N340 | N340 Exam 1: Public Health - WCU Updated
and Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale
1. A public health nurse is conducting a community assessment to identify health disparities.
Which core function of public health is the nurse performing?
A. Policy Development
B. Assessment
C. Assurance
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The assessment core function involves systematic data collection on the
population. This process helps identify health needs and monitor health status within the
community. It is the first step in the public health cycle before developing policies. The
nurse gathers information to understand the distribution of health disparities among
groups. This foundational step informs all subsequent public health interventions and
resource allocations.
2. A nurse is teaching a group of parents about the importance of childhood immunizations.
Which level of prevention does this activity represent?
A. Secondary Prevention
B. Quaternary Prevention
C. Tertiary Prevention
D. Primary Prevention
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Primary prevention focuses on preventing the occurrence of a disease or injury.
Immunizations are classic examples as they provide immunity before exposure to an
infectious agent. This approach reduces the overall incidence of disease within the entire
population. It is often the most cost-effective strategy for improving public health
outcomes. By educating parents, the nurse helps build community-wide resistance to
preventable illnesses.
3. Which statement best describes the focus of population-based nursing practice?
A. Addressing health outcomes for a group of people who share characteristics.
B. Prioritizing the treatment of acute illnesses in the community.
C. Focusing on the needs of individuals and families in clinical settings.
,D. Conducting research exclusively in laboratory environments.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Population-based practice focuses on groups rather than individual patients as
the primary client. The nurse identifies common health issues across a specific aggregate or
geographic area. Interventions are designed to improve the health of the entire collective
group. This perspective allows for the identification of trends that might be missed at the
individual level. It emphasizes the broad determinants of health that affect large numbers
of people.
4. A community health nurse is organizing a mobile clinic to provide mammograms for
underserved women. What level of prevention is being implemented?
A. Secondary Prevention
B. Tertiary Prevention
C. Primary Prevention
D. Health Promotion
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Secondary prevention involves screening and early detection of disease to limit
disability. Mammograms are used to identify breast cancer at an early, more treatable
stage. This level of prevention targets individuals who may have a subclinical disease
process. Early intervention increases the likelihood of successful treatment and improved
survival rates. It does not prevent the cancer itself but mitigates the long-term impact on
the patient.
5. In the epidemiological triad, which component represents the factor whose presence or
absence causes disease?
A. Environment
B. Host
C. Agent
D. Vector
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The agent is the physical, chemical, or biological factor that must be present for
a disease to occur. Examples include bacteria, viruses, toxins, or even extreme
temperatures. Understanding the agent allows public health officials to develop specific
targeted interventions like antibiotics. The host and environment also play critical roles in
determining if the disease actually manifests. Public health attempts to break the link
between the agent and the host.
, 6. Which of the following is considered a social determinant of health (SDOH)?
A. Access to safe housing and clean water
B. Genetic predisposition to diabetes
C. Individual cellular metabolism rates
D. Physical height and eye color
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born,
grow, live, work, and age. Safe housing and clean water are critical environmental factors
that influence long-term health outcomes. These factors are often outside of an individual’s
direct control but significantly impact well-being. SDOH are responsible for a large portion
of health inequities observed between different populations. Addressing these factors
requires broad policy changes and multi-sector collaboration.
7. A public health nurse is monitoring the number of new cases of influenza in a county over
one week. Which epidemiological measure is being tracked?
A. Prevalence
B. Incidence
C. Mortality Rate
D. Morbidity Rate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease occurring in a specific
population during a defined period. This measure helps track the spread and rate of
occurrence of acute illnesses. It provides insight into the risk of contracting the disease
within that specific timeframe. Unlike prevalence, it does not include pre-existing cases
that were diagnosed earlier. This data is vital for managing outbreaks and allocating
emergency health resources.
8. Which intervention is an example of tertiary prevention for a patient with diabetes?
A. Providing a diabetes screening at a local health fair.
B. Conducting a foot exam to prevent amputations in a diabetic patient.
C. Teaching a high school class about healthy eating habits.
D. Administering a flu shot to a patient with a family history of diabetes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tertiary prevention aims to manage established chronic diseases to prevent
further deterioration or complications. For a diabetic patient, preventing foot ulcers and
amputations is a key goal of this stage. It focuses on rehabilitation and maintaining the
and Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale
1. A public health nurse is conducting a community assessment to identify health disparities.
Which core function of public health is the nurse performing?
A. Policy Development
B. Assessment
C. Assurance
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The assessment core function involves systematic data collection on the
population. This process helps identify health needs and monitor health status within the
community. It is the first step in the public health cycle before developing policies. The
nurse gathers information to understand the distribution of health disparities among
groups. This foundational step informs all subsequent public health interventions and
resource allocations.
2. A nurse is teaching a group of parents about the importance of childhood immunizations.
Which level of prevention does this activity represent?
A. Secondary Prevention
B. Quaternary Prevention
C. Tertiary Prevention
D. Primary Prevention
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Primary prevention focuses on preventing the occurrence of a disease or injury.
Immunizations are classic examples as they provide immunity before exposure to an
infectious agent. This approach reduces the overall incidence of disease within the entire
population. It is often the most cost-effective strategy for improving public health
outcomes. By educating parents, the nurse helps build community-wide resistance to
preventable illnesses.
3. Which statement best describes the focus of population-based nursing practice?
A. Addressing health outcomes for a group of people who share characteristics.
B. Prioritizing the treatment of acute illnesses in the community.
C. Focusing on the needs of individuals and families in clinical settings.
,D. Conducting research exclusively in laboratory environments.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Population-based practice focuses on groups rather than individual patients as
the primary client. The nurse identifies common health issues across a specific aggregate or
geographic area. Interventions are designed to improve the health of the entire collective
group. This perspective allows for the identification of trends that might be missed at the
individual level. It emphasizes the broad determinants of health that affect large numbers
of people.
4. A community health nurse is organizing a mobile clinic to provide mammograms for
underserved women. What level of prevention is being implemented?
A. Secondary Prevention
B. Tertiary Prevention
C. Primary Prevention
D. Health Promotion
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Secondary prevention involves screening and early detection of disease to limit
disability. Mammograms are used to identify breast cancer at an early, more treatable
stage. This level of prevention targets individuals who may have a subclinical disease
process. Early intervention increases the likelihood of successful treatment and improved
survival rates. It does not prevent the cancer itself but mitigates the long-term impact on
the patient.
5. In the epidemiological triad, which component represents the factor whose presence or
absence causes disease?
A. Environment
B. Host
C. Agent
D. Vector
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The agent is the physical, chemical, or biological factor that must be present for
a disease to occur. Examples include bacteria, viruses, toxins, or even extreme
temperatures. Understanding the agent allows public health officials to develop specific
targeted interventions like antibiotics. The host and environment also play critical roles in
determining if the disease actually manifests. Public health attempts to break the link
between the agent and the host.
, 6. Which of the following is considered a social determinant of health (SDOH)?
A. Access to safe housing and clean water
B. Genetic predisposition to diabetes
C. Individual cellular metabolism rates
D. Physical height and eye color
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born,
grow, live, work, and age. Safe housing and clean water are critical environmental factors
that influence long-term health outcomes. These factors are often outside of an individual’s
direct control but significantly impact well-being. SDOH are responsible for a large portion
of health inequities observed between different populations. Addressing these factors
requires broad policy changes and multi-sector collaboration.
7. A public health nurse is monitoring the number of new cases of influenza in a county over
one week. Which epidemiological measure is being tracked?
A. Prevalence
B. Incidence
C. Mortality Rate
D. Morbidity Rate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease occurring in a specific
population during a defined period. This measure helps track the spread and rate of
occurrence of acute illnesses. It provides insight into the risk of contracting the disease
within that specific timeframe. Unlike prevalence, it does not include pre-existing cases
that were diagnosed earlier. This data is vital for managing outbreaks and allocating
emergency health resources.
8. Which intervention is an example of tertiary prevention for a patient with diabetes?
A. Providing a diabetes screening at a local health fair.
B. Conducting a foot exam to prevent amputations in a diabetic patient.
C. Teaching a high school class about healthy eating habits.
D. Administering a flu shot to a patient with a family history of diabetes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tertiary prevention aims to manage established chronic diseases to prevent
further deterioration or complications. For a diabetic patient, preventing foot ulcers and
amputations is a key goal of this stage. It focuses on rehabilitation and maintaining the
