Community and Public Health Nursing Flashcards
6 cards from real BSN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Community and Public Health Nursing flashcards as text
A community health nurse is calculating the incidence rate of new HIV diagnoses in a city. Which data are required to calculate the incidence rate?
Answer: Number of new HIV cases in a specified time period divided by the at-risk population
Incidence rate measures new cases over a defined period in the population at risk; it differs from prevalence, which counts all existing cases.
A public health nurse is planning a health education session for older adults on fall prevention. Which intervention has the strongest evidence for reducing fall risk in the elderly?
Answer: Tai chi and balance exercise programs
Tai chi and structured balance/strength exercise programs have robust evidence for reducing fall frequency and fall-related injuries in older adults.
A home health nurse is visiting a patient with congestive heart failure (CHF). Which finding requires the nurse to contact the provider immediately?
Answer: Weight gain of 3 lbs in 2 days
A weight gain of 2–3 lbs in 24–48 hours indicates rapid fluid retention in CHF, signaling decompensation that requires prompt medical intervention.
A public health nurse is identifying factors contributing to high infant mortality rates in an underserved community. Which action falls within the nurse's scope of community-level advocacy?
Answer: Lobbying local officials for expanded prenatal care access and WIC program funding
Community-level advocacy involves addressing systemic barriers—such as lack of prenatal care access—to improve population health outcomes.
A nurse is conducting a community needs assessment using a windshield survey. What does this method involve?
Answer: Systematically observing a community by driving or walking through it to gather data
A windshield survey is a systematic, observational assessment of a community conducted from a vehicle or on foot to evaluate the physical and social environment.
A nurse working at a county health department is notified of a confirmed case of meningococcal meningitis in a college dormitory. What is the nurse's priority public health action?
Answer: Identify close contacts and coordinate prophylactic antibiotic treatment for them
Close contacts (roommates, household members) are at highest risk and should receive chemoprophylaxis (rifampin or ciprofloxacin) as soon as possible to prevent secondary cases.