NUR 206-EVOLUTION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What historical event first led to the recognition of the contribution of blacks to nursing?
a.
Florence Nightingale’s acceptance of black nurses into the first nursing school
b.
The contributions of black nurses at the Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in
America
c.
Mary Seacole’s efforts to care for soldiers during the Crimean War
d.
The work done by wives of wealthy black nobles who carried food and medicine
from house to house during the Middle Ages
ANS: C
Although Nightingale’s school refused Seacole, she was able to make a difference in the
Crimean War and later was recognized for her efforts.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 8-9
2. World War I contributed to the advancement of health care by:
a.
increasing the number of private care hospitals and decreasing the role of public
health services.
b.
employing a large number of civilians to provide care to returning soldiers
through the Red Cross.
c.
introducing specialists in nursing such as nurse anesthetists.
d.
increasing the number of community health nurses.
ANS: C
World War I offered nurses a chance to enter into new fields of specialization, as is seen in the
example of nurse anesthetists, who became part of surgical teams at the front lines.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 11
3. The primary purpose of the Social Security Act of 1935 was to:
a.
increase research that focused on minority groups.
b.
provide medical care for chemically impaired persons.
c.
ensure health care for older adults through a national insurance system.
d.
decrease the public’s financial burden by limiting services offered by local
health departments.
ANS: C
By providing health insurance for older adults, the Social Security Act of 1935 set the
precedent for the passage of the Medicare and Medicaid Acts that followed in 1965, but the
act also provided maternal and child welfare services, rehabilitation for the mentally and
physically challenged, medical care for blind individuals and crippled children, and
unemployment benefits.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 12
4. A client asks the nurse, “Can you explain Medicare, an amendment to the Social Security
Act?” The nurse responds that Medicare:
a.
led to many hospital closings, along with a decrease in acute care hospital–based
nursing care.
,NUR 206-EVOLUTION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
b.
provided medical insurance to those younger adults or children who were not
eligible for private insurance because of catastrophic illnesses such as cancer.
c.
provided preventive care for women, infants, and children.
d.
ensured that individuals ages 65 and older and those with end-stage renal disease
or permanent disabilities had health care insurance.
ANS: D
The Medicare program provides hospital insurance, Part A, and medical insurance, Part B,
to all people ages 65 and older who are eligible to receive Social Security benefits; people
with total, permanent disabilities; and people with end-stage renal disease.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 14
5. A comparison of nursing in the 1980s to nursing in the 1990s reveals that:
a.
in the 1990s nursing experienced a significant reduction occurred in preventable
diseases caused by unsafe/unhealthy lifestyles.
b.
tuberculosis was the primary concern for nursing in the 1980s, whereas the
AIDS epidemic emerged and was its focus during the 1990s.
c.
a decrease in ambulatory services in the 1980s prompted an increase in public
health nurses in the 1990s.
d.
the demand for advanced practice nurses increased in the 1980s and the 1990s as
a result of the economy and concern about the health of the nation.
ANS: D
The numbers of advanced nurse practitioners increased as evidence of their cost-effectiveness
as providers of primary and preventive health care became established.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 16-17
6. Which statement accurately describes the historical perspective of nursing practice?
a.
Nursing has existed to meet the needs of populations, individuals, and aggregates
by providing care that is determined by the needs and beliefs of society in
different historical contexts.
b.
As men began to become interested in nursing, it changed into a respected
profession based on scientific fact rather than superstition.
c.
Nursing has historically accepted individuals from all social and
ethnic backgrounds.
d.
The United States has led the way throughout history to advance nursing
and health care by providing the first hospital and medical school.
ANS: A
Nursing has existed since biblical times to address needs ranging from contagious diseases in
early times to health prevention in the present time, with care based on health needs and
beliefs of the time.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 3 |pp. 18-19
7. The use of herbs has become a popular alternative to prescription drugs in today’s health care
milieu. During which other historical periods did health practices focus on the use of herbs?
a.
Prehistoric times and the Middle Ages
b.
Civil War period and World War I
,NUR 206-EVOLUTION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
c.
Renaissance and Reformation periods and the Colonial American period
d.
Crimean War and Civil War periods
ANS: A
During prehistoric times, tribes used herbs to rid themselves of disease; in the Middle Ages,
women used herbs.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 6
8. A care provider sacrifices an animal and waves an herb-filled sack over a client who is
complaining of painful joints and chest pain with exertion. This ritual represents health
care during:
a.
the prehistoric period.
b.
early civilization in Egypt.
c.
the Renaissance.
d.
the Middle Ages.
ANS: A
During prehistoric times, illness was thought to be caused by evil spirits that providers
attempted to scare away through rituals and dances.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 3
9. A prospective nursing student who researches universities that offer a baccalaureate degree
in nursing would want to ensure that the program is accredited by the:
a.
American Nurses Association.
b.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
c.
National Institutes of Health.
d.
National Nursing Council.
ANS: B
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is the agency that exclusively
accredits baccalaureate and graduate-degree nursing programs.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 4, Box 1-1
10. Nursing in the 1990s was characterized by:
a.
men leaving nursing to enter the armed services.
b.
traditional 8-hour shifts to nurse burnout and compassion fatigue.
c.
a focus on preventable diseases.
d.
a decrease in nursing research.
ANS: C
Health promotion and disease prevention were recognized as the means to reduce the high
number of mortalities associated with preventable diseases—Healthy People 2000 was
published as a nationwide effort to reduce preventable deaths.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 16-17
, NUR 206-EVOLUTION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
11. A nurse is part of the policy committee for a hospital. The committee is provided with
statistics indicating that patients participating in a satisfaction survey felt they lacked
sufficient information about new drugs started while hospitalized and continued after
discharge. In addition, charts noted high recidivism rates. The committee recommended that a
formalized patient education plan be instituted to reconcile all medications and provide
patient information about new medications. The committee is using which component of the
Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2011 message?
a.
Nurses should achieve higher levels of education to be effective members of an
interdisciplinary team.
b.
Nurses should have a minimum of a master’s degree to sit on policy
committees that affect an entire facility.
c.
Pay for nurses should be consistent with that of physicians since the committee
is interdisciplinary.
d.
Policy is based on data, which provides the groundwork for decision making.
ANS: D
The IOM report initiatives include effective workforce planning and policymaking based on
better data collection and improved infrastructure.
DIF: Application REF: p. 16| p. 18
12. The Affordable Care Act of 2011:
a.
requires that by 2020 all newly licensed nurses have a bachelor’s degree
at minimum.
b.
would provide health care benefits to millions who were previously uninsurable or
unable to afford insurance.
c.
caps the amount that hospitals and physicians can charge for procedures.
d.
subsidizes private insurance companies, thereby reducing health care costs for
individuals who have chronic or catastrophic illness such as cancer.
ANS: B
It is anticipated that the ACA (2011) will make insurance coverage possible for millions who
have previously not had insurance or had been denied insurance.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 18-19
13. It has been said that “history repeats itself because no one was listening the first time.” Which
statement is true when comparing the nursing care provided in the Civil War (1861 to 1865)
to that provided during the Crimean War?
a.
Epidemics such as smallpox and typhoid were the primary emphasis of nursing
care in both wars.
b.
Soldiers were housed in substandard conditions, but due to Nightingale’s push for
sanitary conditions, in the Civil War soldiers were housed in aseptic conditions.
c.
Black nurses were widely accepted by society and the profession, receiving equal
compensation during the Civil War due in large part to the efforts of Mary
Seacole during the Crimean War.
d.
Both Nightingale (Crimean War) and Dix (Civil War) completed nursing training
before accepting positions as nurses in the wars.
ANS: A
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What historical event first led to the recognition of the contribution of blacks to nursing?
a.
Florence Nightingale’s acceptance of black nurses into the first nursing school
b.
The contributions of black nurses at the Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in
America
c.
Mary Seacole’s efforts to care for soldiers during the Crimean War
d.
The work done by wives of wealthy black nobles who carried food and medicine
from house to house during the Middle Ages
ANS: C
Although Nightingale’s school refused Seacole, she was able to make a difference in the
Crimean War and later was recognized for her efforts.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 8-9
2. World War I contributed to the advancement of health care by:
a.
increasing the number of private care hospitals and decreasing the role of public
health services.
b.
employing a large number of civilians to provide care to returning soldiers
through the Red Cross.
c.
introducing specialists in nursing such as nurse anesthetists.
d.
increasing the number of community health nurses.
ANS: C
World War I offered nurses a chance to enter into new fields of specialization, as is seen in the
example of nurse anesthetists, who became part of surgical teams at the front lines.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 11
3. The primary purpose of the Social Security Act of 1935 was to:
a.
increase research that focused on minority groups.
b.
provide medical care for chemically impaired persons.
c.
ensure health care for older adults through a national insurance system.
d.
decrease the public’s financial burden by limiting services offered by local
health departments.
ANS: C
By providing health insurance for older adults, the Social Security Act of 1935 set the
precedent for the passage of the Medicare and Medicaid Acts that followed in 1965, but the
act also provided maternal and child welfare services, rehabilitation for the mentally and
physically challenged, medical care for blind individuals and crippled children, and
unemployment benefits.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 12
4. A client asks the nurse, “Can you explain Medicare, an amendment to the Social Security
Act?” The nurse responds that Medicare:
a.
led to many hospital closings, along with a decrease in acute care hospital–based
nursing care.
,NUR 206-EVOLUTION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
b.
provided medical insurance to those younger adults or children who were not
eligible for private insurance because of catastrophic illnesses such as cancer.
c.
provided preventive care for women, infants, and children.
d.
ensured that individuals ages 65 and older and those with end-stage renal disease
or permanent disabilities had health care insurance.
ANS: D
The Medicare program provides hospital insurance, Part A, and medical insurance, Part B,
to all people ages 65 and older who are eligible to receive Social Security benefits; people
with total, permanent disabilities; and people with end-stage renal disease.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 14
5. A comparison of nursing in the 1980s to nursing in the 1990s reveals that:
a.
in the 1990s nursing experienced a significant reduction occurred in preventable
diseases caused by unsafe/unhealthy lifestyles.
b.
tuberculosis was the primary concern for nursing in the 1980s, whereas the
AIDS epidemic emerged and was its focus during the 1990s.
c.
a decrease in ambulatory services in the 1980s prompted an increase in public
health nurses in the 1990s.
d.
the demand for advanced practice nurses increased in the 1980s and the 1990s as
a result of the economy and concern about the health of the nation.
ANS: D
The numbers of advanced nurse practitioners increased as evidence of their cost-effectiveness
as providers of primary and preventive health care became established.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 16-17
6. Which statement accurately describes the historical perspective of nursing practice?
a.
Nursing has existed to meet the needs of populations, individuals, and aggregates
by providing care that is determined by the needs and beliefs of society in
different historical contexts.
b.
As men began to become interested in nursing, it changed into a respected
profession based on scientific fact rather than superstition.
c.
Nursing has historically accepted individuals from all social and
ethnic backgrounds.
d.
The United States has led the way throughout history to advance nursing
and health care by providing the first hospital and medical school.
ANS: A
Nursing has existed since biblical times to address needs ranging from contagious diseases in
early times to health prevention in the present time, with care based on health needs and
beliefs of the time.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 3 |pp. 18-19
7. The use of herbs has become a popular alternative to prescription drugs in today’s health care
milieu. During which other historical periods did health practices focus on the use of herbs?
a.
Prehistoric times and the Middle Ages
b.
Civil War period and World War I
,NUR 206-EVOLUTION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
c.
Renaissance and Reformation periods and the Colonial American period
d.
Crimean War and Civil War periods
ANS: A
During prehistoric times, tribes used herbs to rid themselves of disease; in the Middle Ages,
women used herbs.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 6
8. A care provider sacrifices an animal and waves an herb-filled sack over a client who is
complaining of painful joints and chest pain with exertion. This ritual represents health
care during:
a.
the prehistoric period.
b.
early civilization in Egypt.
c.
the Renaissance.
d.
the Middle Ages.
ANS: A
During prehistoric times, illness was thought to be caused by evil spirits that providers
attempted to scare away through rituals and dances.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 3
9. A prospective nursing student who researches universities that offer a baccalaureate degree
in nursing would want to ensure that the program is accredited by the:
a.
American Nurses Association.
b.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
c.
National Institutes of Health.
d.
National Nursing Council.
ANS: B
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is the agency that exclusively
accredits baccalaureate and graduate-degree nursing programs.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 4, Box 1-1
10. Nursing in the 1990s was characterized by:
a.
men leaving nursing to enter the armed services.
b.
traditional 8-hour shifts to nurse burnout and compassion fatigue.
c.
a focus on preventable diseases.
d.
a decrease in nursing research.
ANS: C
Health promotion and disease prevention were recognized as the means to reduce the high
number of mortalities associated with preventable diseases—Healthy People 2000 was
published as a nationwide effort to reduce preventable deaths.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 16-17
, NUR 206-EVOLUTION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
11. A nurse is part of the policy committee for a hospital. The committee is provided with
statistics indicating that patients participating in a satisfaction survey felt they lacked
sufficient information about new drugs started while hospitalized and continued after
discharge. In addition, charts noted high recidivism rates. The committee recommended that a
formalized patient education plan be instituted to reconcile all medications and provide
patient information about new medications. The committee is using which component of the
Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2011 message?
a.
Nurses should achieve higher levels of education to be effective members of an
interdisciplinary team.
b.
Nurses should have a minimum of a master’s degree to sit on policy
committees that affect an entire facility.
c.
Pay for nurses should be consistent with that of physicians since the committee
is interdisciplinary.
d.
Policy is based on data, which provides the groundwork for decision making.
ANS: D
The IOM report initiatives include effective workforce planning and policymaking based on
better data collection and improved infrastructure.
DIF: Application REF: p. 16| p. 18
12. The Affordable Care Act of 2011:
a.
requires that by 2020 all newly licensed nurses have a bachelor’s degree
at minimum.
b.
would provide health care benefits to millions who were previously uninsurable or
unable to afford insurance.
c.
caps the amount that hospitals and physicians can charge for procedures.
d.
subsidizes private insurance companies, thereby reducing health care costs for
individuals who have chronic or catastrophic illness such as cancer.
ANS: B
It is anticipated that the ACA (2011) will make insurance coverage possible for millions who
have previously not had insurance or had been denied insurance.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 18-19
13. It has been said that “history repeats itself because no one was listening the first time.” Which
statement is true when comparing the nursing care provided in the Civil War (1861 to 1865)
to that provided during the Crimean War?
a.
Epidemics such as smallpox and typhoid were the primary emphasis of nursing
care in both wars.
b.
Soldiers were housed in substandard conditions, but due to Nightingale’s push for
sanitary conditions, in the Civil War soldiers were housed in aseptic conditions.
c.
Black nurses were widely accepted by society and the profession, receiving equal
compensation during the Civil War due in large part to the efforts of Mary
Seacole during the Crimean War.
d.
Both Nightingale (Crimean War) and Dix (Civil War) completed nursing training
before accepting positions as nurses in the wars.
ANS: A
