NURS 261 Exam 1 Study Guide Updated 2026
Questions with Answers with Rationales
1. What are the strategies of nurses that address health concerns of emerging populations: -
ANSWER-The quest to deliver culturally competent care has provided the impetus for
nursing faculty to require transcultural courses in the nursing curriculum to facilitate
awareness and understanding of cultural diversity.
-Nurses have responsibilities to be aware of specific health needs and respond to illness
in all populations.
-Additionally, nurses with advanced preparation have committed their time and energy to
developing approaches and models for transcultural nursing.
2. What is the concept of a health disparity: - ANSWER--When a specific service isn't
available,
Inequities lead to increased disparities
-It includes disparities in health and in health care. A particular type of health difference
that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage, and they
adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles
to health based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender;
age; mental health, or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or
exclusion.
-They represent a lack of efficiency within the health care system and account for
unnecessary costs and diminish the quality of life for persons seeking care.
3. What is the concept of vulnerable populations: - ANSWER-Individuals and groups at risk
for health disparity are considered _____________________________. Examples
include: residents of rural areas, undocumented immigrants, low-income individuals and
families, racial and ethnic minorities, people with no health insurance coverage, the
terminally or mentally ill, persons with HIV/AIDS, alcohol or substance abusers, etc.
4. What is the concept of health equity: - ANSWER--It is the accomplishment of the highest
level of health for all people. Attaining this requires valuing everyone equally with
focused and ongoing societal efforts to deal with preventable inequalities, historical and
contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and health care disparities.
-An individual's ability to achieve good health could be affected because of race or
ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, age, disability, socioeconomic status, and geographic
location.
-When a specific service isn't available, inequities lead to increased disparities.
5. Role of public health: - ANSWER-Promote and protect health of people and communities
, Encourage healthy behaviors
Set safety standards for workers
Develop school nutrition programs
Track disease outbreaks
Reduce health disparities
6. What are the functions of the public sectors of the healthcare system? - ANSWER-It
contains official and voluntary health agencies operating at the local, state, federal, and
international levels. They focus on problems related to environmental risks, infectious
diseases, children and mothers, treating chronic disease, substance abuse, mental illness,
teen pregnancy, long-term care, epidemics of violence, HIV/AIDS, and bioterrorism and
disaster preparedness.
7. What is the private sector funded by? - ANSWER-Usually through employers, and the
person's own funds (out-of-pocket)
8. Role of a nurse as an advocate: - ANSWER-Nurses help individuals obtain what they are
entitled to receive through the health care system, try to make the system more
responsive to individual and community needs, and help persons develop the skills they
need to help themselves.
-help people get the care that they're entitled to receive, ex: (a patient who has asthma) a
nurse makes sure that the patient gets what they're entitled to by following their asthma
plan
9. Role of a nurse as a care manager: - ANSWER-The nurse's role as this is prevent
duplication of services, maintain quality and safety, and reduce costs. This role depends
on collaborative relationship among this individual, other nurses and physicians, the
patient/ their family, and other people who work with the patient. The wishes of the
individual and family need to be made clear to this role of a nurse. Communication is key
-prevents the duplication of services. Ex: an insurance nurse is responsible is to make
sure the patient has what they're entitled to but, also that the patient is not seeing two
pulmonologist, to make sure there's no duplication of services.
10. Role of a nurse as a consultant: - ANSWER-- Nurses may provide knowledge about
health promotion and disease prevention to individuals and groups as this role. All nurses
need to develop consultation skills that can be integrated into practice and allow the
individual nurse to take advantage of opportunities to provide support on an individual
level.
- an individual who has specialized knowledge and they use that knowledge to
provide a service to someone. Ex: that nurse can sit on a board of directors and
use that knowledge to guide that meeting, might be brought in to consult with a
group of nurses because they're specialized
Questions with Answers with Rationales
1. What are the strategies of nurses that address health concerns of emerging populations: -
ANSWER-The quest to deliver culturally competent care has provided the impetus for
nursing faculty to require transcultural courses in the nursing curriculum to facilitate
awareness and understanding of cultural diversity.
-Nurses have responsibilities to be aware of specific health needs and respond to illness
in all populations.
-Additionally, nurses with advanced preparation have committed their time and energy to
developing approaches and models for transcultural nursing.
2. What is the concept of a health disparity: - ANSWER--When a specific service isn't
available,
Inequities lead to increased disparities
-It includes disparities in health and in health care. A particular type of health difference
that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage, and they
adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles
to health based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender;
age; mental health, or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or
exclusion.
-They represent a lack of efficiency within the health care system and account for
unnecessary costs and diminish the quality of life for persons seeking care.
3. What is the concept of vulnerable populations: - ANSWER-Individuals and groups at risk
for health disparity are considered _____________________________. Examples
include: residents of rural areas, undocumented immigrants, low-income individuals and
families, racial and ethnic minorities, people with no health insurance coverage, the
terminally or mentally ill, persons with HIV/AIDS, alcohol or substance abusers, etc.
4. What is the concept of health equity: - ANSWER--It is the accomplishment of the highest
level of health for all people. Attaining this requires valuing everyone equally with
focused and ongoing societal efforts to deal with preventable inequalities, historical and
contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and health care disparities.
-An individual's ability to achieve good health could be affected because of race or
ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, age, disability, socioeconomic status, and geographic
location.
-When a specific service isn't available, inequities lead to increased disparities.
5. Role of public health: - ANSWER-Promote and protect health of people and communities
, Encourage healthy behaviors
Set safety standards for workers
Develop school nutrition programs
Track disease outbreaks
Reduce health disparities
6. What are the functions of the public sectors of the healthcare system? - ANSWER-It
contains official and voluntary health agencies operating at the local, state, federal, and
international levels. They focus on problems related to environmental risks, infectious
diseases, children and mothers, treating chronic disease, substance abuse, mental illness,
teen pregnancy, long-term care, epidemics of violence, HIV/AIDS, and bioterrorism and
disaster preparedness.
7. What is the private sector funded by? - ANSWER-Usually through employers, and the
person's own funds (out-of-pocket)
8. Role of a nurse as an advocate: - ANSWER-Nurses help individuals obtain what they are
entitled to receive through the health care system, try to make the system more
responsive to individual and community needs, and help persons develop the skills they
need to help themselves.
-help people get the care that they're entitled to receive, ex: (a patient who has asthma) a
nurse makes sure that the patient gets what they're entitled to by following their asthma
plan
9. Role of a nurse as a care manager: - ANSWER-The nurse's role as this is prevent
duplication of services, maintain quality and safety, and reduce costs. This role depends
on collaborative relationship among this individual, other nurses and physicians, the
patient/ their family, and other people who work with the patient. The wishes of the
individual and family need to be made clear to this role of a nurse. Communication is key
-prevents the duplication of services. Ex: an insurance nurse is responsible is to make
sure the patient has what they're entitled to but, also that the patient is not seeing two
pulmonologist, to make sure there's no duplication of services.
10. Role of a nurse as a consultant: - ANSWER-- Nurses may provide knowledge about
health promotion and disease prevention to individuals and groups as this role. All nurses
need to develop consultation skills that can be integrated into practice and allow the
individual nurse to take advantage of opportunities to provide support on an individual
level.
- an individual who has specialized knowledge and they use that knowledge to
provide a service to someone. Ex: that nurse can sit on a board of directors and
use that knowledge to guide that meeting, might be brought in to consult with a
group of nurses because they're specialized
