A nurse is considering applying for a position as a public health nurse. Which of the following would be a reason this position would be appealing?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Public health nursing is known for its autonomy and independence. In many instances, there are limited other health care professionals and staff with whom to interact. In-patient acute care nurses focus on acute care with outcomes known fairly quickly (B). Acute care nurses collaborate frequently with other health care professionals (C). Depending on the position there may be more flexibility, but typically public health nurses do not receive higher wages (D).

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Threat of disease, especially yellow fever, led to public interest in establishing government-sponsored boards of health. The focus was on public health for all, not just the poor (B), funding (C), or records (D), though these were secondary benefits.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: It took 19 years for the first of Shattuck’s recommendations to be implemented, but his report was the first effort to create a modern public health organization. Changes were not immediate (D) and focused on long-term guidelines (C) rather than substance abuse (A) or sanitation alone (B).

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Early school nursing focused on investigating causes of absenteeism. Medical treatment (D) was for physicians, and nurses didn’t teach (B) or promote autonomy (C) in that role then.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Diploma schools emphasized hospital care, leaving nurses unprepared for home visiting. Public health nursing existed (A), teachers were available (B), and Nightingale didn’t publish a textbook (C).