A PHN working with a family living in poverty is concerned about ...

[LaDunn]

A PHN working with a family living in poverty is concerned about their exposure to environ-mental hazards. Which of the following factors should the nurse consider that may put the family at risk? (Select all that apply.)
 
  a. Limited funds to pay for health care
  b. Poor nutrition
  c. Homes located closer to hazardous waste sites
  d. Less education
  e. Unsafe working conditions

Question 2

A nurse is assessing for environmental health risks in the community. Which of the following ap-proaches would be most appropriate for the nurse to use? (Select all that apply.)
 
  a. Ask legislators to provide a list of envi-ronmental pollutants in the area
  b. Develop a list of exposures associated with urban, rural, or suburban settings
  c. Assess the risk by medium such as air, water, soil, or food
  d. Divide the environment into functional locations: home, school, workplace, and community
  e. Recruit community members to sign a pe-tition to decrease pollution

[dpost18]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A, B, C
Families living in poverty are more likely to experience environmental justice issues such as dis-proportionate environmental exposures. Substandard housing, living closer to hazardous waste sites, working in more hazardous jobs, poorer nutrition, and less access to quality health care all contribute to this issue. Although limited education is related to poverty, it is not discussed as causing an increase in environmental exposure.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B, C, D
Developing a list of exposures associated with urban, rural, or suburban settings, assessing the risk by medium such as air, water, soil, or food, and dividing the environment into functional lo-cations: home, school, workplace, and community are ways a nurse can assess the environment. Asking legislators for a list of pollutants or recruiting community members to sign a petition are not effective means to assess for environmental health risks.