Answer to Question 1
Ans: C
Feedback:
It is necessary to consider the history, demographics, ethnicity, and values and beliefs of the entire community because these factors can be used as part of a systems approach by teams to effectively assess a community. Although interventions such as a homeless shelter and a neighborhood watch may result from this study of the community, the primary purpose of the study is to inform the assessment of the community, which will in turn lead to appropriate interventions. The purpose of considering these influences is not to create a controlled clinical environment.
Answer to Question 2
Ans: B
Feedback:
Existing (secondary) data can often be used to identify the community's strengths and weaknesses, to determine assets and liabilities, and to describe, along with available community resources, the amount of disease/disability or health in a population. The data that identify the who, what, where, and when related to disease, disability, and exemplars of health must then be systematically organized and analyzed. In this case, the nurse should gather further data regarding the vaccination history of students in the school before initiating an intervention. If the pertussis is only affecting children who have not been vaccinated and 98 of the children in the school are vaccinated, then the nurse may focus efforts on getting those few children vaccinated who are not already. If, however, the disease is affecting children already vaccinated or if a significant number of children are not vaccinated, then the nurse might consider recommending that the school be closed, recommending that notes be sent home to the parents regarding an epidemic, or consulting with the infection control physician at the local hospital.