Deck 6: Environmental Health

Question 1

A nurse wants to find information about environmental threats that are present in the community. Which of the following would be the best source of data for the nurse?

A)CINAHL
B)National Library of Medicine
C)State health department
D)Closest local library

Answer 1

National Library of Medicine

Question 2

A community citizen reports to the public health nurse that the city water in one neighborhood has had an unusual taste for the past few months. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A)Check the most recent consumer confidence report.
B)Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
C)Notify the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
D)Place a call to the poison control center.

Answer 2

Check the most recent consumer confidence report.

Question 3

Which of the following are the major sources of air pollution in the United States? (Select all that apply.)

A)Burning of fossil fuels
B)Waste incineration
C)Industrial plants
D)Motor vehicles

Answer 3

Burning of fossil fuels
Waste incineration
Motor vehicles

Question 4

A nurse is assessing potential environmental health risks in the community. Which of the following would be the first step that the nurse should take?

A)Conduct health risk assessments of randomly selected individuals
B)Perform a windshield survey
C)Review facility permits and consumer confidence reports
D)Survey community members

Question 5

Which of the following statements about children and environmental hazards is correct?

A)The prevalence of autism is directly related to the increase in environmental toxins.
B)Children are more susceptible to environmental toxins because of their smaller size.
C)The prevalence of asthma among children has been decreasing.
D)Children are more susceptible to cancer if they have a family history of the disease.

Question 6

A nurse who works at the local hospital asks a public health nurse what might be causing her hands to become very sore and sensitive. Which of the following statements would be the most appropriate response by the public health nurse?

A)"Ask the staff in employee health if there have been any other complaints."
B)"Call the local health department about any recent problems at the hospital."
C)"Check the material safety data sheet on any chemicals you have used recently."
D)"See the nurse's health care provider for a complete work-up."

Question 7

Which of the following actions would a nurse take when serving as an advocate for the community? (Select all that apply.)

A)Asking questions related to health implications at policy meetings
B)Calling the local health department to report problems at the hospital
C)Serving as a source of information at public meetings
D)Volunteering to serve on health-related committees

Question 8

A nurse wants to have a better understanding of the physiological effects of selected chemicals. Which of the following individuals would provide the most useful information to the nurse?

A)Chemist
B)Epidemiologist
C)Pharmacologist
D)Toxicologist

Question 9

A public health nurse is assisting the community in dealing with the effects of lead paint poisoning. Which of the following activities would the nurse most likely complete? (Select all that apply.)

A)Administering medications to those with signs of lead poisoning
B)Assessing community members for any health problems
C)Setting up a blood screening program with the local health department
D)Encouraging local landlords to improve the condition of their housing

Question 10

A nurse is completing a basic health assessment. Which of the following questions should be asked by an environmentally aware nurse?

A)"Is anyone else in your family having these symptoms?"
B)"Can you tell me about your house or apartment?"
C)"What jobs have you held longest?"
D)"Where do you live?"

Question 11

A city has announced its plans to build a city dump near a community of poor and predominantly African-American citizens. Which of the following principles would the nurse be using when vocalizing opposition for this plan?

A)Environmental justice
B)Equal rights
C)Primary prevention
D)Risk protection

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the purpose of local health departments making unannounced inspections of local restaurants?

A)To enforce local laws and regulations
B)To ensure compliance
C)To provide exposure to oversight
D)To monitor employee safety

Question 13

A high school student considering a job in the restaurant industry after graduation asks a nurse about workplace safety issues. Which of the following acts would the nurse most likely discuss with the student?

A)Chemical Safety Information, Site Security, and Fuels Regulatory Act
B)Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
C)Food Quality Protection Act
D)Occupational Safety and Health Act

Question 14

Which of the following strategies would a nurse expect to be implemented by a typical state environmental agency? (Select all that apply.)

A)Acting, through unannounced inspections, to ensure compliance
B)Writing permits that help limit toxic hazards
C)Monitoring hazardous substances to uphold established standards
D)Obtaining and analyzing samples to confirm compliance

Question 15

An occupational health nurse at a local factory is using primary prevention strategies to reduce the environmental health risks among the employees. Which of the following activities would the nurse most likely implement?

A)Checking radiation detectors to monitor for unsafe levels of radiation exposure
B)Irrigating the eyes of an employee who has had a chemical splash to the face
C)Teaching new employees who will work outdoors about the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness
D)Using spirometry to rule out obstructive or restrictive lung disease for workers who will be wearing mask respirators

Question 16

The nurse is examining blood lead levels in school-age children 1 year after a community-wide education intervention. Which of the following phases of the nursing process is being implemented?

A)Assessment
B)Diagnosis
C)Intervention
D)Evaluation

Question 17

A nurse practitioner has established a mobile clinic to vaccinate noninstitutionalized adults against influenza. Which of the following phases of the nursing process is being implemented?

A)Assessment
B)Planning
C)Intervention
D)Evaluation

Question 18

A nurse wants to use the principles of risk and outrage to improve an environmental hazard in the community. To accomplish this, which of the following actions would be taken by the nurse? (Select all that apply.)

A)Advertise in the media throughout the entire surrounding area.
B)Communicate the correct information in a timely fashion.
C)Share all the data found on the community assessment.
D)Talk to those affected or those worried about the situation.

Question 19

Which of the following actions represents the use of secondary prevention to reduce environmental health risks?

A)Collecting blood specimens from preschool children to check for lead levels
B)Meeting with local government officials to request that the city clean up a hazardous vacant lot
C)Referring a child with toxic lead levels to a neurologist
D)Teaching parents of a 2-year-old about the dangers of lead-based paint in older homes

Question 20

A nurse wants to help keep the community environment safe. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?

A)Conserve water by bathing less often.
B)Downsize to a smaller living space.
C)Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
D)Replace all his appliances with new energy-efficient ones.