Question 1

A nurse is completing the first phase of a risk assessment.Which of the following questions would the nurse most likely try to answer?

Accepted Answer

The first phase is determining if a chemical is known to be associated with negative health effects (in animals or humans): Is the chemical known to be associated with a negative health effect? The second step is determining if the chemical has been released into the environment: Has the chemical been released into the environment? The third step is estimating how much and by which route of entry the chemical might enter the human body: How much and by which route of entry can the chemical enter the body? The final step takes into account the previous steps: What is the prediction for potential harm?

Question 2

Environmental health is important to nurses because chemical,biological,and radiological materials are:

Accepted Answer

Chemical,biological,and radiological pollutants are often found in the air we breathe,the water we drink,and the products we use.These are not a major cause of global warming.They are not frequently linked to the development of chronic illnesses.These are not products that nurses work with on a daily basis.

Question 3

A nurse has identified a point source of air pollution.Which of the following has the nurse identified?

Accepted Answer

Point sources of pollution are identifiable sources of air pollution,such as a smoke stack.Nonpoint sources come from more diffuse exposures,such as from cars and trucks.The amount of fossil fuel that is consumed and ground ozone levels do not identify sources of air pollution.

Question 4

When would it be appropriate for a nurse to use a Geographic Information System (GIS)?

Accepted Answer

The use of a GIS allows the PHN to apply the principles of epidemiology into practice.GIS allows nurses to code data so that it is related spatially to a place on earth and is helpful in determining concentrated areas for incidence of disease and illness.An electronic health record (EHR)would be the most appropriate place to record client data from a foot clinic.Evaluation of effectiveness of a farm safety program would need to be done through some type of assessment or evaluation method-GIS would not be useful to collect this data.GIS is not a scheduling system and would not be helpful when scheduling health promotion programs in the community.

Question 5

Epidemiology:

Accepted Answer

Epidemiology studies the incidence and prevalence of disease,helping nurses understand the strength of the association between exposure and health effects.Toxicology is the science that studies the poisonous effects of chemicals.Environmental surveillance provides data with which to track and analyze the incidence and prevalence of health outcomes.Epidemiology does not examine causes at the cellular level.

Question 6

Why is it important for nurses to understand the premises of environmental health?

Accepted Answer

Potential risks to health are concerns for professional nurses.It is the responsibility of the nurse to understand as much as possible about these risks: how to assess them,how to eliminate/reduce them,how to communicate and educate about them,and how to advocate for policies that support healthy environments.Toxicologists do not often consult nurses about environmental pollutants.Pollutant exposures are not routinely reported by nurses.Although there may be problems with air quality standards in the United States,this would not be the primary reason why nurses should understand environmental health.

Question 7

A city sets the standard of an acceptable level of emissions or a maximum contaminant level allowed for factories.Which of the following concepts is being applied?

Accepted Answer

An example of an environmental standard is an acceptable level of emissions or a maximum contaminant level allowed.Although this does help to control pollution,environmental standard is best applied in this example.Setting a standard for emissions does not impact waste minimization or land use planning.

Question 8

Which is considered a nonpoint source of pollution?

Accepted Answer

Nonpoint sources come from more diffuse exposures to pollution.Animal waste is the only diffuse exposure given.The others are considered point sources; point sources are individual,identifiable sources such as smoke stacks.

Question 9

A nurse is addressing the problem of air pollution in the community.Which of the following would be the first step the nurse would take?

Accepted Answer

Permitting is a process by which the government places limits on the amount of pollution emitted into the air or water.Environmental standards may describe a permitted level of emissions,a maximum containment level,an action level for environmental cleanup,or a risk-based calculation.Monitoring is an ongoing process after an action has happened.Compliance refers to the processes for ensuring that permit/standard/regulatory requirements are met.

Question 10

Employees working with hazardous chemicals have the "Right to Know" about the chemicals they are working with through the creation of the:

Accepted Answer

The Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to maintain a list of all hazardous chemicals that are used on site.Each of the chemicals should have an associated chemical information sheet known as an MSDS,which is written by the chemical manufacturer.Consumer Confidence Reports summarize the results of the annual testing of the public water supply.The EPA sets forth policies,regulations,and public laws for the safety of the environment and the population.

Question 11

A public health nurse (PHN)is working with a migrant farm worker who has experienced an exposure to a pesticide.When researching pesticides,the nurse looks at the "family" of the chemical.What similarities are found among chemicals that have been placed in the same family?

Accepted Answer

Chemicals are grouped so it's possible to understand the actions and risks associated with each group.Although some common health risks exist within these families of chemicals,the possible health risks for each chemical should be evaluated individually when a potential human exposure exists.

Question 12

A nurse is completing an exposure history using the mnemonic I PREPARE.What data would a nurse collect when asking questions about the first "P"?

Accepted Answer

Present work is the first "P".Potential exposures are part of the "I"-investigate potential exposures.Personal protective equipment use is not part of the mnemonic.Past work is the second "P."

Question 13

How have nurses historically learned to identify a possible relationship between environmental chemical exposures and their potential harm?

Accepted Answer

Nurses have historically made discoveries related to chemical exposure when people presented with signs and symptoms related to known chemical toxicity.Extrapolation by toxicologists and biomonitoring are modern methods.Completing a chemistry course does not show how to identify these possible relationships.

Question 14

Which example contains the components necessary to form an epidemiologic triangle?

Accepted Answer

The epidemiologic triangle consists of an agent (chemical),host (community consisting of several variants),and environment (air,water,soil,etc.).The other examples do not contain an agent,host,and environment.

Question 15

A nurse wants to find more information about indoor air quality.Which of the following websites would be most helpful?

Accepted Answer

Indoor air quality is a growing public health concern in office buildings,schools,and homes and is reflected in the alarming rise in asthma incidence in the United States,particularly among children.Sources of information about indoor air quality include the EPA and the American Lung Association.The NIH is part of the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS)and is responsible for health and biomedical research."Right to Know" is part of a workplace safety legislation.OSHA regulates safety in factories and businesses.

Question 16

A nurse fulfills the environmental health competency of "assessment and referral." Which of the following actions has the nurse most likely completed?

Accepted Answer

Assessment and referral states that all nurses should be able to successfully complete an environmental health history,recognize the potential environmental hazards and sentinel illnesses,and make appropriate referrals for conditions with probably environmental causes.Advocating for public policy changes is part of advocacy.Understanding policy framework and legislation is part of legislation and regulation.Describing the scientific principles of environmental health is part of basic knowledge and concepts.

Question 17

The greatest single source of air pollution in the United States is from:

Accepted Answer

Mobile sources such as cars and trucks are the greatest single source of air pollution in the United States.Waste incineration and power plants are major contributors after motor vehicles.Molds contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Question 18

The basic science applied to understanding the health effects associated with chemical exposures is:

Accepted Answer

Toxicology is the study of the health effects associated with chemical exposures.Pharmacology is the branch of medicine concerned with the multiple aspects of drugs.Chemistry is the branch of science with deals with the way that matter is composed.Environmental epidemiology is concerned with the discovery of environmental exposures that cause or protect against illness or disease.

Question 19

A PHN is organizing a multidisciplinary team to address the issue of water pollution in the community.The most likely members that would be invited to address this issue would be:

Accepted Answer

Scientists who study how pollutants travel in air,water,and soil are geologists,meteorologists,and chemists.The other professionals are not experts in the area of water pollution in the community.

Question 20

A nurse works at the individual level to reduce pollution in the environment.Which of the following actions would most likely be taken by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Nurses can reduce pollution by doing their part,which can include choosing to recycle paper,glass,cans,and plastic.Providing a tax incentive and creating laws would not be completed at the individual level to reduce pollution in the environment.Moving to an area with less pollution would not help to improve the problem.

Quiz 10: Environmental Health