N340 | N340 Exam 4: Public Health - WCU Updated
and Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale
1. Which action by the public health nurse best exemplifies the policy development core
function of public health?
A. Conducting a community-wide survey to assess the prevalence of childhood obesity.
B. Collaborating with local government to draft legislation for smoke-free public spaces.
C. Evaluating the effectiveness of a recently implemented nutritional program in schools.
D. Providing immunizations to children at a local community health clinic.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Policy development involves using scientific knowledge to lead in the
development of public health policies. This specific action focuses on collaborating with
legislators to create systemic changes that improve population health. The nurse serves as
an advocate and expert to guide the creation of laws or regulations. Other functions like
assessment and assurance are represented in the alternative choices provided. This role is
essential for creating long-term health improvements within a specific community or
jurisdiction.
2. During a mass casualty incident (MCI), a nurse is performing triage. A victim has a
respiratory rate of 32 breaths/minute and is unable to follow simple commands. Which color
tag should the nurse assign?
A. Red
B. Yellow
C. Green
D. Black
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The red tag indicates an immediate priority for treatment due to life-
threatening injuries that are potentially survivable. According to the START triage system,
a respiratory rate over 30 or an inability to follow commands qualifies a patient for a red
tag. This patient is experiencing respiratory distress and altered mental status requiring
urgent intervention. Green is for the walking wounded, while yellow is for delayed care
with stable vitals. Black tags are reserved for those who are deceased or have injuries
incompatible with life.
,3. A public health nurse is investigating a potential environmental hazard in an older housing
development. Which finding is the highest priority for the nurse to address?
A. Presence of mold in the basement of several homes.
B. Leaking faucets causing increased water waste.
C. Peeling paint in a home built in 1950 where a toddler resides.
D. Inadequate insulation leading to high heating costs.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lead-based paint was commonly used in homes built before 1978 and poses a
significant neurotoxic risk to young children. Peeling paint or dust from these surfaces can
be ingested or inhaled by a toddler, leading to irreversible developmental delays. While
mold and water waste are concerns, lead poisoning is a critical public health priority due to
its long-term effects. The nurse must prioritize interventions that mitigate immediate toxic
exposures in vulnerable populations. Lead abatement programs are often used to address
these specific environmental health risks in older neighborhoods.
4. The nurse is participating in a community disaster simulation. Which activity occurs during
the ‘mitigation’ phase of disaster management?
A. Performing search and rescue operations immediately after a tornado.
B. Organizing a community-wide immunization clinic after a flood.
C. Conducting a tabletop exercise for local emergency responders.
D. Advocating for updated building codes to withstand high winds.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Mitigation involves activities designed to prevent a disaster from occurring or
to reduce its damaging effects. Updating building codes is a proactive measure that lessens
the impact of future environmental events on structures. This phase occurs long before a
disaster strikes and focuses on long-term risk reduction. Response activities like search
and rescue occur immediately during the event, while recovery follows the impact.
Preparedness involves planning and drills to ensure readiness when a disaster actually
occurs.
5. Which statement by a nurse best describes the role of the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) in public health?
A. The EPA provides direct healthcare services to uninsured migrant farmworkers.
B. The EPA sets standards for air and water quality to protect human health.
C. The EPA manages the Strategic National Stockpile for pharmaceutical supplies.
D. The EPA oversees the safety and labeling of food and prescription drugs.
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The EPA is the federal agency responsible for regulating and enforcing
standards to protect the environment and human health. This includes monitoring air
pollutants, ensuring safe drinking water, and managing hazardous waste. Their work
directly impacts public health by reducing exposure to toxins that cause chronic diseases.
They do not provide clinical healthcare services or manage the national drug stockpile.
Their primary focus remains the intersection of environmental integrity and population
safety through legislative enforcement.
6. A community health nurse is collaborating with a school district to improve student health.
Which intervention represents interprofessional collaboration?
A. The nurse independently reviews the immunization records of all incoming students.
B. The nurse works with the school social worker and a local pediatrician to create a
mental health referral system.
C. The nurse teaches a group of students how to properly use their asthma inhalers.
D. The nurse conducts vision screenings for all kindergarten students during the first
month of school.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Interprofessional collaboration involves multiple professionals from different
backgrounds working together to achieve a common goal. By involving a social worker and
a pediatrician, the nurse ensures a holistic approach to student mental health. This team-
based strategy leverages the unique expertise of each discipline to improve patient
outcomes. Independent nursing tasks do not meet the definition of interprofessional
collaboration. Such partnerships are vital for addressing complex social determinants of
health in community settings.
7. A public health nurse is preparing an educational session on radon gas. Which information
should the nurse include?
A. Radon is a blue gas that is easily detected by its distinct smell.
B. Radon exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer in the United States.
C. Radon levels are only a concern in industrial areas and manufacturing plants.
D. Radon can enter homes through cracks in the foundation and accumulate.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally from the
decay of uranium in soil. It enters buildings through cracks in floors or walls and can reach
dangerous concentrations in enclosed spaces. Long-term exposure to radon is the second
leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. The nurse must educate the public on
and Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale
1. Which action by the public health nurse best exemplifies the policy development core
function of public health?
A. Conducting a community-wide survey to assess the prevalence of childhood obesity.
B. Collaborating with local government to draft legislation for smoke-free public spaces.
C. Evaluating the effectiveness of a recently implemented nutritional program in schools.
D. Providing immunizations to children at a local community health clinic.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Policy development involves using scientific knowledge to lead in the
development of public health policies. This specific action focuses on collaborating with
legislators to create systemic changes that improve population health. The nurse serves as
an advocate and expert to guide the creation of laws or regulations. Other functions like
assessment and assurance are represented in the alternative choices provided. This role is
essential for creating long-term health improvements within a specific community or
jurisdiction.
2. During a mass casualty incident (MCI), a nurse is performing triage. A victim has a
respiratory rate of 32 breaths/minute and is unable to follow simple commands. Which color
tag should the nurse assign?
A. Red
B. Yellow
C. Green
D. Black
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The red tag indicates an immediate priority for treatment due to life-
threatening injuries that are potentially survivable. According to the START triage system,
a respiratory rate over 30 or an inability to follow commands qualifies a patient for a red
tag. This patient is experiencing respiratory distress and altered mental status requiring
urgent intervention. Green is for the walking wounded, while yellow is for delayed care
with stable vitals. Black tags are reserved for those who are deceased or have injuries
incompatible with life.
,3. A public health nurse is investigating a potential environmental hazard in an older housing
development. Which finding is the highest priority for the nurse to address?
A. Presence of mold in the basement of several homes.
B. Leaking faucets causing increased water waste.
C. Peeling paint in a home built in 1950 where a toddler resides.
D. Inadequate insulation leading to high heating costs.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lead-based paint was commonly used in homes built before 1978 and poses a
significant neurotoxic risk to young children. Peeling paint or dust from these surfaces can
be ingested or inhaled by a toddler, leading to irreversible developmental delays. While
mold and water waste are concerns, lead poisoning is a critical public health priority due to
its long-term effects. The nurse must prioritize interventions that mitigate immediate toxic
exposures in vulnerable populations. Lead abatement programs are often used to address
these specific environmental health risks in older neighborhoods.
4. The nurse is participating in a community disaster simulation. Which activity occurs during
the ‘mitigation’ phase of disaster management?
A. Performing search and rescue operations immediately after a tornado.
B. Organizing a community-wide immunization clinic after a flood.
C. Conducting a tabletop exercise for local emergency responders.
D. Advocating for updated building codes to withstand high winds.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Mitigation involves activities designed to prevent a disaster from occurring or
to reduce its damaging effects. Updating building codes is a proactive measure that lessens
the impact of future environmental events on structures. This phase occurs long before a
disaster strikes and focuses on long-term risk reduction. Response activities like search
and rescue occur immediately during the event, while recovery follows the impact.
Preparedness involves planning and drills to ensure readiness when a disaster actually
occurs.
5. Which statement by a nurse best describes the role of the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) in public health?
A. The EPA provides direct healthcare services to uninsured migrant farmworkers.
B. The EPA sets standards for air and water quality to protect human health.
C. The EPA manages the Strategic National Stockpile for pharmaceutical supplies.
D. The EPA oversees the safety and labeling of food and prescription drugs.
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The EPA is the federal agency responsible for regulating and enforcing
standards to protect the environment and human health. This includes monitoring air
pollutants, ensuring safe drinking water, and managing hazardous waste. Their work
directly impacts public health by reducing exposure to toxins that cause chronic diseases.
They do not provide clinical healthcare services or manage the national drug stockpile.
Their primary focus remains the intersection of environmental integrity and population
safety through legislative enforcement.
6. A community health nurse is collaborating with a school district to improve student health.
Which intervention represents interprofessional collaboration?
A. The nurse independently reviews the immunization records of all incoming students.
B. The nurse works with the school social worker and a local pediatrician to create a
mental health referral system.
C. The nurse teaches a group of students how to properly use their asthma inhalers.
D. The nurse conducts vision screenings for all kindergarten students during the first
month of school.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Interprofessional collaboration involves multiple professionals from different
backgrounds working together to achieve a common goal. By involving a social worker and
a pediatrician, the nurse ensures a holistic approach to student mental health. This team-
based strategy leverages the unique expertise of each discipline to improve patient
outcomes. Independent nursing tasks do not meet the definition of interprofessional
collaboration. Such partnerships are vital for addressing complex social determinants of
health in community settings.
7. A public health nurse is preparing an educational session on radon gas. Which information
should the nurse include?
A. Radon is a blue gas that is easily detected by its distinct smell.
B. Radon exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer in the United States.
C. Radon levels are only a concern in industrial areas and manufacturing plants.
D. Radon can enter homes through cracks in the foundation and accumulate.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally from the
decay of uranium in soil. It enters buildings through cracks in floors or walls and can reach
dangerous concentrations in enclosed spaces. Long-term exposure to radon is the second
leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. The nurse must educate the public on
