Chapter 01: Population-Focused Practice: The Foundation of Specialization in Public
Health Nursing
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. One of the primary focuses of improving the health of the American people in the twenty-
first century is to address:
a. Bioterrorism and global health threats
b. Delivery of individual care and hygiene
c. The need for increased hospital and acute care
d. Chronic disease and disability management
ANS: A
There are new concerns, and one of the most serious is bioterrorism. The others are not
related to public health or are concerns that have been present for many years.
DIF: COG: Understanding REF: 4 OBJ: 1
2. The threat of bioterrorism has the potential to:
a. Dissolve community-based programs.
b. Cause the health care system to collapse.
c. Divert funds from other public safety health care programs.
d. Increase the need for shelters.
, ANS: C
Bioterrorism may have an impact on the availability of resources for public safety health
care programs.
DIF: COG: Analyzing REF: 4 OBJ: 1
3. Population-based preventive programs launched in the 1970s are responsible for
increased:
a. Use of tobacco
b. Use of automobile safety restraints
c. Incidence of hypertension
d. Incidence of obesity
ANS: B
One outcome of preventive programs launched in the 1970s is the increased use of
automobile safety restraints. These programs also are responsible for the decreased use of
tobacco and improved blood pressure control. None of these programs addressed the
incidence of obesity.
DIF: COG: Remembering REF: 5 OBJ: 1
4. The public health nurse must participate in the essential services of public health. These
include:
a. Monitoring health status by completing a community assessment
b. Diagnosing and investigating health problems in the world
c. Informing, educating, and empowering people about health issues
, d. Working in law enforcement to regulate health and ensure safety
ANS: C
The public health nurse monitors health status in several ways, completing a community
assessment is only one way that health status is monitored. The public health nurse would
not diagnose or solve “world” problems, or work in law enforcement. Rather, the public
health care nurse would participate with local regulators to protect communities and
empower people to address health issues.
DIF: COG: Understanding REF: 5 OBJ: 1
5. Which of the following is an example of the mission of public health according to the
Institute of Medicine?
a. Tracking avian flu outbreaks and doing surveillance in the United States
b. Providing a flu shot for an elderly person at the health department
c. Keeping track of alternative therapies in use in the United States
d. Keeping snake antivenom at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in
Atlanta
ANS: A
The Institute of Medicine’s stated mission on public health is “to generate organized
community and technical knowledge to prevent disease and promote health.”
DIF: COG: Analyzing REF: 7 OBJ: 1
6. Making sure that essential community-oriented health services are available defines which
of the core public health functions?
a. Policy development
b. Assessment
, c. Assurance
d. Scientific knowledge-based care
ANS: C
Public health is based on scientific knowledge, but is not a core function. The definition does
not fit the terms assessment or policy development.
DIF: COG: Applying REF: 7 OBJ: 1
7. The number and proportion of persons aged 25 or older with less than a high school
education is an example of:
a. Sociodemographic characteristics
b. Health status
c. Health risk factors
d. Health care resource consumption
ANS: A
The number and proportion of people is a demographical characteristic.
DIF: COG: Analyzing REF: 8 OBJ: 1
8. The purpose of public health core functions is to:
a. Clarify the role of the government in fulfilling the mission of public health.
b. Ensure the safety of populations in receiving quality health care.
c. Provide community-based individualized care to every person in the United States.
d. Unite public and private providers of care in a comprehensive approach to providing