NSG 323
Community & Public Health Nursing
Midterm Exam Prep
2026
(Questions & Answers)
A nurse is caring for a community with high lead exposure from drinking
water. What is the MOST urgent public health nursing intervention?
a) Educating families to increase water consumption
b) Collaborating with public officials to identify sources and reduce lead
contamination
c) Advising residents to boil water before use
d) Distributing vitamin C supplements
Answer: b) Collaborating with public officials to identify sources and
reduce lead contamination
Rationale: Removing or reducing lead in water sources is critical to
prevent toxicity.
A home health nurse plans care for a patient post-stroke who lives in a
multi-story house with no elevator. What is a vital nursing
consideration?
a) Encouraging patient independence with no modifications
b) Assessing home safety and recommending environment modifications
for fall prevention
c) Discharging patient early without community referrals
d) Ignoring home features and focusing on medications only
Answer: b) Assessing home safety and recommending environment
modifications for fall prevention
,Rationale: Ensuring safe home environments prevents accidents and
supports rehabilitation.
When prioritizing health programs in a community, which criteria should
the nurse consider FIRST?
a) Cost-benefit analysis
b) Community's perceived needs and disease burden
c) Availability of volunteers
d) Ease of program implementation
Answer: b) Community's perceived needs and disease burden
Rationale: Programs addressing actual, significant health problems
relevant to the community are more effective and sustainable.
A nurse is working with migrant workers with limited English proficiency.
What strategy is MOST important to improve communication?
a) Using technical medical terms to educate clearly
b) Utilizing bilingual interpreters and culturally appropriate materials
c) Providing written instructions only
d) Speaking louder to ensure understanding
Answer: b) Utilizing bilingual interpreters and culturally appropriate
materials
Rationale: Effective communication requires language and cultural
considerations to ensure comprehension.
During a health fair, a community nurse screens numerous clients for
diabetes risk. Which tool is MOST valid for identifying high-risk
individuals?
a) Random blood glucose test without fasting
b) Hemoglobin A1c measurement
c) BMI calculation and family history collection
d) Visual inspection of skin only
Answer: c) BMI calculation and family history collection
,Rationale: Using risk factors like obesity and genetic predisposition helps
identify individuals needing further testing.
While teaching a group about smoking cessation, which approach is most
supported by evidence in community settings?
a) Lecturing about dangers of smoking only
b) Combining counseling with nicotine replacement therapy
c) Suggesting smoking less without quitting
d) Assuming clients will quit when ready without support
Answer: b) Combining counseling with nicotine replacement therapy
Rationale: Integrated behavioral and pharmacological strategies yield the
highest quit rates.
In the context of disaster preparedness, which nursing action is MOST
critical during a community-wide evacuation?
a) Ensuring all patients have their personal belongings
b) Verifying that vulnerable populations have safe transport and shelter
c) Informing the media about evacuation routes
d) Documenting patient charts in the field
Answer: b) Verifying that vulnerable populations have safe transport and
shelter
Rationale: Vulnerable groups require prioritized assistance to reduce
morbidity during disasters.
A nurse conducting a focus group in a low-income neighborhood
identifies food insecurity as a major concern. Which public health
approach has the greatest potential impact?
a) Referring families to food pantries alone
b) Advocating for policies to improve access and affordability of nutritious
food
c) Providing nutrition pamphlets only
d) Organizing monthly cooking classes without addressing access
, Answer: b) Advocating for policies to improve access and affordability of
nutritious food
Rationale: System-level changes address root causes of food insecurity
more sustainably.
. A pregnant woman living in an underserved community is hesitant to
attend prenatal visits due to transportation issues. What is the
community nurse’s best response?
a) Suggest she walk to the clinic regardless of distance
b) Arrange for community-based prenatal clinics or mobile prenatal
services
c) Tell her to bring a family member for transport but take no further action
d) Postpone prenatal care until transportation improves
Answer: b) Arrange for community-based prenatal clinics or mobile
prenatal services
Rationale: Bringing services closer overcomes barriers and improves
maternal and fetal outcomes.
A cluster of cases of Hepatitis A has been reported in a community with
poor sanitation. What public health nursing intervention should be
prioritized?
a) Administration of Hepatitis A vaccine to at-risk populations
b) Providing antibiotics to all residents regardless of infection status
c) Advising residents to avoid physical activity
d) Delaying interventions until lab results confirm additional cases
Answer: a) Administration of Hepatitis A vaccine to at-risk populations
Rationale: Vaccination post-exposure protects uninfected individuals and
interrupts transmission.
23. When planning a smoking cessation program targeting teenagers, the
nurse decides to integrate peer-led sessions. What is the rationale?
a) Peers are less credible than adults but more entertaining
b) Peer influence has a strong impact on adolescent behavior change
Community & Public Health Nursing
Midterm Exam Prep
2026
(Questions & Answers)
A nurse is caring for a community with high lead exposure from drinking
water. What is the MOST urgent public health nursing intervention?
a) Educating families to increase water consumption
b) Collaborating with public officials to identify sources and reduce lead
contamination
c) Advising residents to boil water before use
d) Distributing vitamin C supplements
Answer: b) Collaborating with public officials to identify sources and
reduce lead contamination
Rationale: Removing or reducing lead in water sources is critical to
prevent toxicity.
A home health nurse plans care for a patient post-stroke who lives in a
multi-story house with no elevator. What is a vital nursing
consideration?
a) Encouraging patient independence with no modifications
b) Assessing home safety and recommending environment modifications
for fall prevention
c) Discharging patient early without community referrals
d) Ignoring home features and focusing on medications only
Answer: b) Assessing home safety and recommending environment
modifications for fall prevention
,Rationale: Ensuring safe home environments prevents accidents and
supports rehabilitation.
When prioritizing health programs in a community, which criteria should
the nurse consider FIRST?
a) Cost-benefit analysis
b) Community's perceived needs and disease burden
c) Availability of volunteers
d) Ease of program implementation
Answer: b) Community's perceived needs and disease burden
Rationale: Programs addressing actual, significant health problems
relevant to the community are more effective and sustainable.
A nurse is working with migrant workers with limited English proficiency.
What strategy is MOST important to improve communication?
a) Using technical medical terms to educate clearly
b) Utilizing bilingual interpreters and culturally appropriate materials
c) Providing written instructions only
d) Speaking louder to ensure understanding
Answer: b) Utilizing bilingual interpreters and culturally appropriate
materials
Rationale: Effective communication requires language and cultural
considerations to ensure comprehension.
During a health fair, a community nurse screens numerous clients for
diabetes risk. Which tool is MOST valid for identifying high-risk
individuals?
a) Random blood glucose test without fasting
b) Hemoglobin A1c measurement
c) BMI calculation and family history collection
d) Visual inspection of skin only
Answer: c) BMI calculation and family history collection
,Rationale: Using risk factors like obesity and genetic predisposition helps
identify individuals needing further testing.
While teaching a group about smoking cessation, which approach is most
supported by evidence in community settings?
a) Lecturing about dangers of smoking only
b) Combining counseling with nicotine replacement therapy
c) Suggesting smoking less without quitting
d) Assuming clients will quit when ready without support
Answer: b) Combining counseling with nicotine replacement therapy
Rationale: Integrated behavioral and pharmacological strategies yield the
highest quit rates.
In the context of disaster preparedness, which nursing action is MOST
critical during a community-wide evacuation?
a) Ensuring all patients have their personal belongings
b) Verifying that vulnerable populations have safe transport and shelter
c) Informing the media about evacuation routes
d) Documenting patient charts in the field
Answer: b) Verifying that vulnerable populations have safe transport and
shelter
Rationale: Vulnerable groups require prioritized assistance to reduce
morbidity during disasters.
A nurse conducting a focus group in a low-income neighborhood
identifies food insecurity as a major concern. Which public health
approach has the greatest potential impact?
a) Referring families to food pantries alone
b) Advocating for policies to improve access and affordability of nutritious
food
c) Providing nutrition pamphlets only
d) Organizing monthly cooking classes without addressing access
, Answer: b) Advocating for policies to improve access and affordability of
nutritious food
Rationale: System-level changes address root causes of food insecurity
more sustainably.
. A pregnant woman living in an underserved community is hesitant to
attend prenatal visits due to transportation issues. What is the
community nurse’s best response?
a) Suggest she walk to the clinic regardless of distance
b) Arrange for community-based prenatal clinics or mobile prenatal
services
c) Tell her to bring a family member for transport but take no further action
d) Postpone prenatal care until transportation improves
Answer: b) Arrange for community-based prenatal clinics or mobile
prenatal services
Rationale: Bringing services closer overcomes barriers and improves
maternal and fetal outcomes.
A cluster of cases of Hepatitis A has been reported in a community with
poor sanitation. What public health nursing intervention should be
prioritized?
a) Administration of Hepatitis A vaccine to at-risk populations
b) Providing antibiotics to all residents regardless of infection status
c) Advising residents to avoid physical activity
d) Delaying interventions until lab results confirm additional cases
Answer: a) Administration of Hepatitis A vaccine to at-risk populations
Rationale: Vaccination post-exposure protects uninfected individuals and
interrupts transmission.
23. When planning a smoking cessation program targeting teenagers, the
nurse decides to integrate peer-led sessions. What is the rationale?
a) Peers are less credible than adults but more entertaining
b) Peer influence has a strong impact on adolescent behavior change
