Chapter 21: Health Policy and Politics: Getting Involved!

Chapter 21: Health Policy and Politics: Getting Involved!

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A bill is pending in the state legislature that will mandate teaching health promotion as related to smoking cessation. Which of the following actions by the nurse should have the greatest impact on passage of the bill?

ANS:   B

(B) is correct because telephone calls are an effective means of communicating your support for a bill; ask to speak to the staff person assigned to the bill or issue for which the call is being made. After introducing yourself, give a brief and simple message such as, “Please tell Senator/Representative (name) that I support (bill number). (A) is not correct because the school board may have some interest in information about the bill, but they may or may not support the bill; the nurse will have a greater impact on passage of the bill if she directly phones the elected representative’s office. (C) is incorrect because the nurse is concerned with passing the bill now rather than later, after an election is held. (D) is incorrect because the nurse needs to communicate directly with the representative’s office to support the bill rather than just telling the students; however, telling peers and students about the bill might encourage them to call the representative to express their support.

DIF:    Application     REF:    Pages 481-482

2. Time is becoming crucial for the nurse to address issues related to sponsoring programs to include hearing aid costs as part of Medicare coverage. The nurse involved in grassroots political actions realizes that the least timely mode by which to reach elected officials would be via

ANS:   A

(A) is correct because sending letters is the least timely mode by which to communicate with elected officials; because of the anthrax decontamination process that is now in place, delivery of U.S. mail to Congress and to the White House may be delayed by as long as 3 months, making letters an inefficient means of communicating with policy makers. (B) is incorrect because phone calls are an effective means of getting your message to an elected official because they usually have a staff person who takes phone calls. Answers (C) and (D) are not correct because they both represent effective ways to communicate with elected officials; e-mailed and faxed messages are some of the best ways to make sure your voice is heard in time to make a difference.

DIF:    Application     REF:    Pages 481-482

3. The nurse would like to advocate for increased protective services and reporting mechanisms for elder abuse and attends the “meet the candidate” session at the town hall meeting. This is an important time for the nurse to

ANS:   D

(D) is correct because town hall gatherings with nurses allow the candidate to talk about his or her platform to a group of interested voters and affords nurses an opportunity to understand the candidate’s vision and to voice their opinions and concerns about health care issues. (A), (B), and (C) are incorrect because these are ineffective strategies in advocating for a new health policy.

DIF:    Application     REF:    Pages 480-481

4. The nurse would like to obtain background information and learn the political platform of a candidate who is running for national office. The nurse should contact the

ANS:   B

(B) is correct because through legislative updates, N-STAT keeps members up to date about background information and the platforms of candidates who are running for national office; N-STAT also provides updates about key bills as they move through the legislative process. (A) is not correct because it is a made-up term. (C) and (D) are incorrect because these organizations do not have political arms for gathering background information and political platform details of candidates.

DIF:    Application     REF:    Pages 483-484