ATI RN
Epidemiology Test Questions and Answers PDF Questions
Question 1 of 5
A public health nurse found that out of the 70 people who ate the potato salad at a school picnic, 63 developed symptoms of food poisoning. Which of the following best describes the attack rate?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The attack rate is calculated by dividing the number of people who developed symptoms by the total number of people at risk. In this case, 63 out of 70 people developed symptoms, giving an attack rate of 90% (63/70 x 100%). This choice best describes the proportion of individuals who were affected. Explanation for incorrect choices: A: 63% is the proportion of people who developed symptoms out of the total number of people who ate the potato salad, not the total at-risk population. B: 70% is the proportion of people who ate the potato salad out of the total at-risk population, not the attack rate. D: 100% would imply that every single person who ate the potato salad developed symptoms, which is not the case based on the information provided.
Question 2 of 5
A woman is sitting in a corner of the clinical waiting room, crying audibly. The nurse asks, “What’s wrong? Can I help?†The woman responds, “They just told me I have a positive mammogram and I need to see my doctor for follow-up tests. I know I’m going to die of cancer. How can I tell my family?†Which of the following information does the nurse need to know in order to help the woman cope with this finding?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: The positive predictive value of mammography. In this scenario, the woman is distressed over a positive mammogram result, indicating a potential cancer diagnosis. Understanding the positive predictive value of mammography is crucial for the nurse to provide accurate information about the likelihood of the positive result truly indicating cancer. This information helps the nurse guide the woman on next steps and coping strategies. Choice A (The negative predictive value of mammography) is incorrect because the woman's concern is focused on a positive result indicating cancer, not on ruling out cancer. Choice C (The reliability of mammography) is incorrect as it pertains to the consistency of test results, which is not the immediate concern in this case. Choice D (The validity of mammography) is also incorrect as it refers to how accurately a test measures what it is intended to measure, but it does not directly address the woman's emotional distress and need for guidance on dealing with a positive result.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse reports that in comparison to all the children in a particular school, the children who
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Encourage the parents to enroll their sons in Cub Scouts. The rationale for this is that the nurse should be promoting activities that have a positive impact on the children's development, such as Cub Scouts. Cub Scouts provide opportunities for social interaction, skill-building, leadership development, and community involvement. By encouraging the parents to enroll their sons in Cub Scouts, the nurse is supporting their holistic growth and well-being. Choice A is incorrect because it is unrelated to the nurse's role and does not address the children's well-being. Choice B is incorrect as it discourages a potentially beneficial activity without valid reasoning. Choice C is incorrect as it dismisses the potential benefits of Cub Scouts and does not consider the children's overall development.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is investigating a bacterial illness that has caused a health problem in the community. Only some of the people exposed to the bacteria have become ill. Which of the following factors best explains why this would have happened?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Host factors. Host factors refer to individual characteristics that influence susceptibility to a particular disease. In this scenario, the variation in illness among those exposed to the same bacteria suggests that host factors play a crucial role. Factors such as immune status, genetic predisposition, age, and overall health can affect an individual's ability to combat the bacterial illness. This explains why only some of the exposed individuals became ill. A: Chemical agent factors - This choice refers to agents like toxic chemicals, which are not directly relevant to the scenario described. B: Environmental factors - While environmental factors can play a role in disease transmission, the question specifically focuses on why only some individuals became ill despite exposure to the same bacteria. D: Physical agent factors - This choice relates to physical agents like radiation or trauma, which are not applicable to a bacterial illness scenario.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse believes a new mouth care procedure (MCP) is causing more mouth problems than it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because having a plausible explanation of how the new MCP could cause harm is essential to confidently present concerns to administration. This step involves understanding the potential mechanisms by which the MCP may be causing issues, providing a logical basis for the observed problems. Without a clear explanation, it would be challenging to convince administration of the causal link. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect: A: Merely having certain conditions present doesn't provide a solid foundation for presenting concerns without a plausible explanation. C: Relying solely on feelings without concrete evidence or reasoning is not sufficient to support the claim. D: While consistently seeing mouth inflammation is concerning, without understanding how the MCP could be causing it, it lacks a logical basis for presenting the issue to administration.