) Noncompliance with medication regimen
c) Poor self-care habits
d) Personal choice to remain homeless
Answer: a) Lack of health insurance, limited access to food, and unstable housing
Rationale: Social determinants of health—including economic stability, food
insecurity, and housing—significantly impact chronic disease management.
Barriers to Health Care Access
4. A low-income woman with Medicaid reports difficulty getting a specialist appointment.
The nurse recognizes this as an example of:
, a) Patient noncompliance
b) Healthcare access disparity
c) Poor health literacy
d) Overutilization of Medicaid services
Answer: b) Healthcare access disparity
Rationale: Women in low-income populations face barriers to specialist care,
including provider shortages and insurance limitations, contributing to delayed
diagnosis and treatment.
5. A nurse working in a rural clinic notices that many women travel over 50 miles for
prenatal care. What is the best intervention?
a) Educate patients on managing pregnancy symptoms at home
b) Encourage them to attend all prenatal visits despite the distance
c) Advocate for mobile prenatal clinics or telehealth services
d) Suggest they relocate closer to the hospital
Answer: c) Advocate for mobile prenatal clinics or telehealth services
Rationale: Rural women often have limited healthcare access. Telehealth and mobile
clinics improve prenatal care by reducing transportation barriers.
Impact of Racism and Discrimination on Women’s Health
6. A nurse overhears a colleague say, "Women from this racial group always have more
pain complaints." The best response is:
a) "That’s interesting. What makes you say that?"
b) "I think we should discuss bias in healthcare and ensure equal treatment."
c) "Some patients do exaggerate pain."
d) Ignore the comment
Answer: b) "I think we should discuss bias in healthcare and ensure equal treatment."
Rationale: Implicit bias in pain management contributes to racial health disparities.
Nurses should address discrimination and promote equitable care.
Nursing Advocacy and Policy Change
7. A nurse advocates for hospital policies that reduce racial disparities in maternal health
outcomes. Which action best supports this goal?
a) Conducting mandatory cultural competence training for staff
b) Recommending fewer interventions for minority patients
c) Requiring minority patients to take extra prenatal classes
d) Suggesting all patients be treated the same regardless of race
, Answer: a) Conducting mandatory cultural competence training for staff
Rationale: Cultural competence helps providers recognize and address racial
disparities, improving maternal outcomes.
Financial Barriers and Income Inequality
8. A low-income mother refuses postpartum follow-up due to lack of transportation. The
nurse’s best response is:
a) "You should make it a priority despite the difficulty."
b) "Can we arrange a community service or home visit?"
c) "Skipping visits is not safe for your baby."
d) "Try asking a family member to help."
Answer: b) "Can we arrange a community service or home visit?"
Rationale: Nurses must address barriers to care by connecting patients to community
resources, reducing income-based health disparities.
Culturally Competent Care
9. A Native American woman requests traditional healing alongside medical treatment.
The nurse should:
a) Discourage it due to lack of evidence
b) Allow it only if it doesn’t interfere with care
c) Respect and integrate it when possible
d) Refuse to acknowledge non-Western medicine
Answer: c) Respect and integrate it when possible
Rationale: Culturally competent care includes respecting traditional practices to
enhance trust and patient adherence.
Intersectionality in Women's Health
10. A nurse provides care for a low-income transgender woman who avoids medical visits
due to past discrimination. What should the nurse do?
a) Encourage her to seek care despite past experiences
b) Provide a gender-affirming, safe environment and address barriers
c) Ignore her concerns and focus on medical issues
d) Assume she is noncompliant
Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health
1. A nurse is caring for a pregnant Hispanic woman who speaks limited English. The most
appropriate nursing intervention to address potential health disparities is:
a) Use simple medical terminology when speaking to the patient
b) Provide discharge instructions in English and encourage her to ask questions
c) Obtain a certified medical interpreter to facilitate communication
d) Speak slowly and loudly to enhance understanding
Answer: c) Obtain a certified medical interpreter to facilitate communication
Rationale: Language barriers can contribute to health disparities. Using trained
interpreters ensures accurate communication, improving health literacy and patient
outcomes.
2. A community health nurse identifies that African American women in the community
have higher rates of maternal mortality. Which factor is the most significant
contributor?
a) Higher rates of pre-existing conditions
b) Implicit bias and structural racism in healthcare
c) Genetic predisposition to pregnancy complications
d) Poor prenatal nutrition
Answer: b) Implicit bias and structural racism in healthcare
Rationale: Studies show systemic racism and provider bias lead to disparities in
maternal care. African American women often receive lower-quality care regardless of
socioeconomic status.
3. A homeless woman presents to the clinic with uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension.
The nurse understands that social determinants of health affecting this patient include:
a) Lack of health insurance, limited access to food, and unstable housing
b) Noncompliance with medication regimen
c) Poor self-care habits
d) Personal choice to remain homeless
Answer: a) Lack of health insurance, limited access to food, and unstable housing
Rationale: Social determinants of health—including economic stability, food
insecurity, and housing—significantly impact chronic disease management.
Barriers to Health Care Access
4. A low-income woman with Medicaid reports difficulty getting a specialist appointment.
The nurse recognizes this as an example of:
, a) Patient noncompliance
b) Healthcare access disparity
c) Poor health literacy
d) Overutilization of Medicaid services
Answer: b) Healthcare access disparity
Rationale: Women in low-income populations face barriers to specialist care,
including provider shortages and insurance limitations, contributing to delayed
diagnosis and treatment.
5. A nurse working in a rural clinic notices that many women travel over 50 miles for
prenatal care. What is the best intervention?
a) Educate patients on managing pregnancy symptoms at home
b) Encourage them to attend all prenatal visits despite the distance
c) Advocate for mobile prenatal clinics or telehealth services
d) Suggest they relocate closer to the hospital
Answer: c) Advocate for mobile prenatal clinics or telehealth services
Rationale: Rural women often have limited healthcare access. Telehealth and mobile
clinics improve prenatal care by reducing transportation barriers.
Impact of Racism and Discrimination on Women’s Health
6. A nurse overhears a colleague say, "Women from this racial group always have more
pain complaints." The best response is:
a) "That’s interesting. What makes you say that?"
b) "I think we should discuss bias in healthcare and ensure equal treatment."
c) "Some patients do exaggerate pain."
d) Ignore the comment
Answer: b) "I think we should discuss bias in healthcare and ensure equal treatment."
Rationale: Implicit bias in pain management contributes to racial health disparities.
Nurses should address discrimination and promote equitable care.
Nursing Advocacy and Policy Change
7. A nurse advocates for hospital policies that reduce racial disparities in maternal health
outcomes. Which action best supports this goal?
a) Conducting mandatory cultural competence training for staff
b) Recommending fewer interventions for minority patients
c) Requiring minority patients to take extra prenatal classes
d) Suggesting all patients be treated the same regardless of race
, Answer: a) Conducting mandatory cultural competence training for staff
Rationale: Cultural competence helps providers recognize and address racial
disparities, improving maternal outcomes.
Financial Barriers and Income Inequality
8. A low-income mother refuses postpartum follow-up due to lack of transportation. The
nurse’s best response is:
a) "You should make it a priority despite the difficulty."
b) "Can we arrange a community service or home visit?"
c) "Skipping visits is not safe for your baby."
d) "Try asking a family member to help."
Answer: b) "Can we arrange a community service or home visit?"
Rationale: Nurses must address barriers to care by connecting patients to community
resources, reducing income-based health disparities.
Culturally Competent Care
9. A Native American woman requests traditional healing alongside medical treatment.
The nurse should:
a) Discourage it due to lack of evidence
b) Allow it only if it doesn’t interfere with care
c) Respect and integrate it when possible
d) Refuse to acknowledge non-Western medicine
Answer: c) Respect and integrate it when possible
Rationale: Culturally competent care includes respecting traditional practices to
enhance trust and patient adherence.
Intersectionality in Women's Health
10. A nurse provides care for a low-income transgender woman who avoids medical visits
due to past discrimination. What should the nurse do?
a) Encourage her to seek care despite past experiences
b) Provide a gender-affirming, safe environment and address barriers
c) Ignore her concerns and focus on medical issues
d) Assume she is noncompliant
