Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
Which is an example of primordial prevention?
A. Improving access to safe walking trails in urban areas to promote physical activity.
Primordial prevention refers to interventions that prevent the emergence of risk factors themselves, often through environmental or policy-level changes. Improving access to safe walking trails promotes physical activity before sedentary behavior becomes a risk factor, thereby preventing the development of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. This aligns with the upstream approach of modifying social and environmental determinants of health.
B. Educating an older adult about healthy eating habits.
Educating an older adult about healthy eating habits is an example of primary prevention. It targets individuals who may already be at risk and aims to prevent the onset of disease through behavioral changes, not the creation of a health-promoting environment.
C. Developing a to-do checklist routine for diabetic foot care.
Developing a checklist for diabetic foot care is a tertiary prevention strategy. It focuses on managing and preventing complications in individuals who already have a diagnosed condition—in this case, diabetes.
D. Handing out flyers for free mammograms at a rural public fair.
Handing out flyers for free mammograms is a form of secondary prevention. It aims to detect disease early (breast cancer) through screening and prompt intervention, not to prevent the development of risk factors.
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Full Explanation
Choice A reason: Primordial prevention refers to interventions that prevent the emergence of risk factors themselves, often through environmental or policy-level changes. Improving access to safe walking trails promotes physical activity before sedentary behavior becomes a risk factor, thereby preventing the development of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. This aligns with the upstream approach of modifying social and environmental determinants of health.
Choice B reason: Educating an older adult about healthy eating habits is an example of primary prevention. It targets individuals who may already be at risk and aims to prevent the onset of disease through behavioral changes, not the creation of a health-promoting environment.
Choice C reason: Developing a checklist for diabetic foot care is a tertiary prevention strategy. It focuses on managing and preventing complications in individuals who already have a diagnosed condition—in this case, diabetes.
Choice D reason: Handing out flyers for free mammograms is a form of secondary prevention. It aims to detect disease early (breast cancer) through screening and prompt intervention, not to prevent the development of risk factors.
Similar Questions
A nurse is prioritizing care for several clients on a busy hospital unit. Based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which client should the nurse attend to first?
A. A client who is anxious about an upcoming surgery and requests emotional support.
Anxiety and emotional support fall under the category of safety and psychological needs. While important, they are not as urgent as physiological needs such as pain management.
B. A client who is complaining of severe pain and requests pain medication.
Severe pain is a physiological need, which is the most basic and urgent level in Maslow’s hierarchy. Addressing pain is essential for comfort, healing, and preventing complications such as increased stress response or impaired mobility.
C. A client who is requesting information about financial assistance for their medical bills.
Financial assistance relates to long-term security and social needs. It does not pose an immediate threat to the client’s physical well-being and can be addressed after urgent physiological concerns.
D. A client who is feeling very lonely and asks to speak with someone.
Loneliness is a social and emotional need. While it affects mental health, it does not take precedence over acute physical distress such as severe pain.
Full Explanation
Choice A reason: Anxiety and emotional support fall under the category of safety and psychological needs. While important, they are not as urgent as physiological needs such as pain management.
Choice B reason: Severe pain is a physiological need, which is the most basic and urgent level in Maslow’s hierarchy. Addressing pain is essential for comfort, healing, and preventing complications such as increased stress response or impaired mobility.
Choice C reason: Financial assistance relates to long-term security and social needs. It does not pose an immediate threat to the client’s physical well-being and can be addressed after urgent physiological concerns.
Choice D reason: Loneliness is a social and emotional need. While it affects mental health, it does not take precedence over acute physical distress such as severe pain.
A public health team is evaluating several proposals to reduce future cardiovascular disease in a low-income neighborhood. Which proposal demonstrates a secondary prevention approach?
A. Offering free cholesterol screenings at local clinics.
Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and prompt intervention to halt or slow the progression of disease. Offering cholesterol screenings identifies individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease before symptoms appear, allowing for timely management through lifestyle changes or medication.
B. Partnering with schools to provide healthy meals.
Partnering with schools to provide healthy meals is a form of primary prevention. It aims to prevent the development of cardiovascular risk factors by promoting healthy eating habits in children.
C. Launching a campaign to reduce sodium intake in adults.
Launching a campaign to reduce sodium intake is also primary prevention. It targets the general population to reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease before any clinical signs emerge.
D. Installing walking and biking trails in the neighborhood.
Installing walking and biking trails is an example of primordial prevention. It modifies the environment to encourage physical activity, thereby preventing the emergence of sedentary lifestyles and associated risk factors.
Full Explanation
Choice A reason: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and prompt intervention to halt or slow the progression of disease. Offering cholesterol screenings identifies individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease before symptoms appear, allowing for timely management through lifestyle changes or medication.
Choice B reason: Partnering with schools to provide healthy meals is a form of primary prevention. It aims to prevent the development of cardiovascular risk factors by promoting healthy eating habits in children.
Choice C reason: Launching a campaign to reduce sodium intake is also primary prevention. It targets the general population to reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease before any clinical signs emerge.
Choice D reason: Installing walking and biking trails is an example of primordial prevention. It modifies the environment to encourage physical activity, thereby preventing the emergence of sedentary lifestyles and associated risk factors.
An older client with a history of lung disease is admitted to the hospital with shortness of breath and a productive cough. The client states, "I've been so nervous. I haven't eaten all day." What need should the nurse prioritize?
A. Lack of oxygen
Oxygenation is a fundamental physiological need and must be prioritized above all others, especially in a client with a history of lung disease presenting with shortness of breath and a productive cough. These symptoms suggest impaired gas exchange, which can rapidly become life-threatening. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and clinical triage principles, airway and breathing are always addressed first to prevent hypoxia and respiratory failure.
B. Lack of nutrition
While nutrition is important, it is not immediately life-threatening in the context of acute respiratory distress. The client’s lack of food intake may contribute to weakness, but it does not supersede the need for oxygen.
C. Lack of support
Emotional support is part of psychosocial care and is essential for holistic nursing, but it is not the priority when a client is experiencing respiratory compromise. Support can be provided once the client is stabilized.
D. Lack of rest
Rest is beneficial for recovery, especially in respiratory illness, but it cannot be prioritized over oxygenation. Without adequate oxygen, rest alone will not improve the client’s condition and may worsen hypoxia if not addressed.
Full Explanation
Choice A reason: Oxygenation is a fundamental physiological need and must be prioritized above all others, especially in a client with a history of lung disease presenting with shortness of breath and a productive cough. These symptoms suggest impaired gas exchange, which can rapidly become life-threatening. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and clinical triage principles, airway and breathing are always addressed first to prevent hypoxia and respiratory failure.
Choice B reason: While nutrition is important, it is not immediately life-threatening in the context of acute respiratory distress. The client’s lack of food intake may contribute to weakness, but it does not supersede the need for oxygen.
Choice C reason: Emotional support is part of psychosocial care and is essential for holistic nursing, but it is not the priority when a client is experiencing respiratory compromise. Support can be provided once the client is stabilized.
Choice D reason: Rest is beneficial for recovery, especially in respiratory illness, but it cannot be prioritized over oxygenation. Without adequate oxygen, rest alone will not improve the client’s condition and may worsen hypoxia if not addressed.