Chapter 15: Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation

Chapter 15: Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A nurse considered copying last month’s surveillance report and changing the date because the number of occurrences per month had not noticeably changed. Which of the following best explains why the nurse should continue to spend time collecting and reporting data that is always nearly the same?

ANS:  C

Disease surveillance helps establish baseline (endemic) rates of disease occurrence and patterns of spread. Surveillance makes it possible to initiate a rapid response to an outbreak of a disease or event that can cause a health problem.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)                               REF:   pp. 267-268

2. A nurse attends a conference to learn more about public health surveillance. Why is it so important that the nurse be knowledgeable about this topic?

ANS:  B

Nurses are often in the forefront of responses to be made in the surveillance process whether working in a small rural agency or a large urban agency; within the health department, school, or urgent care center; or on the telephone performing triage services during a disaster. It is the nurse who sees the event first.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)                               REF:   p. 268

3. A rural public health nurse is spending time reviewing death certificates. Which of the following best explains the purpose of this activity?

ANS:  D

Mortality data are often the only source of health-related data available for small geographic areas. Vital statistics reports such as death certificates are reviewed. Useful information also comes from administrative data such as discharge reports and billing records.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)                               REF:   p. 268

4. Which of the following types of surveillance is being used when case reports are routinely sent to local health departments by health care providers and laboratories, where the data are then summarized and forwarded to those responsible for monitoring such reports?

ANS:  B

It is passive surveillance when case reports are sent to local health departments by health care providers or laboratories. The case reports are summarized and forwarded to the state health department, national government, or organizations responsible for monitoring the problem, such as the CDC. In active surveillance, the health department nurse may begin a search for cases through contacts to determine the magnitude of the problem. Sentinel surveillance involves looking for trends. Special surveillance is developed when a particular type of data is sought.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)                  REF:   p. 269