Deck 9: Environmental Health Safety

Question 1

A community health nurse is presenting an in-service for a group of other community health nurses about the ecological perspective of environmental health. Which would the nurse highlight during the program regarding this concept?

A) The study of governmental and private sector regulations of the environment
B) A technological view of strategies for preventing illness and injury
C) Identification of not only the physical environment but also the social and cultural factors that exist for populations
D) The role of the community health nurse in preventing injury, disease, and illness

Answer 1

Identification of not only the physical environment but also the social and cultural factors that exist for populations

Question 2

When applying the ecological perspective to environmental health, a community health nurse integrates which concept as most essential?

A) Primary prevention is limited in this area.
B) The need for foresight in designing innovations.
C) No one factor can be viewed in isolation.
D) Implications of scientific advances are fully understood.

Answer 2

No one factor can be viewed in isolation.

Question 3

Which concept is used by public health professionals to illustrate that the determinants of health interact to affect health?

A) Precautionary principle
B) Ecological perspective
C) Sustainability
D) Upstream focus

Answer 3

Ecological perspective

Question 4

Which statement best represents an upstream focus?

A) The upstream approach does not focus on socioeconomic factors and the environmental origins of disease and health problems.
B) The focus of an upstream approach is the institution and system level.
C) The upstream approach pertains to the purity of water supplies.
D) The focus of an upstream approach is healthy lifestyle issues.

Question 5

A public health nurse using an upstream approach to improve heart health would most likely focus on which contributing factor to improving heart health?

A) Unhealthy diets
B) Decreased physical activity
C) Smoking tobacco
D) Lack of safe places to exercise

Question 6

A public health nurse who uses the upstream approach would likely focus on which contributor to unhealthy diets in the community?

A) Consumer preference for sweet, greasy, and salty foods
B) Marketing strategies of fast-food businesses
C) Busy lifestyles within the community
D) Individual acceptance of obesity

Question 7

The nursing student is preparing a report for class relating to Healthy People 2020 and environmental health. Which should the nurse highlight in this report? Select all that apply.

A) The agency that prepared this initiative is the World Health Organization.
B) The overall goal is to "promote health for all through a healthy environment."
C) The document provides instructions for persons in the community regarding how to protect their own health.
D) One of the six focus areas is global environmental health.
E) The document provides guidance for nurses to identify targets for health.

Question 8

Which statement about assessment (one of the core public health functions) and how it can be applied to environmental health is most accurate?

A) Assessment includes the investigation of health hazards, surveillance of health issues, examining causes, and assessing needs.
B) Assessment is least valuable when related to where the person attends school.
C) It is not necessary for nurses to have a background in the environmental health sciences.
D) Assessment should be limited to the general population and should not include the increased vulnerability of certain groups.

Question 9

The core public health function of policy development related to environmental health includes:

A) policy development is best left to legislators.
B) to be an effective advocate for change, it is only necessary that the nurse speak out.
C) there are many ways for public health nurses to participate in policy development related to environmental health.
D) public health nurses are public servants and therefore cannot advocate for public policy.

Question 10

A community health nurse is enacting policy development by preparing a presentation for a group of state health officials about the issue of water pollution in the United States. Which would the nurse include? Select all that apply.

A) Globally, the availability of clean water is becoming a very serious threat to human survival.
B) Water pollutants consist solely of chemicals.
C) Recently, there has been an increase in the concern about pharmaceuticals contaminating water supplies.
D) All water that is to be consumed is regulated through the EPA.
E) The people most vulnerable to serious health problems are the very young, the very old, and the immune-compromised.

Question 11

A community health nurse is working with the local health departments to educate the citizens about the effects of radon exposure and its link to possible illness. Which condition would the nurse identify as being a major health concern associated with radon?

A) Skin cancer
B) Lung cancer
C) Diarrhea
D) Cardiovascular disease

Question 12

During a community program about food safety, a participant asks, "I know it is important to use safe food practices to avoid microbial contamination, but what other possible risks are there with our food supply?" Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

A) "Nothing is more of a problem than foodborne illness."
B) "Risks occur only at food production and not handling or consumption."
C) "Radiating food is something that really doesn't occur in the United States."
D) "A recent concern has been raised about genetically modified foods being marketed."

Question 13

Which group of persons have increased vulnerability to environmental hazards to human health related to food? Select all that apply.

A) Pregnant women are likely to transmit their exposure to chemicals, pesticides, and toxins to the unborn fetus.
B) Persons who have altered immunity are more likely to be affected by food exposures.
C) Middle-aged males.
D) Children are more susceptible to hazards due to their immature gastrointestinal systems and increased food intake per size.
E) Adult women who are nonchildbearing.

Question 14

Which variables occur in nature that could have a negative impact on humans? Select all that apply.

A) The effect of climate change upon weather extremes (droughts, floods, and storms).
B) Changes in rainfall and water supply for soil.
C) Ecology of microbial growth.
D) Risks for waterborne and foodborne pathogens in drinking water, seafood, and fresh produce because of climate variability.
E) There is an adequate food supply and always will be.

Question 15

An instructor is discussing with a group of nursing students, the evolution of environmental health and the development of various agencies designed to protect health. As part of the review, the instructor includes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Which statement made by the group of students indicates that no further teaching is needed regarding the primary goal of the EPA?

A) "The primary goal of the EPA is to identity and address the world health issues."
B) "The primary goal of the EPA is to protect occupational safety and health."
C) "The primary goal of the EPA is to monitor food and drug production and availability."
D) "The primary goal of the EPA is to set standards and monitor and enforce environmental protection."

Question 16

Which might the community health nurse have identified as a point source of air pollution?

A) Coal-fired power plant
B) The amount of fossil fuel consumed by a company
C) Ground-level ozone levels
D) The number of vehicles in a community

Question 17

The community health nurse is completing an environmental assessment on a client who is a shipbuilder. The nurse would include what information when teaching the client on environmental health hazards associated with his occupation?

A) Lung cancer
B) Lead poisoning
C) Neurological problems
D) Reproductive complications

Question 18

Employees working with hazardous chemicals have the "Right to Know" about the chemicals they are working with. Which resource teaches employees information regarding the chemicals they may be exposed to?

A) Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
B) Consumer Confidence Report
C) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Fact Sheets
D) AQI Reports

Question 19

The community health nurse is providing information to a COPD support group. The nurse shares information about the Air Quality Index (AQI) and encourages clients to review the information and plan their outdoor activities accordingly. Which statement made by a member of the group indicates effective teaching about the use of this resource?

A) "I should plan my outdoor activities when the AQI conditions are symbolized by green."
B) "I should plan my outdoor activities when the AQI conditions are symbolized by maroon."
C) "I should plan my outdoor activities when the AQI conditions are symbolized by orange."
D) "I should plan my outdoor activities when the AQI conditions are symbolized by red."

Question 20

A nurse is caring for a client who lives in a home that uses a well. Which is a statement used in teaching the client?

A) "Wells have water that comes from lakes and streams."
B) "Wells have underground sources that run beneath the ground level."
C) "Wells are regulated by municipalities."
D) "Wells are considered safe sources of water."

Question 21

A nurse is caring for a group of clients at a clinic who have children that require food assistance. Which is an upstream factor to consider?

A) Food pantries
B) Employment opportunities
C) Life expectancy
D) Immigration status

Question 22

A nurse is caring for a client who has asthma. When evaluating health care and services, which is included in the downstream effects of asthma?

A) Tuberculosis
B) Smoking status
C) Physical activity
D) Alcoholism