One of the primary focuses of improving the health of the American people in the twenty-first century is to address:
a.
bioterrorism and global health
... [Show More] threats.
b.
delivery of individual care and hygiene.
c.
the need for increased hospital and acute care.
d.
chronic disease and disability management.
ANS: A
There are new concerns, and of the most serious are bioterrorism and globally induced infections, such as the avian flu. These threats will divert health care funds and resources from other health care programs to be spent for public safety. The others are not related to public health or are concerns that have been present for many years.
REF: p. 5
A community is concerned about the threat of bioterrorism. Which of the following best describes the basis for this concern?
a.
Bioterrorism has the potential to dissolve community-based programs.
b.
This threat could cause the health care system to collapse.
c.
The threat of bioterrorism may divert funds from other public safety health care programs.
d.
Fear of bioterrorism will increase the need for shelters.
ANS: C
Bioterrorism may have an impact on the availability of resources for public safety health care programs. Because funds are diverted it is possible that community-based programs would be eliminated, the health care system could experience changes, and that there would be an increase in the need for shelter. However, all of these things would happen because of the diversion of funds.
REF: p. 5
Which of the following describes the consequence of the successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act?
a.
Americans will pay closer attention to their health status.
b.
The majority of the population will be covered by insurance.
c.
Public health departments will need to increase the number of nursing positions.
d.
The prevalence of obesity will decrease.
ANS: B
One consequence of successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act might actually be that the majority of the population would be covered by insurance and public health agencies will not need to provide direct clinical services in order to assure that those who need them can receive them. The Affordable Care Act will not directly cause Americans to pay closer attention to their health status or decrease the prevalence of obesity.
REF: p. 5
The public health nurse (PHN) must participate in the essential services of public health. Which of the following most accurately describes one of the essential services of public health?
a.
Monitoring health status by completing a community assessment
b.
Diagnosing and investigating health problems in the world
c.
Informing, educating, and empowering people about health issues
d.
Working in law enforcement to regulate health and ensure safety
ANS: C
The PHN monitors health status in several ways, completing a community assessment is only one way that health status is monitored. The PHN would not diagnose or solve "world" problems, or work in law enforcement. Rather, the PHN would participate with local regulators to protect communities and empower people to address health issues.
REF: p. 8 (How to Box)
A public health department is using the mission of public health as described by the Institute of Medicine when planning its health programming. Which of the following activities will most likely be implemented?
a.
Tracking avian flu outbreaks and doing surveillance in the United States
b.
Providing a flu shot for an elderly person at the health department
c.
Keeping track of alternative therapies in use in the United States
d.
Keeping snake antivenom at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta
ANS: A
The Institute of Medicine's stated mission on public health is "to generate organized community and technical knowledge to prevent disease and promote health." Tracking avian flu outbreaks and doing surveillance applies this concept at a population level. Providing a flu shot for an elderly person only addresses individual care. Keeping track of the use of alternative therapies does nothing to prevent disease or promote health of the population. Keeping snake antivenom is aimed at disease care for an individual, not health promotion or disease prevention.
REF: p. 6
A public health department makes sure that the essential community-oriented health services are available in the community. Which of the following core public health functions is being implemented?
a.
Policy development
b.
Assessment
c.
Assurance
d.
Scientific knowledge-based care
ANS: C
Assurance focuses on the responsibility of public health agencies to ensure certain activities have been appropriately carried out to meet public health goals and plans. Policy development seeks to build constituencies that can help bring about change in public policy. Assessment includes activities that involve collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information on both the health status and the health-related aspects of a community or a specific population. Public health is based on scientific knowledge, but is not a core function.
REF: p. 14
The purpose of public health core functions is to:
a.
clarify the role of the government in fulfilling the mission of public health.
b.
ensure the safety of populations in receiving quality health care.
c.
provide community-based individualized care to every person in the United States.
d.
unite public and private providers of care in a comprehensive approach to providing health care.
ANS: A
As defined by the Institute of Medicine in its 1988 report The Future of Public Health, assessment, policy development, and assurance are core functions at all levels of government for the purpose of clarifying the government's role.
REF: p. 6
Which of the following statements about public health is accurate?
a.
Prevention of early deaths can be more effectively accomplished by medical treatment than by public health approaches.
b.
Expenditures and resources for public health have increased in recent years.
c.
Historically, gains in the health of populations have been related largely to changes in safety, sanitation, and personal behavior.
d.
Reform of the medical insurance system is the single change needed to improve the health of Americans.
ANS: C
Fielding and Tilson have asserted that most of the increase in life span has been made through improvements in sanitation, clean water supplies, making workplaces safer, improving food and drug safety, immunizing children, and improving nutrition, hygiene, and housing. Medical treatment has not made as significant of an impact on the life span as public health measures. Funding for public health in recent years has been on a gradual decline. Although reform of the medical insurance system may help improve the health of Americans, there are many other factors that will need to be addressed.
REF: p. 5
A PHN collects data and monitors the health status of the population. Which of the following core public health functions is being implemented?
a.
Assessment
b.
Prevention
c.
Assurance
d.
Policy development
ANS: A
Assessment consists of systematic data collection and monitoring health status.
Prevention is not a core function, assurance is making sure essential services are available, and policy development is needed to provide leadership in developing policies.
REF: p. 6
The PHN compares the rate of teenage pregnancy in various areas of the city. Which of the core functions of public health is being implemented?
a.
Assurance
b.
Assessment
c.
Prevention
d.
Policy development
ANS: B
Assessment refers to systematic data collection, which this nurse is doing for teenage pregnancy. Prevention is not a core function, assurance is making sure essential services are available, and policy development is needed to provide leadership in developing policies.
REF: p. 6
A PHN develops and implements local public health policies through partnerships with agencies, organizations, and consumers within the community. Which of the following core public health functions is being used?
a.
Assessment
b.
Prevention
c.
Assurance
d.
Policy development
ANS: D
Policy development deals with developing and implementing health policies. Prevention is not a core function, assurance is making sure essential services are available, and assessment refers to systematic data collection
REF: p. 6
12. A nurse provides for the availability of essential personal health services for people who would otherwise not receive health care. Which of the public health core functions is being used?
a.
Assessment
b.
Prevention
c.
Assurance
d.
Policy development
ANS: C
Assurance deals with the availability of health services. Prevention is not a core function, assessment refers to systematic data collection, and policy development refers to the need to provide leadership in developing health policies.
REF: p. 6
The nurse manager makes sure that the staff members who work in a local clinic are competent in their job responsibilities. Which of the public health core functions is being demonstrated?
a.
Assurance
b.
Assessment
c.
Prevention
d.
Policy development
ANS: A
Assurance refers to making sure a competent health care workforce is available. Prevention is not a core function, assessment refers to systematic data collection, and policy development refers to the need to provide leadership in developing health policies.
REF: p. 6
A nurse performs activities to meet the primary goals of public health. Which of the following is the nurse most likely to complete?
a.
Ensuring that a newly diagnosed 40-year-old hypertensive man takes his medication
b.
Finding home care for a 70-year-old client recuperating from a hip replacement
c.
Conducting an infant car seat safety check
d.
Contacting a local hospice to admit a terminally ill 60-year-old woman
ANS: C
The correct answer is concerned with the health of many people, while the other answers address individual interventions. According to the Core Functions Project, all levels of health care, including population-based public health care, must be funded or the goal of health of populations may never be reached.
REF: p. 6
A community health nurse collects data about the number and proportion of persons aged 25 or older with less than a high school education. Which of the following best describes this data?
a.
Sociodemographic characteristics
b.
Health status data
c.
Health risk factors
d.
Health care resource consumption information
ANS: A
The number and proportion of people is a sociodemographic characteristic. Health status includes birth and death rates. Health risk factors discuss proportions of populations who have particular health conditions or health risks. Health care resource consumption refers to spending on health care per capita.
REF: p. 9 (Box 1-1) [Show Less]