Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

Which example reflects a public health nurse conducting a community assessment?

1. Visiting an elderly person to assess fall risk

2. Developing nursing diagnoses at a health clinic

3. Evaluating immunization clinic services

4. Compiling data on child abuse cases from health department

The correct answer is: Compiling data on child abuse cases from health department

The choice that illustrates a public health nurse conducting a community assessment involves compiling data on child abuse cases from the health department. This activity emphasizes the collective needs and issues within the community, particularly focusing on the prevalence and impact of child abuse. By gathering and analyzing this data, the public health nurse is identifying trends, risk factors, and areas for intervention that can lead to improvements in community health outcomes. This process is critical in understanding the broader public health implications, enabling nurses to advocate for resources, implement preventive measures, or develop targeted educational programs aimed at reducing child abuse and its consequences. In contrast, visiting an elderly person to assess fall risk is an individual-level intervention that does not involve a community-wide analysis. Developing nursing diagnoses at a health clinic focuses on patient-centered care rather than community assessment. Evaluating immunization clinic services might assess a specific program's effectiveness but doesn't encompass a broader community analysis regarding immunization needs and barriers. Therefore, the chosen option represents a comprehensive approach to understanding the health issues faced by the community as a whole.