Lewis: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition
Test Bank
Chapter 2: Health Disparities
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. When interviewing a patient about health history, the nurse obtains information about
all these areas. When developing a plan to promote the patients health, the nurses
primary focus will be the patients
a. family history of diabetes.
b. refined carbohydrate intake.
c. Hispanic/Latino ethnicity.
d. age and gender.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Because behavior is the major determinant of an individuals health, the nurse
should focus on making changes in patient behavior. The other information is also useful
but will not be the focus of the nurses plan to improve the patients health.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension Text Reference: pp. 19-20
Nursing Process: Planning
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. Which of these strategies should be a priority when the nurse is planning care for a
hypertensive patient who is uninsured?
a. Follow evidence-based national guidelines.
b. Obtain less expensive antihypertensive medications.
c. Assist with dietary changes as the first action.
d. Teach about the impact of exercise on hypertension.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The use of standardized evidence-based guidelines will reduce the incidence
of health care disparities among various socioeconomic groups. The other strategies may
also be appropriate, but the priority concern should be that the patient receives care that
meets the accepted standard.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 24
Nursing Process: Planning
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. When developing strategies to decrease health care disparities, the nurse working in a
clinic located in a neighborhood with many Vietnamese individuals will include
Copyright 2007 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.
a. improving public transportation.
b. obtaining low-cost medications.
c. educating staff about Vietnamese health beliefs.
d. updating equipment and supplies for the clinic.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Health care disparities are due to stereotyping, biases, and prejudice of health
care providers; the nurse can decrease these through staff education. The other strategies
also may be addressed by the nurse but will not impact health disparities.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: pp. 20-21, 24
Nursing Process: Planning
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Which information will the nurse need to collect when assessing the health status of a
community?
a. Average income of community members
b. Morning traffic patterns in the community
c. Occupations of individuals in the community
d. Median life expectancy for the community
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Health status is the aggregate of all health measures for individuals in a
community and includes data such as life expectancy, birth and death rates, and mortality
from various diseases. Although income, traffic patterns, and occupations are factors that
impact a communitys health status, they are not health measures.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension Text Reference: p. 20
Nursing Process: Assessment
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. The nurse working in a clinic in a primarily African-American community notes a
higher incidence of uncontrolled hypertension in clinic patients than the national
average. To correct this health disparity, which action should the nurse take first?
a. Survey community members about their perceptions of care at the clinic.
b. Schedule teaching sessions about hypertension at community events.
c. Obtain low-cost antihypertensive drugs using funding from government grants.
d. Initiate a regular home-visit program by nurses working at the clinic.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Before other actions are taken, additional assessment data are needed to
determine the reason for the disparity. The other actions may also be appropriate, but
additional assessment is needed the next action is selected.
Copyright 2007 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 23
Nursing Process: Assessment
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
Copyright 2007 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.
