Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

What is the primary focus of case management in public health nursing?

1. Providing direct medical care

2. Monitoring disease outbreaks

3. Identifying needed services efficiently

4. Offering educational sessions on health

The correct answer is: Identifying needed services efficiently

The primary focus of case management in public health nursing is to identify needed services efficiently. This entails coordinating care and resources for individuals and communities to ensure they receive appropriate and timely interventions. Public health nurses assess the needs of clients, navigate healthcare systems, and connect them to available resources, which can include medical care, social services, and educational resources. By doing so, they promote better health outcomes and improve access to necessary services. While providing direct medical care and monitoring disease outbreaks are important roles in public health, they are not the core of case management. Similarly, offering educational sessions on health is a valuable component of public health nursing, but it serves more as a method of health promotion rather than the direct focus of case management, which is more about coordinating and facilitating access to services.