Question 1

A nurse is counseling a young woman with a new diagnosis of gonorrhea. What should be included in her care?

Accepted Answer

Gonorrhea is a reportable disease, and health departments require reporting for partner notification and management.

Question 2

A school nurse is looking at federal funding for the school lunch program and childhood obesity data for the kids in the school. The nurse found that despite the highest rate of federal funding for any local school in their district and increased nutrition standards to improve the quality of food, students in the school also have the highest obesity rate. What should the school nurse do next?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should gather more information by interviewing students and parents to understand their use of the lunch program and their activity levels, which could provide insights into the obesity issue.

Question 3

A nursing student studying public health has asked the instructor where to find good sources of evidence-based practice that could help provide the basis for policy changes as part of a thesis project. Which resource would be most helpful for the student?

Accepted Answer

All of the listed resources provide evidence-based information that can be useful for policy changes in public health.

Question 4

A team of nursing students are working with the public health department to obtain funding for community outreach health clinic in an underserved neighborhood. They have been asked to include a budget for the clinic and a plan for obtaining funding. The students are specifically utilizing:

Accepted Answer

Public health finance involves the study and use of financial resources to support public health initiatives, including obtaining funding and budgeting for community health projects.

Question 5

A school nurse is evaluating the lunch program in the district after a student had a serious anaphylactic reaction to peanuts. The school is located in a lower socioeconomic area of the city. What new policy would make the most sense in this school?

Accepted Answer

Making the school a completely peanut-free campus would directly address the risk of anaphylactic reactions to peanuts, which is the specific concern raised by the incident.

Question 6

A nurse is teaching a class on the basic principles of health insurance. The nurse asks the class about benefits of the Affordable Care Act to American citizens. What are some possible responses? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid, allowed young adults to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26, and increased access to preventative care. It did not provide universal coverage or mandate employer-paid insurance for all employees.

Question 7

A nurse is having a discussion with a coworker about frustration at the slow rate of positive health policy change. The nurse has attempted to contact the local policy-maker about the need to expand public transportation availability for community members struggling to get to work but has not received a response. What might the coworker suggest?

Accepted Answer

Collaborating with a group of nurses and local residents can amplify their voices and demonstrate a collective need, which may be more effective in influencing policy change.

Question 8

A nurse is preparing to teach a class on public health policy and its impact on nursing practice. Which of the following statements is incorrect and should be excluded from the lecture?

Accepted Answer

Changing health policy is within the scope of nursing practice as nurses can advocate for policy changes to improve healthcare outcomes.

Question 9

A nurse is caring for a young child with a severe ear infection in a hospital emergency department. The nurse asks the mother why it took so long for the child to get care and the mother stated that she couldn't afford medical bills and that they didn't qualify for Medicaid. The mother decided not to get health insurance to save money. Once the child has received medical attention, what program does the nurse recommend to the mother?

Accepted Answer

CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private coverage.

Question 10

A nurse is working with the local representative to pass a law raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco to 21 years old. It has been passed into the committee phase of the legislative process. How should the nurse prepare for the next step?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should prepare evidence-based research and current clinical studies to support their position and educate committee members about the medicine behind nicotine addiction in youths, as this is crucial for influencing the committee's decision-making process.

Question 11

An occupational health nurse is speaking with union representatives about a long-standing problem with insufficient safety equipment at a local surgical center. Where does the nurse suggest they report the problem?

Accepted Answer

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for ensuring workplace safety and health, making it the appropriate agency to report issues related to insufficient safety equipment.

Question 12

A nurse is working with local government officials and political lobbyists to prompt a vote to improve the school lunch program. The nurse knows that this is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Advocacy is the process of speaking up for a cause or issue. In this case, the nurse is advocating for improving the school lunch program.

Question 13

A nurse is working at a local community health center. The nurse is speaking with an elderly Native American man who lives on a nearby reservation. He reports that many members of his tribe are unable to afford health care and many have an alcohol use disorder and/or type 2 diabetes. What program should the nurse suggest that the gentleman contact?

Accepted Answer

Indian Health Services (IHS) is a federal health program specifically for American Indians and Alaska Natives, providing health care services to members of federally recognized tribes.

Question 14

The school nurse is involved in multiple activities related to public health policy. Which of the following is an example of public health policy advocacy?

Accepted Answer

Advocacy involves actively supporting a cause or proposal. Working with the school board to add nutrition classes is an example of advocating for a policy change to improve public health.

Question 15

A nurse is having a discussion with a patient about who should be responsible for overseeing the public health system and the health of American citizens. The patient states that each person should be responsible for his or her own health. The nurse replies that the American Constitution gives this power to:

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution grants states the primary responsibility for public health, as public health is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, leaving it to the states under the Tenth Amendment.

Question 16

A nurse is giving a lecture about public policy and policy changes. A student wants to know about the rights of individuals when setting public health policy. How should the nurse respond?

Accepted Answer

Public health policy aims to balance the collective good with individual rights, ensuring conditions for health while respecting individual freedoms.

Question 17

A nurse is looking to create policies that would reduce the rate of tobacco use by teenagers in the local community. Who would be the most important group to consult with when performing a community assessment?

Accepted Answer

Local teenagers are the most important group to consult because they are the target population affected by the policies, and their insights and experiences can provide valuable information for creating effective interventions.

Question 18

A nurse is caring for a young man who is complaining about the state of the health-care system. He argues that health care should be left to the free market economy. To explain why relying on the free market is not practical, the nurse responds:

Accepted Answer

In emergencies, patients often cannot make informed choices about care, which makes a free market system impractical for health care.

Quiz 22: Public Health Policy and Finance