ATI RN
Environmental and Occupational Health Questions
Question 1 of 5
The local stream was full of trash. The Boy Scouts had a cleanup day so they could again canoe on the stream. Which action should be taken by nurses in the local community?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: An important nursing goal is to help people learn from their own experiences and analyze the world with an intention to change it. It is essential that those affected participate in the process of identifying and working to solve environmental problems. The nurse's role is to ask critical questions and help groups reflect on the environmental realities of their lives. The only way for the nurse to promote this involvement is through a dialogue with the community members.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse wants to have a better understanding of the physiological effects of selected chemicals. Which of the following individuals would provide the most useful information to the nurse?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Toxicologist. A toxicologist specializes in studying the harmful effects of chemicals on living organisms, including the physiological effects. They would provide the most relevant information to the nurse regarding the specific chemicals' impacts on the body. A chemist focuses more on the composition and properties of chemicals rather than their physiological effects. An epidemiologist studies the patterns and causes of diseases in populations, not specific physiological effects of chemicals. A pharmacist is an expert in medications and their effects on the body but may not have the same depth of knowledge as a toxicologist regarding the harmful effects of chemicals.
Question 3 of 5
A community citizen reports to the public health nurse that the city water in one neighborhood has had an unusual taste for the past few months. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Check the most recent consumer confidence report. This is the first step because it provides specific information on water quality issues in the neighborhood. By reviewing the report, the nurse can determine if there have been any recent water quality concerns or violations. This helps in understanding the current situation and taking appropriate action. Choice B (Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is incorrect because they focus more on disease prevention and control rather than water quality specifically. Choice C (Notify the Environmental Protection Agency) is incorrect as they handle broader environmental issues, not immediate water quality concerns. Choice D does not provide any option.
Question 4 of 5
Which of the following actions represents the use of secondary prevention to reduce environmental health risks?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because it involves early detection and intervention to prevent health problems from worsening. By collecting blood specimens from preschool children to check for lead levels, it allows for early identification of potential exposure to lead, enabling timely interventions to reduce or eliminate the environmental health risk. This is a key aspect of secondary prevention, which aims to detect and address health issues at an early stage to prevent further harm. Summary of why the other choices are incorrect: B: Meeting with local government officials is more about advocacy and initiating primary prevention measures rather than early detection and intervention. C: Referring a child with toxic lead levels to a neurologist is part of tertiary prevention, focusing on managing and treating existing health problems rather than early detection and prevention. D: Teaching parents about lead-based paint is more about education and primary prevention, rather than early detection and intervention through screening.
Question 5 of 5
A city has announced its plans to build a city dump near a community of poor and predominantly African-American citizens. Which of the following principles would the nurse be using when vocalizing opposition for this plan?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Environmental justice. Environmental justice is the principle that all individuals, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, have the right to equal protection from environmental risks. In this scenario, the nurse would oppose the city dump near a poor and predominantly African-American community because it violates the principle of environmental justice by disproportionately exposing this community to environmental hazards. Summary of incorrect choices: B: Environmental epidemiology focuses on studying the distribution and determinants of diseases in populations, not on environmental justice principles. C: Tertiary prevention involves managing and treating complications of existing diseases, not related to opposing unjust environmental decisions. D: Risk communication involves effectively communicating risks and hazards to the public, which is not directly related to opposing unjust environmental actions based on principles of justice.