NUR 408 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE 2026
what is a health policy? - Answers societies make a collective decision about organizing, financing and
delivering care
What shapes health policy besides evidence? - Answers Political context, cultural values, timing, and
public support
What are the major stages of the policy process? - Answers Agenda setting → policy formulation →
adoption → implementation → evaluation
What is agenda setting? - Answers The process of bringing attention to a problem so that
policymakers act on it
What does the U.S. healthcare system balance? - Answers Public programs and private markets
Which cultural value strongly influences U.S. healthcare policy? - Answers Individual responsibility
What ethical values are commonly weighed in policymaking? - Answers Equity, efficiency, and liberty
What is equity? - Answers Fair opportunities and access to health resources
What is efficiency in healthcare policy? - Answers Maximizing outcomes while minimizing waste and
cost
Why is political timing important in policymaking? - Answers Even strong evidence may fail without
political support or urgency
In what spheres can nurses influence policy? - Answers Government, workplace, professional
organizations, and community
What gives nurses strong political influence? - Answers Public trust, large workforce size, and direct
patient experience
What is coalition building? - Answers Partnering with groups or organizations to support policy goals
What is constituent engagement? - Answers Communicating with elected officials as a voter/member
of their district
Why is media important in advocacy? - Answers It raises public awareness and influences policy
discussions
Is policy engagement optional for nurses? - Answers No. Advocacy is considered an ethical
professional responsibility.
Common barriers preventing nurses from policy participation? - Answers Lack of time, workload
stress, and limited policy knowledge
Why must advocacy continue after legislation passes? - Answers Policies require monitoring,
implementation, and evaluation to succeed
What legal limitation applies to political activity at work? - Answers Public resources/employer
resources cannot be used for partisan campaigning
Core principle of nursing advocacy? - Answers Keep patients and communities at the center.
What is Medicare? - Answers Federal insurance mainly for adults 65+ and some disabled individuals.
What is Medicaid? - Answers Joint federal-state insurance program for eligible low-income
populations
Main difference between Medicare and Medicaid? - Answers Medicare is mainly age/disability-based;
Medicaid is income-based
What major law expanded healthcare access? - Answers The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
What is payment reform? - Answers Changing reimbursement to reward quality and outcomes
instead of volume
What is fee-for-service reimbursement? - Answers Providers are paid for each service performed
Problem with fee-for-service systems? - Answers They may encourage higher volumes of care rather
than better outcomes
Role of regulatory agencies in healthcare? - Answers Translate laws into operational rules and
regulations
Which groups are more likely to lack insurance coverage? - Answers Low-income adults and
marginalized populations
What do healthcare spending patterns reveal? - Answers System priorities and areas receiving the
most resources.
Primary purpose of nursing regulation? - Answers protect the public
Who regulates nursing licensure? - Answers state board of nursing
What determines nursing scope of practice? - Answers state law
what is a health policy? - Answers societies make a collective decision about organizing, financing and
delivering care
What shapes health policy besides evidence? - Answers Political context, cultural values, timing, and
public support
What are the major stages of the policy process? - Answers Agenda setting → policy formulation →
adoption → implementation → evaluation
What is agenda setting? - Answers The process of bringing attention to a problem so that
policymakers act on it
What does the U.S. healthcare system balance? - Answers Public programs and private markets
Which cultural value strongly influences U.S. healthcare policy? - Answers Individual responsibility
What ethical values are commonly weighed in policymaking? - Answers Equity, efficiency, and liberty
What is equity? - Answers Fair opportunities and access to health resources
What is efficiency in healthcare policy? - Answers Maximizing outcomes while minimizing waste and
cost
Why is political timing important in policymaking? - Answers Even strong evidence may fail without
political support or urgency
In what spheres can nurses influence policy? - Answers Government, workplace, professional
organizations, and community
What gives nurses strong political influence? - Answers Public trust, large workforce size, and direct
patient experience
What is coalition building? - Answers Partnering with groups or organizations to support policy goals
What is constituent engagement? - Answers Communicating with elected officials as a voter/member
of their district
Why is media important in advocacy? - Answers It raises public awareness and influences policy
discussions
Is policy engagement optional for nurses? - Answers No. Advocacy is considered an ethical
professional responsibility.
Common barriers preventing nurses from policy participation? - Answers Lack of time, workload
stress, and limited policy knowledge
Why must advocacy continue after legislation passes? - Answers Policies require monitoring,
implementation, and evaluation to succeed
What legal limitation applies to political activity at work? - Answers Public resources/employer
resources cannot be used for partisan campaigning
Core principle of nursing advocacy? - Answers Keep patients and communities at the center.
What is Medicare? - Answers Federal insurance mainly for adults 65+ and some disabled individuals.
What is Medicaid? - Answers Joint federal-state insurance program for eligible low-income
populations
Main difference between Medicare and Medicaid? - Answers Medicare is mainly age/disability-based;
Medicaid is income-based
What major law expanded healthcare access? - Answers The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
What is payment reform? - Answers Changing reimbursement to reward quality and outcomes
instead of volume
What is fee-for-service reimbursement? - Answers Providers are paid for each service performed
Problem with fee-for-service systems? - Answers They may encourage higher volumes of care rather
than better outcomes
Role of regulatory agencies in healthcare? - Answers Translate laws into operational rules and
regulations
Which groups are more likely to lack insurance coverage? - Answers Low-income adults and
marginalized populations
What do healthcare spending patterns reveal? - Answers System priorities and areas receiving the
most resources.
Primary purpose of nursing regulation? - Answers protect the public
Who regulates nursing licensure? - Answers state board of nursing
What determines nursing scope of practice? - Answers state law
