ATI CMS RN COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (100% VERIFIED)
Question 1
A community health nurse is planning a health education program for a group of adults who have
a family history of cardiovascular disease. This activity is an example of which level of
prevention?
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Quaternary prevention
E) Primordial prevention
Correct Answer: A) Primary prevention
Rationale: Primary prevention focuses on preventing the initial occurrence of a disease or
injury. Providing health education to an at-risk group before they have the disease is a
classic primary prevention strategy aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing risk
factors to prevent the disease from developing. Secondary prevention involves early
detection and screening, while tertiary prevention focuses on managing existing conditions.
Question 2
A public health nurse is investigating a recent outbreak of salmonella in the community. What is
the nurse's first step in the epidemiological process?
A) Implement control measures to stop the outbreak.
B) Establish the existence of an outbreak.
C) Formulate a hypothesis about the cause.
D) Collect samples from all suspected cases.
E) Alert the local media to the potential danger.
Correct Answer: B) Establish the existence of an outbreak.
Rationale: The first step in any outbreak investigation is to confirm that an outbreak is
actually occurring. This involves comparing the current number of reported cases to the
baseline or expected number of cases for that time period and geographic area. This
confirms that the observed cases are in excess of what is normal before proceeding with the
rest of the investigation.
Question 3
A school nurse is providing care to a child with a persistent cough, fever, and reports that several
family members at home are also sick. The nurse suspects pertussis. Which action is the nurse's
legal responsibility?
A) Administer an antibiotic to the child.
B) Send the child home with instructions to rest.
C) Report the suspected case to the local health department.
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D) Isolate the child in the school's health office for the rest of the day.
E) Provide vaccination information to the child's parents.
Correct Answer: C) Report the suspected case to the local health department.
Rationale: Pertussis (whooping cough) is a nationally notifiable communicable disease.
Healthcare providers, including school nurses, are legally mandated to report any
suspected cases to the local or state health department. This reporting is crucial for public
health surveillance, outbreak investigation, and implementation of community-wide control
measures.
Question 4
A home health nurse is visiting an older adult client who lives alone. Which of the following
assessment findings is the strongest indicator of potential elder neglect?
A) The client has several old, faded bruises on their arms.
B) The client reports feeling lonely and isolated.
C) The client has inappropriate clothing for the weather and poor personal hygiene.
D) The client's home is cluttered with old newspapers and magazines.
E) The client has a prescription that was filled 2 months ago but the bottle is still full.
Correct Answer: E) The client has a prescription that was filled 2 months ago but the bottle
is still full.
Rationale: While the other options are causes for concern, a full prescription bottle from
months ago is a significant red flag for neglect, specifically medical neglect. It indicates that
the client is not taking their prescribed, and potentially life-sustaining, medication. This is a
serious health and safety issue that requires immediate investigation and intervention.
Question 5
A community health nurse is conducting a windshield survey. What is the primary purpose of
this activity?
A) To conduct in-depth interviews with community members.
B) To analyze census data and other statistical information.
C) To provide a general overview of the community and its needs.
D) To perform health screenings for at-risk individuals.
E) To map the location of all healthcare facilities in the area.
Correct Answer: C) To provide a general overview of the community and its needs.
Rationale: A windshield survey is a type of direct observation where the nurse drives or
walks through a community to observe its physical, social, and economic characteristics. It
is a quick and simple way to get a "snapshot" and general overview of the community, its
resources, potential health risks, and overall environment as a first step in a community
assessment.
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Question 6
A nurse is teaching a group of new parents about childhood immunizations. This is an example
of which level of prevention?
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Community-level prevention
E) Health promotion
Correct Answer: A) Primary prevention
Rationale: Immunizations are a cornerstone of primary prevention. They are administered
to healthy individuals to prevent them from contracting a specific communicable disease.
The goal is to prevent the disease from ever occurring in the first place.
Question 7
A community health nurse is planning a program to address the high rate of childhood obesity in
the local area. Which of the following would be a secondary prevention strategy?
A) Teaching a class on healthy cooking to parents.
B) Advocating for a new park with a playground in the community.
C) Conducting a body mass index (BMI) screening clinic at the elementary school.
D) Establishing a support group for children who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
E) Lobbying for a tax on sugary beverages.
Correct Answer: C) Conducting a body mass index (BMI) screening clinic at the elementary
school.
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and screening for a disease to
allow for prompt treatment. A BMI screening is a tool to identify children who are
overweight or obese at an early stage. Teaching healthy cooking (A) is primary prevention.
A support group for children with diabetes (D) is tertiary prevention.
Question 8
During a home visit, a nurse is assessing a family's risk for violence. Which of the following is
the strongest risk factor for intimate partner violence?
A) Low socioeconomic status
B) A history of violence in the family of origin
C) High levels of daily stress
D) Unemployment of one or both partners
E) Social isolation
Correct Answer: B) A history of violence in the family of origin
Rationale: The cycle of violence is a well-established phenomenon. Individuals who were
exposed to violence as children, either as victims or as witnesses, are significantly more
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likely to become perpetrators or victims of intimate partner violence as adults. While other
factors contribute, a family history of violence is one of the most powerful predictors.
Question 9
What is the primary goal of hospice care?
A) To prolong the client's life through aggressive medical treatments.
B) To provide curative care for the client's terminal illness.
C) To focus on providing comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
D) To assist the family with funeral arrangements.
E) To conduct research on end-of-life care.
Correct Answer: C) To focus on providing comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
Rationale: Hospice care is a philosophy of care for individuals with a terminal illness who
have a life expectancy of six months or less. The focus shifts entirely away from curative
treatment and towards palliative care, which involves managing symptoms, providing
psychosocial and spiritual support, and ensuring the client is as comfortable and dignified
as possible.
Question 10
A nurse is assessing a client who is a migrant farmworker. The nurse should be aware that this
client is at an increased risk for which of the following health problems?
A) Heart disease
B) Occupational injuries and pesticide exposure
C) Alzheimer's disease
D) Prostate cancer
E) Macular degeneration
Correct Answer: B) Occupational injuries and pesticide exposure
Rationale: Migrant farmworkers are a vulnerable population facing numerous health
disparities. Their work is physically demanding and often involves exposure to
occupational hazards, including musculoskeletal injuries, trauma from machinery, and
exposure to pesticides, which can have both acute and chronic health effects.
Question 11
An occupational health nurse is conducting a workplace assessment. Which of the following is
an example of an engineering control to reduce workplace injuries?
A) Requiring workers to wear safety glasses.
B) Providing a training session on proper lifting techniques.
C) Installing a mechanical lift to move heavy objects.
D) Implementing a policy for rotating workers through strenuous jobs.
E) Placing warning signs in hazardous areas.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (100% VERIFIED)
Question 1
A community health nurse is planning a health education program for a group of adults who have
a family history of cardiovascular disease. This activity is an example of which level of
prevention?
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Quaternary prevention
E) Primordial prevention
Correct Answer: A) Primary prevention
Rationale: Primary prevention focuses on preventing the initial occurrence of a disease or
injury. Providing health education to an at-risk group before they have the disease is a
classic primary prevention strategy aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing risk
factors to prevent the disease from developing. Secondary prevention involves early
detection and screening, while tertiary prevention focuses on managing existing conditions.
Question 2
A public health nurse is investigating a recent outbreak of salmonella in the community. What is
the nurse's first step in the epidemiological process?
A) Implement control measures to stop the outbreak.
B) Establish the existence of an outbreak.
C) Formulate a hypothesis about the cause.
D) Collect samples from all suspected cases.
E) Alert the local media to the potential danger.
Correct Answer: B) Establish the existence of an outbreak.
Rationale: The first step in any outbreak investigation is to confirm that an outbreak is
actually occurring. This involves comparing the current number of reported cases to the
baseline or expected number of cases for that time period and geographic area. This
confirms that the observed cases are in excess of what is normal before proceeding with the
rest of the investigation.
Question 3
A school nurse is providing care to a child with a persistent cough, fever, and reports that several
family members at home are also sick. The nurse suspects pertussis. Which action is the nurse's
legal responsibility?
A) Administer an antibiotic to the child.
B) Send the child home with instructions to rest.
C) Report the suspected case to the local health department.
,[Type here]
D) Isolate the child in the school's health office for the rest of the day.
E) Provide vaccination information to the child's parents.
Correct Answer: C) Report the suspected case to the local health department.
Rationale: Pertussis (whooping cough) is a nationally notifiable communicable disease.
Healthcare providers, including school nurses, are legally mandated to report any
suspected cases to the local or state health department. This reporting is crucial for public
health surveillance, outbreak investigation, and implementation of community-wide control
measures.
Question 4
A home health nurse is visiting an older adult client who lives alone. Which of the following
assessment findings is the strongest indicator of potential elder neglect?
A) The client has several old, faded bruises on their arms.
B) The client reports feeling lonely and isolated.
C) The client has inappropriate clothing for the weather and poor personal hygiene.
D) The client's home is cluttered with old newspapers and magazines.
E) The client has a prescription that was filled 2 months ago but the bottle is still full.
Correct Answer: E) The client has a prescription that was filled 2 months ago but the bottle
is still full.
Rationale: While the other options are causes for concern, a full prescription bottle from
months ago is a significant red flag for neglect, specifically medical neglect. It indicates that
the client is not taking their prescribed, and potentially life-sustaining, medication. This is a
serious health and safety issue that requires immediate investigation and intervention.
Question 5
A community health nurse is conducting a windshield survey. What is the primary purpose of
this activity?
A) To conduct in-depth interviews with community members.
B) To analyze census data and other statistical information.
C) To provide a general overview of the community and its needs.
D) To perform health screenings for at-risk individuals.
E) To map the location of all healthcare facilities in the area.
Correct Answer: C) To provide a general overview of the community and its needs.
Rationale: A windshield survey is a type of direct observation where the nurse drives or
walks through a community to observe its physical, social, and economic characteristics. It
is a quick and simple way to get a "snapshot" and general overview of the community, its
resources, potential health risks, and overall environment as a first step in a community
assessment.
,[Type here]
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a group of new parents about childhood immunizations. This is an example
of which level of prevention?
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Community-level prevention
E) Health promotion
Correct Answer: A) Primary prevention
Rationale: Immunizations are a cornerstone of primary prevention. They are administered
to healthy individuals to prevent them from contracting a specific communicable disease.
The goal is to prevent the disease from ever occurring in the first place.
Question 7
A community health nurse is planning a program to address the high rate of childhood obesity in
the local area. Which of the following would be a secondary prevention strategy?
A) Teaching a class on healthy cooking to parents.
B) Advocating for a new park with a playground in the community.
C) Conducting a body mass index (BMI) screening clinic at the elementary school.
D) Establishing a support group for children who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
E) Lobbying for a tax on sugary beverages.
Correct Answer: C) Conducting a body mass index (BMI) screening clinic at the elementary
school.
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and screening for a disease to
allow for prompt treatment. A BMI screening is a tool to identify children who are
overweight or obese at an early stage. Teaching healthy cooking (A) is primary prevention.
A support group for children with diabetes (D) is tertiary prevention.
Question 8
During a home visit, a nurse is assessing a family's risk for violence. Which of the following is
the strongest risk factor for intimate partner violence?
A) Low socioeconomic status
B) A history of violence in the family of origin
C) High levels of daily stress
D) Unemployment of one or both partners
E) Social isolation
Correct Answer: B) A history of violence in the family of origin
Rationale: The cycle of violence is a well-established phenomenon. Individuals who were
exposed to violence as children, either as victims or as witnesses, are significantly more
, [Type here]
likely to become perpetrators or victims of intimate partner violence as adults. While other
factors contribute, a family history of violence is one of the most powerful predictors.
Question 9
What is the primary goal of hospice care?
A) To prolong the client's life through aggressive medical treatments.
B) To provide curative care for the client's terminal illness.
C) To focus on providing comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
D) To assist the family with funeral arrangements.
E) To conduct research on end-of-life care.
Correct Answer: C) To focus on providing comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
Rationale: Hospice care is a philosophy of care for individuals with a terminal illness who
have a life expectancy of six months or less. The focus shifts entirely away from curative
treatment and towards palliative care, which involves managing symptoms, providing
psychosocial and spiritual support, and ensuring the client is as comfortable and dignified
as possible.
Question 10
A nurse is assessing a client who is a migrant farmworker. The nurse should be aware that this
client is at an increased risk for which of the following health problems?
A) Heart disease
B) Occupational injuries and pesticide exposure
C) Alzheimer's disease
D) Prostate cancer
E) Macular degeneration
Correct Answer: B) Occupational injuries and pesticide exposure
Rationale: Migrant farmworkers are a vulnerable population facing numerous health
disparities. Their work is physically demanding and often involves exposure to
occupational hazards, including musculoskeletal injuries, trauma from machinery, and
exposure to pesticides, which can have both acute and chronic health effects.
Question 11
An occupational health nurse is conducting a workplace assessment. Which of the following is
an example of an engineering control to reduce workplace injuries?
A) Requiring workers to wear safety glasses.
B) Providing a training session on proper lifting techniques.
C) Installing a mechanical lift to move heavy objects.
D) Implementing a policy for rotating workers through strenuous jobs.
E) Placing warning signs in hazardous areas.
