Chapter 3 Health Policy, Politics, and Reform
1. The nurse is passionate about research for a cure for pediatric leukemia and has written the state
representatives in Congress to urge them to expand federal funding for this research. This behavior
is an example of involvement in:
A) Policy
B) Politics
C) Public health
D) Equity Ans: B Feedback:
Politics is the process of influencing the allocation of scarce resources, including financial resources,
human resources, and time. A policy is a guideline that directs individuals' behavior toward a specific
goal or a deliberate course of action chosen by an individual or group to deal with a problem. Public
health is what society does collectively to ensure that conditions exist in which people can be
healthy. Equity in healthcare refers to care that does not vary in quality because of gender, race,
ethnicity, geographic location, or socioeconomic status.
Origin: Chapter 3- Health Policy, Politics, and Reform, 2
2. Which statements regarding the relationship between politics and healthcare are true? (Select all
that apply.)
A) Politics has a limited effect on healthcare.
B) The government should be interested in health matters when a problem affects a specific
group or a whole population.
C) Politics has only negative effects on healthcare.
D) Republicans and Democrats generally agree on healthcare policies.
E) Political solutions can be achieved at both the federal and state levels. Ans: B, E
Feedback:
Politics interferes with every aspect of healthcare in the United States. In reference to a political
issue, the government should be interested in problems that affect a specific group or a whole
population. There are many examples of the positive role that governments play through policies
and legislations, including providing equal opportunity through universal provision of education,
healthcare, and often housing and nutrition programs. There is little agreement between the two
major U.S. political
parties (Democrats and Republicans) when it comes to whom, how, what, and when healthcare
should be provided and who should pay for it. Solutions can be achieved by working at either the
federal or the state level.
Page 1
,Origin: Chapter 3- Health Policy, Politics, and Reform, 3
3. The nurse is interested in taking on a role in the state's political decision-making process. Which
political skills will the nurse need to be effective in this role? (Select all that apply.)
A) Ability to understand others' behaviors
B) Social skills
C) Diagnostic skills
D) Ability to network
E) Ability to lie convincingly
Ans: A, B, D
Feedback:
Healthcare professionals have political skills and active roles in healthcare leadership. These skills
include the following: social skills and the ability to understand, interpret, and represent one's own
and others' behaviors; the ability, qualifications, and power to influence others and make changes;
the ability to develop, connect, and use different social networks; and having a high level of integrity,
sincerity, and genuineness.
Origin: Chapter 3- Health Policy, Politics, and Reform, 4
4. Which represents the correct order of events in the policy-making process?
A) 1) Policy formulation, 2) policy assessment, 3) policy adoption, 4) policy implementation, 5)
policy modification, 6) setting an agenda
B) 1) Setting an agenda, 2) policy formulation, 3) policy assessment, 4) policy modification, 5)
policy adoption, 6) policy implementation
C) 1) Policy formulation, 2) setting an agenda, 3) policy implementation, 4) policy modification,
5) policy assessment, 6) policy adoption
D) 1) Setting an agenda, 2) policy formulation, 3) policy adoption, 4) policy implementation, 5)
policy assessment, 6) policy modification
Ans: D
Feedback:
The correct order of events in the policy-making process is as follows: 1) setting an agenda, 2) policy
formulation, 3) policy adoption, 4) policy implementation, 5) policy assessment, 6) policy
modification. An agenda must be set before a policy is
Page 2
, formulated; this phase involves considering the significance of the problem, the political support for
addressing the problem, and the ability to perceive the viability of proposed alternative solutions for
the problem. After the agenda is set, the policy can be formulated. Once formulated, the policy must
be adopted or agreed upon before it can
be implemented. Only after being implemented can the policy be assessed or evaluated in terms of
its effectiveness. The final step is modifying the policy on the basis of the results of the assessment.
Page 3
1. The nurse is passionate about research for a cure for pediatric leukemia and has written the state
representatives in Congress to urge them to expand federal funding for this research. This behavior
is an example of involvement in:
A) Policy
B) Politics
C) Public health
D) Equity Ans: B Feedback:
Politics is the process of influencing the allocation of scarce resources, including financial resources,
human resources, and time. A policy is a guideline that directs individuals' behavior toward a specific
goal or a deliberate course of action chosen by an individual or group to deal with a problem. Public
health is what society does collectively to ensure that conditions exist in which people can be
healthy. Equity in healthcare refers to care that does not vary in quality because of gender, race,
ethnicity, geographic location, or socioeconomic status.
Origin: Chapter 3- Health Policy, Politics, and Reform, 2
2. Which statements regarding the relationship between politics and healthcare are true? (Select all
that apply.)
A) Politics has a limited effect on healthcare.
B) The government should be interested in health matters when a problem affects a specific
group or a whole population.
C) Politics has only negative effects on healthcare.
D) Republicans and Democrats generally agree on healthcare policies.
E) Political solutions can be achieved at both the federal and state levels. Ans: B, E
Feedback:
Politics interferes with every aspect of healthcare in the United States. In reference to a political
issue, the government should be interested in problems that affect a specific group or a whole
population. There are many examples of the positive role that governments play through policies
and legislations, including providing equal opportunity through universal provision of education,
healthcare, and often housing and nutrition programs. There is little agreement between the two
major U.S. political
parties (Democrats and Republicans) when it comes to whom, how, what, and when healthcare
should be provided and who should pay for it. Solutions can be achieved by working at either the
federal or the state level.
Page 1
,Origin: Chapter 3- Health Policy, Politics, and Reform, 3
3. The nurse is interested in taking on a role in the state's political decision-making process. Which
political skills will the nurse need to be effective in this role? (Select all that apply.)
A) Ability to understand others' behaviors
B) Social skills
C) Diagnostic skills
D) Ability to network
E) Ability to lie convincingly
Ans: A, B, D
Feedback:
Healthcare professionals have political skills and active roles in healthcare leadership. These skills
include the following: social skills and the ability to understand, interpret, and represent one's own
and others' behaviors; the ability, qualifications, and power to influence others and make changes;
the ability to develop, connect, and use different social networks; and having a high level of integrity,
sincerity, and genuineness.
Origin: Chapter 3- Health Policy, Politics, and Reform, 4
4. Which represents the correct order of events in the policy-making process?
A) 1) Policy formulation, 2) policy assessment, 3) policy adoption, 4) policy implementation, 5)
policy modification, 6) setting an agenda
B) 1) Setting an agenda, 2) policy formulation, 3) policy assessment, 4) policy modification, 5)
policy adoption, 6) policy implementation
C) 1) Policy formulation, 2) setting an agenda, 3) policy implementation, 4) policy modification,
5) policy assessment, 6) policy adoption
D) 1) Setting an agenda, 2) policy formulation, 3) policy adoption, 4) policy implementation, 5)
policy assessment, 6) policy modification
Ans: D
Feedback:
The correct order of events in the policy-making process is as follows: 1) setting an agenda, 2) policy
formulation, 3) policy adoption, 4) policy implementation, 5) policy assessment, 6) policy
modification. An agenda must be set before a policy is
Page 2
, formulated; this phase involves considering the significance of the problem, the political support for
addressing the problem, and the ability to perceive the viability of proposed alternative solutions for
the problem. After the agenda is set, the policy can be formulated. Once formulated, the policy must
be adopted or agreed upon before it can
be implemented. Only after being implemented can the policy be assessed or evaluated in terms of
its effectiveness. The final step is modifying the policy on the basis of the results of the assessment.
Page 3
