Community Health Nursing

There are five main social determinants of health (SDOH) according to Healthy People 2030. Which SDOH is associated with access to transportation, water quality, and availability to healthy foods?

• A. Economic Stability

• B. Education Access and Quality

• C. Healthcare Access and Quality

• D. Neighborhood and Built Environment

Answer explanation

Healthy People 2030 states that Neighborhood and built environment is a combination of where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age. This SODH includes housing, access to transportation, water and air quality, work environments, or their overall environment. Economic Stability includes employment which can be impacted by disability or health. Even though some people are able to keep employment, these people still struggle to make ends meet. Education Access and Quality shows that people with higher levels of education are more likely to be healthier and live longer. Those people from low-income families are less likely to graduate from high school or go to college. Healthcare Access and Quality focuses on helping people get timely, high-quality health care even without insurance. (Healthy People 2030)

Healthy People 2030 includes three types of objectives chosen to improve the health and well-being of people nationwide. What are the three objectives?

• A. Core, Foundational, and Innovative

• B. Fundamental, Developmental, and Research

• C. Core, Developmental, and Research

• D. Essential, Progressive, and Clinical

Answer explanation

The Core Objectives are measurable and associated with targets that are tracked throughout the decade. Developmental objectives are high-priority public health issues that are associated with evidence-based interventions but still need reliable baseline data. Research objectives are associated with public health issues with a high health or economic burden or a large disparity between population groups, but do not have evidence-based interventions. (Healthy People 2030) 

Which of the following best describes the primary role of a school nurse?

• A. Administering first aid and emergency care for injuries that occur on school grounds.

• B. Providing regular health check-ups and vaccinations to students.

• C. Managing chronic health conditions and ensuring that students with medical needs receive appropriate care during the school day.

• D. Teaching health education classes to students and staff.

Answer explanation

Managing chronic health conditions and ensuring that students with medical needs receive appropriate care during the school day is the primary role of a school nurse. Occasionally, the nurse may be called on to provide first aid or emergency care, but this is not the primary role. Providing regular check-ups and vaccinations is done by the student's primary care provider. Teaching health education classes to students and staff is done by someone with credentials to teach this curriculum.  

According to DeMarco and Healey-Walsh, what is the primary role of a community health nurse in addressing social determinants of health?

• A. Focusing solely on the medical treatment of patient.

• B. Collaborating with community leaders and organizations to improve living conditions and access to healthcare.

• C. Administering vaccines to prevent disease.

• D. Conducting laboratory research on disease mechanisms.

Answer explanation

Collaborating with community leaders and organizations to improve living conditions and access to healthcare. DeMarco and Healey-Walsh believe that health is not solely determined by individual behavior or genetics but is also shaped by the environment in which people live, work, and play. Social determinants such as income, education, housing, and access to healthcare services play a critical role in health outcomes. By collaborating with community leaders and organizations, the community health nurse can address the broader factors that can impact health. (DeMarco & Healey-Walsh, 2024)

What is the main type of care provided by the community health nurse?

• A. Primary

• B. Secondary

• C. Tertiary

• D. Quaternary

Answer explanation

A – Primary care is the first point of contact. The community health nurse’s role in primary care is provide routine check-ups, immunizations, health screenings, patient education and to identify health risks early. Secondary care occurs mainly in hospitals and specialty clinics to provide postoperative management, management of complex health conditions, and coordinate care amount multiple healthcare providers. Tertiary Care is highly specialized. Nurses in this care provide advanced nursing care, monitor critically ill patients, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex treatments. Quaternary Care is an extension of tertiary care utilizing experimental medical treatments that are not widely available.