University of Colorado, Boulder - NUR 109

Chapter 32: The Nurse in Occupational Health

Stanhope: Foundations of Population Health for Community/Public Health Nursing, 5th Edition

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1)An occupational health nurse sees the various injuries and diseases that persons can acquire from employment. Which of the following recommendations would the nurse most likely provide about safety in the workplace?

1. 1. Find employment in physical labor; at least your body will be in good condition.
   2. Professional positions are the safest choice for employment.
   3. White collar positions provide the least risk for injury.
   4. There is no “safe” occupation or profession.

2. A nurse who works for a hospital in employee health notes that several nurses from one unit have missed work after contracting a communicable disease from a patient. Which of the following best describes the host factor?
   1. Each sick nurse
   2. The communicable disease
   3. The hospital
   4. The patient

3. Which of the following groups should the occupational health nurse devote the most time to regarding education and follow-up evaluation?
   1. New workers employed less than 1 year
   2. Older workers with chronic illnesses
   3. Older workers with diminished hearing
   4. Women in their childbearing years

4. An employee in a laboratory drops a flask, resulting in a chemical splash into the employee’s eyes, which in turn results in burns to the eyes. Which of the following would be considered the agent?
   1. The chemical

1. 2. The employee
   3. The flask
   4. The laboratory

5. Which of the following hospital employees are most at risk for being exposed to and possibly developing active drug-resistant TB?
   1. Housekeeping staff
   2. Medical staff
   3. Nursing staff
   4. Ward clerks
6. Which of the following is the most common disabling condition when measured by days away from work?
   1. Bruises
   2. Cuts and lacerations
   3. Mental illnesses
   4. Sprains and strains

7. A nurse makes the suggestion that the 2-week shift rotations should be set up so that the next rotation in shifts is later rather than earlier. Which of the following is the nurse attempting to prevent through this suggestion?
   1. Anxiety, depression, and exhaustion
   2. Family turmoil
   3. Physical illnesses
   4. Sleeping disorders

8. In which of the following settings have nurses most often reported being the victims of violence, especially by patients and their families?
   1. Acute care inpatient settings
   2. Community clinics and physicians’ offices
   3. Emergency departments and psychiatric units
   4. In homes during home health visits

9. The occupational health nurse makes certain all employees have and know how to use personal protective equipment (PPE). Which of the following factors will most likely determine how effective the PPE is in keeping employees safe?
   1. Comfort level of the PPE
   2. Effectiveness of the nurse’s teaching
   3. Knowledge level of the employee
   4. Psychosocial norms of the setting

10. Which of the following is the primary reason that large companies are becoming more involved in their employees’ personal health and well-being?
    1. It is an ethical and moral responsibility.
    2. It improves public relations within the community.
    3. It allows managers to better understand their employees.
    4. It provides a cost savings to the company.

11. The occupational health nurse continually reminds employees to wear their safety goggles and ear plugs. Which of the following levels of prevention is being implemented?
    1. Both secondary and tertiary prevention
    2. Primary prevention
    3. Secondary prevention
    4. Tertiary prevention

12. An occupational health nurse is removing a foreign body from a patient’s eye. Which of the following levels of prevention is beiIng implemented?
    1. Injury prevention
    2. Primary prevention
    3. Secondary prevention
    4. Tertiary prevention

13. An occupational health nurse periodically conducts spirometry testing of employees who work around hazardous gases. Which of the following levels of prevention is being implemented?
    1. Primary prevention
    2. Secondary prevention
    3. Tertiary prevention
    4. Tertiary care prevention

14. The occupational health nurse suggests that an employee work only half-days for three weeks and then return to full-time employment. Which of the following best describes the rationale for this suggestion?
    1. To provide an example to other employees to ensure future cooperation with safety measures
    2. To enforce an economic penalty for not obeying nurse’s instructions regarding safety measures
    3. To ensure that all employees keep their positions during an economic downturn
    4. To continue employment and income with limited duty as a rehabilitation effort after an injury

15. An occupational health nurse is work with the manager to change the assignment of an employee from working with heavy metal to using machinery to assist with loading and

unloading boxes at the truck dock. Which of the following best explains the rationale for this change?

1. 1. To prevent injury
   2. To limit disability
   3. To provide primary prevention
   4. To provide tertiary prevention

16. A nurse is completing a health history on a client during a routine physical exam. Which of the following questions, which is often omitted, should be asked by the nurse?
    1. “How is your family doing?”
    2. “What problems have you been having?”

1. 3. “What health concerns do you have today?”
   4. “Where do you work and what do you do there?”

17. A nurse is interviewing a person who has stated on her entry health form that she is retired. Which of the following is the most crucial question for the nurse to ask?
    1. “Have you had any problems since leaving your employment?”
    2. “How do you spend your time now?”
    3. “What has retirement been like for you?”
    4. “Where were you previously employed and what did you do there?”

.

18. A nurse keeps ongoing documentation of all the clients seen at the community health clinic. The nurse enters the demographic data and the primary diagnoses into the computer to have a comprehensive perspective of the clinic’s clients. Which of the following best explains why the nurse is collecting this data?
    1. This data will be useful in a research study the nurse is conducting.
    2. This data will provide evidence of clinic resources being wasted on minor health problems.
    3. This data will help identify patterns in the risk factors associated with a particular subgroup.
    4. This data can be used to show trends that can be included in the next grant proposal for further funding.

19. As the single occupational health employee at a company, a nurse is busy with safety programs and first aid when employees are hurt. However, the nurse still finds time to walk through the entire facility once a day. Which of the following best explains the rationale for this action by the nurse?
    1. To document employee efficiency and effectiveness at their jobs
    2. To look for evidence of personal protective equipment being torn or destroyed
    3. To observe whether employees are taking their rest periods as scheduled and drinking adequate fluids during the day
    4. To observe effectiveness of safety education and equipment

20. Which of the following interventions regarding worker safety would be the least effective?
    1. Using job rotation and workplace monitoring
    2. Designing equipment so that employee exposure to hazards is minimized
    3. Having employees use safety measures and personal protective equipment
    4. Designing the environment to encourage employees to follow workplace

procedures

21. Which of the following best describes the mission of OSHA?
    1. To create an inspection system to avoid preventable loss of life
    2. To ensure safe and healthful working conditions
    3. To establish rules for employee safety
    4. To share factory illness and injury rates with the public

22. Which of the following statements best describes how workers’ compensation legislation has changed employer behavior?
    1. Employers have improved safety of working conditions because safety data is now public information.
    2. Companies have improved safety of working conditions because worker’s compensation insurance premiums are now based on previous claims.
    3. Employers were legally required to implement safety changes.
    4. Companies have become more involved in the legislative process.

23. Which of the following would most likely be one of the first steps taken in employer disaster

planning?

1. All employees are invited to attend sessions on disaster planning.
2. Employers stress the importance of disaster drills and encourage active participation.
3. Exhaustive inventory of chemicals and industrial hazards is completed.
4. Written disaster plans are distributed to each employee and each worksite.

MULTIPLE RESPONSE

1. 1. Which of the following describes how occupational health nursing differs from other nursing specialties? (Select all that apply.)
      1. It is autonomous, because the occupational nurse works independently.
      2. The major focus is on the environment.
      3. Nurses focus on health promotion and disease prevention.
      4. Nursing care is given in the community.

1. 2. An occupational health nurse should be aware of which of the following trends in the marketplace? (Select all that apply.)
      1. A majority of new jobs will be in service-oriented employment.
      2. Employees will often have compressed work weeks, shift work, and reduced job security.
      3. The vast majority of the workforce will be males.
      4. Many employees will be older and suffer chronic health problems.

1. 3. Which of the following explains why some occupational health specialists are very concerned about chemicals in the workplace? (Select all that apply.)
      1. All chemicals are inherently dangerous to humans.
      2. Chemicals are often used when natural substances are equally effective.
      3. Effects of chemicals can be cumulative.
      4. Interactions of chemicals are typically unknown.

1. 4. Which of the following are the primary reasons that employers have increasingly focused on ensuring a healthy and safe environment for workers? (Select all that apply.)
      1. To fulfill their ethical and moral responsibility
      2. To avoid the cost of liability suits, workers’ compensation, etc.
      3. To maintain good public relations
      4. To meet legislated standards and avoid significant penalties for noncompliance

1. 5. An occupational health nurse wants to know the NAICS code of a prospective employer. Which of the following best explains why the nurse would be interested in this information?
      1. To assess how others have rated the company in relation to employment there
      2. To compare the prospective employer’s injury rate with similar employers’ rates
      3. To learn more about the usual processes and products of the company as well as typical hazards
      4. To learn how employees feel about the employer