Question 1

An oil storage tank has leaked and the surrounding residential area has been saturated with the leaked oil. Which health precaution should the homeowner take?

Accepted Answer

2. Planting vegetables in the soil should be avoided until the soil can be certified as safe. Growing and consuming food grown in contaminated soil can lead to illness from the contaminants. While detergents can be used to clean the yard, these detergents need to be appropriate to avoid further soil contamination. Installing smoke detectors as a fire precaution is unnecessary because the oil-saturated soil will not burn. Informing the local media is not going to protect health.

Question 2

Due to budget cuts, a community has reduced its garbage pickup frequency from twice a week to once a week. Because of this the population health nurse should be concerned about the potential increase in:

Accepted Answer

2. A cutback in the collection of garbage can allow it to pile up, which increases the potential for animal pests around the garbage and the potential to spread disease. Despite making the area look unsightly, this does not have the potential to affect health, nor do weeds from uncollected grass clippings. The amount of trash generated per household is not likely to increase; it will only accumulate from being collected less frequently.

Question 3

After a series of heavy rains, the nurse in the local health department increases the water monitoring of the local beach because several upstream creeks flow into it. Why did the nurse increase the water monitoring?

Accepted Answer

4. After heavy rains, water is stirred up, especially when other water sources drain into the water, such as from upstream creeks. This can impair the water quality, making it unsafe for swimming due to a potential increase in microorganisms. Tidal currents do not require water monitoring. Routine monitoring of the creek's water purity is important, but it is more of a priority after heavy rains, which can stir up the bottom when the water level rises. Monitoring water quality has no bearing on whether debris is swept into the water.

Question 4

The amount of trash collected in one community is overwhelming local resources to collect and store it. Which is the best approach for the population health nurse to take to help decrease the amount of generated trash?

Accepted Answer

2. Promoting recycling efforts can decrease the garbage stream, the amount of trash generated, and landfill space. In addition, recycling can promote energy conservation, which reduces use of fossil fuels. Educating the community about overbuying household products does not necessarily mean that garbage generation would decrease. Educating about the use of fewer polluting products or discouraging use of trash-generating materials also does not mean that garbage generation would decrease.

Question 5

After a hurricane has devastated a community, the population health nurse becomes involved in local recovery efforts. Which tertiary prevention measure should the nurse consider to aid in the recovery of this community?

Accepted Answer

4. Promoting environmental policies to prevent recurrence is a tertiary measure. Damage has already occurred and the objective is to restore capability to its optimal level. Promoting legislation and screening are secondary measures. Promoting replacement of hazard-producing processes is a primary measure.

Question 6

While making a home visit the population health nurse learns that the youngest child brought home a stray dog to be taken care of by the family members. What health risks does this child's action pose to the family? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

1. Pets serve as a source of disease for humans. Bites are a source of potential injury especially from overly possessive dogs. Diseases such as the plague can be transmitted from fleas. Rabies can also be transmitted from a pet. Exposure to noroviruses and the risk for Clostridium perfringens are transmitted through contaminated food.
2. Pets serve as a source of disease for humans. Bites are a source of potential injury especially from overly possessive dogs. Diseases such as the plague can be transmitted from fleas. Rabies can also be transmitted from a pet. Exposure to noroviruses and the risk for Clostridium perfringens are transmitted through contaminated food.
4. Pets serve as a source of disease for humans. Bites are a source of potential injury especially from overly possessive dogs. Diseases such as the plague can be transmitted from fleas. Rabies can also be transmitted from a pet. Exposure to noroviruses and the risk for Clostridium perfringens are transmitted through contaminated food.

Question 7

Mosquito control services have been reduced in the community and the population health nurse is concerned about the rise of mosquito-borne diseases. What secondary prevention intervention measures should the nurse suggest to community leaders? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

3. Promoting accessibility and treatment services and monitoring incidence of diseases caused by mosquitoes, including the installation of sentinel chicken monitoring stations in local firehouses, are secondary prevention measures that are aimed at protecting the population. Promoting ordinances and instituting an education program about insect control are examples of primary prevention.
4. Promoting accessibility and treatment services and monitoring incidence of diseases caused by mosquitoes, including the installation of sentinel chicken monitoring stations in local firehouses, are secondary prevention measures that are aimed at protecting the population. Promoting ordinances and instituting an education program about insect control are examples of primary prevention.
5. Promoting accessibility and treatment services and monitoring incidence of diseases caused by mosquitoes, including the installation of sentinel chicken monitoring stations in local firehouses, are secondary prevention measures that are aimed at protecting the population. Promoting ordinances and instituting an education program about insect control are examples of primary prevention.

Question 8

As part of a school district health program for students, the nurse visits students diagnosed with asthma at home. Which home environment factor should the nurse identify as contributing to the development of this respiratory disease?

Accepted Answer

3. Exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to exacerbations of asthma in children. The nurse is using the role of surveillance to determine factors in the home environment that could trigger asthma attacks. Pesticides may or may not contribute to the development of asthma. Peeling paint and fuel source for cooking are not factors in asthma attacks.

Question 9

The population health nurse receives a report that provides statistics on the increasing number of telephone calls made to the poison control hotline. Based on this information, what should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

4. Educating the public about the hazards of household chemical and medications and appropriate storage is a primary prevention intervention the nurse should use for poison control. Targeting homes for poisons does not represent an intervention. Enforcing local ordinances is not a realistic responsibility of the nurse. Promoting legislation is an appropriate action, but will not necessarily result in a decrease in hotline calls.

Question 10

The population health nurse is working with city council members to identify environmental factors that negatively impact the health of community members. Which factors should the nurse call to the attention of the council members? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

1. Factors that negatively impact health include urban sprawl; disparities in socioeconomic status, and gang violence. Green space in communities can contribute to exercise and mental relaxation, which improve health. Organized recreation programs can provide creative outlets for the community members, which improves health.
2. Factors that negatively impact health include urban sprawl; disparities in socioeconomic status, and gang violence. Green space in communities can contribute to exercise and mental relaxation, which improve health. Organized recreation programs can provide creative outlets for the community members, which improves health.
5. Factors that negatively impact health include urban sprawl; disparities in socioeconomic status, and gang violence. Green space in communities can contribute to exercise and mental relaxation, which improve health. Organized recreation programs can provide creative outlets for the community members, which improves health.

Question 11

The population health nurse learns of an area within the community that floods after heavy rains. Flooding has been a problem since development of this region over the last several years. What should the nurse realize as the most accurate explanation for the standing water?

Accepted Answer

4. Increased development can result in paving land, which creates impervious surfaces that would otherwise be able to absorb rainwater. This leads to increased standing water after heavy rains. There is no indication that weather patterns have changed, or that the drainage system or storm sewers are involved or are inadequate.

Question 12

A once prosperous and thriving neighborhood has become run-down and its residents have a lower socioeconomic status. There is greater unemployment in this neighborhood and the police have seen a rise in crime in unemployed young adults. The population health nurse determines this as being an effect of a declining:

Accepted Answer

2. A once thriving neighborhood that is now run-down, with a higher amount of lower socioeconomic residents and higher unemployment will see an effect on health through the decreasing of the neighborhood quality. A variety of factors will impact health, from a rise in crime to other factors that include potentially more environmental toxins, crowding, etc., than more affluent areas. Natural environment refers to the flora and fauna of an area. Built environment refers to buildings and spaces created by people. Ecologic environment is the interaction of the natural, built, and social environments.

Question 13

The population health nurse is aware of many young couples with children purchasing and renovating older community homes. What prevention measure should the nurse implement to ensure the safety of these families?

Accepted Answer

3. A primary prevention measure for an older home would be to encourage the removal of any lead-based paint. Screening and monitoring lead levels are secondary prevention measures. Chelation therapy is a tertiary prevention measure.

Question 14

A coal-fired energy plant is built next to a residential area. Since the plant opened the population health nurse notes an increase in respiratory diseases in individuals who live close to the plant. What should the nurse use to explain this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A coal-fired energy plant is built next...

Question 15

During a health fair the population health nurse notes that a child of a family renovating an older home is demonstrating fatigue. What action should the nurse encourage the parents to take?

Accepted Answer

3. During a house renovation there is a possibility that the house may have lead paint. Children should be screened for lead levels if there has been a change in activity or affect. Having an earlier bedtime or eating a protein-rich diet will have no effect if lead levels are high. Screening for hearing difficulties is not an appropriate intervention if lead exposure is suspected.

Quiz 4: Environmental Influences on Population Health