Chapter 15: Surveillance & Outbreak Investigation

A rural public health nurse is spending time reviewing death certificates. Which of the following best explains the purpose of this activity? a. To ensure that local causes of death are consistent with national causes of death b. To confirm that no local health problems are beginning c. To evaluate effectiveness of health promotion programs d. To obtain mortality data for the local areA

D

Which aspect of a biological agent is probably the most frightening to those exposed? a. Infectivity b. Invasiveness c. Pathogenicity d. Virulence

D

According to the Minnesota Model of Public Health interventions, what is the first step of surveillance for the public health nurse? A. Organize the data. B. Analyze the data. C. Interpret and disseminate the data. D. Determine if surveillance is appropriate.

D. Determine if surveillance is appropriate.

A disease outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome has occurred and has spread over several countries outside the United States. This level of occurrence is said to be: A. hyperendemic. B. sporadic. C. epidemic. D. pandemic.

D. pandemic.

A child came to school coughing almost constantly. The next day, six other children in the same school room were coughing. Which of the following types of outbreak would the nurse suspect? a. Common source b. Mixed c. Propagated d. Intermittent

A

A nurse noted that of 18 children in a day care center room, 5 became ill. Which of the following best describes a host factor that may be associated with this illness and who became ill? a. Some of the children were from very low socioeconomic families. b. Some of the children slept during rest time while others only rested. c. The bacterial cause of the illness was easily removed by hand washing. d. The day care center room was much warmer on three sides in comparison to the side with the floor to ceiling windows.

A

In January, a nurse is listening to colleagues talk about the increase in depressed patients asking for help from their physicians recently. The incidence of complaints of depression was higher in the last month than in the previous 3 months. Based on this data, which of the following would be the next step for the nurse to take? a. No further action is necessary because depression is known to worsen during the shorter darker days of winter. b. No further action is necessary because this short-term increase may just be a statistical error or even just a mistaken impression by the involved nurses. c. Action should be taken because there must be some cause for this noted increase. d. Action should be taken because this increase may the beginning of an epidemic and should be investigated.

A

The public health nurse is most likely to use what types of surveillance systems? (Select 2 that apply.) A. Active B. Passive C. Sentinel D. Syndronic

A. Active B. Passive

The hospital infection control practitioner reports new cases of tuberculosis to the public health department. Of what type of surveillance system is this an example? A. Passive B. Active C. Sentinel D. Special

A. Passive

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? a. Because nurses are employed in public health agencies b. Because nurses are often the first to recognize and respond to a problem c. Because nurses are responsible for ensuring that action is taken when necessary d. Because nurses are typically the ones to interact with the public and the media

B

Several children were hospitalized for severe vomiting and diarrhea. Which of the following best explains why the nurse would continue to pursue the cause of the illness even after the children have been discharged from the hospital? a. So that the children's families know the public health department cared about them b. So that action could bE taken to avoid any such future episodes c. Because the children's parents need to know whom to sue for their medical expenses d. To confirm that the symptoms were due to an infectious disease

B

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? a. Active surveillance b. Passive surveillance c. Sentinel surveillance d. Special surveillance

B

Which of the following describes the purpose of surveillance systems today? (Select all that apply.) a. To obtain data used to fight for increased budgets from taxpayers b. To evaluate the effectiveness of public health programs c. To monitor and reduce the incidence of chronic diseases d. To note and help prevent occupational exposure and diseases

B, C, D

A public health department becomes aware of an impending health problem before any problem is reported to the agency. Which of the following has most likely occurred within the community? (Select all that apply.) a. Doctors are feeling rushed as they interact with each patient. b. Emergency departments are notably busier than usual. c. Nurses are calling in ill to the local hospital. d. Pharmacists are discussing the increase in medication purchases.

B, D

What are the core competencies of the nurse participating in surveillance and investigation activities? (Select all that apply.) A. Basic patient assessment skills B. Effective communication skills C. Ability to collaborate with community partners D. Advanced practice nurse with secondary science degree E. Leadership and systems thinking

B. Effective communication skills C. Ability to collaborate with community partners E. Leadership and systems thinking

What are the purposes of disease surveillance in public health? (Select all that apply.) A. Tries to identify terrorist attacks before they occur B. Provides a means for nurses to monitor disease trends C. Generates knowledge about disease or outbreak patterns D. Allows the nurse to advocate for policy changes E. Reduces morbidity and mortality and improves health through disease trend monitoring

B. Provides a means for nurses to monitor disease trends C. Generates knowledge about disease or outbreak patterns E. Reduces morbidity and mortality and improves health through disease trend monitoring

What is the purpose of using an algorithm in the surveillance process? A. Tells the nurse who to call in the event of an outbreak B. Provides the nurse with a step by step plan to identify events needing investigation C. Provides the nurse with a system for telephone triage in an outbreak D. It is a visual reminder of the epidemiologic triangle

B. Provides the nurse with a step by step plan to identify events needing investigation

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? a. Because such data are legally required b. Because it is still part of the nurse's responsibilities, even if it is a waste of time c. To determine a local baseline rate and immediately notice any change d. To determine differences among communities in need for state assistance

C

In which of the following situations would the nurse most likely use active surveillance? a. A newspaper wants to know the incidence of asthma in the community. b. A real-time ongoing communication channel is established to monitor a particular symptom. c. Several children become ill with GI upset at one local school. d. The nurse is asked to report the incidence of a specific nonreportable common problem in the community.

C

The outpatient health care data show a notable increase in asthma over the numbers treated the previous year. Which of the following actions should the public health nurse take first? (Select all that apply.) a. Analyze educational health programs offered to the public last year. b. Congratulate the public health staff on the success of their asthma awareness program. c. Determine whether there are any other data sources that might confirm or dispute the apparent increase in asthma. d. Review data with the outpatient clinic staff such as confirming repeat visits versus newly diagnosed cases.

C, D

An elementary classroom of 28 students has had 13 children who have developed chicken pox over the last 3 weeks. What is the pattern of occurrence? A. Common source outbreak B. Point source outbreak C. Continuous source D. Mixed outbreak

C. Continuous source

Which of the following systems of surveillance is used to monitor trends in commonly occurring diseases? A. Active B. Passive C. Sentinel D. Syndronic

C. Sentinel

The deliberate release of viruses, bacteria or other germs with the intent of causing illness or death is: A. event outbreak. B. chemical terrorism. C. biological terrorism. D. surveillance.

C. biological terrorism.