A public health nurse is participating in a research study to determine how virulent a new virus is. Which of the following mortality measures should the nurse use to calculate this data?
Cause-specific mortality rate
Age-specific mortality rate*
Proportionate mortality
Case fatality
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A Reason:
The cause-specific mortality rate measures the number of deaths attributed to a specific cause within a population during a given time period. While this measure is useful for understanding the impact of a particular disease on a population, it does not directly indicate the virulence of a virus. Virulence refers to the severity or harmfulness of a disease, which is better captured by the case fatality rate.
Choice B Reason:
The age-specific mortality rate calculates the number of deaths within specific age groups in a population. This measure helps identify age-related mortality trends but does not provide information about the virulence of a virus. Age-specific mortality rates are more useful for understanding the impact of diseases across different age demographics rather than assessing the severity of a new virus.
Choice C Reason:
Proportionate mortality refers to the proportion of deaths in a population attributable to a specific cause relative to all deaths. This measure helps in understanding the relative importance of different causes of death but does not directly measure the virulence of a virus. Proportionate mortality is more about the distribution of causes of death rather than the severity of a particular disease.
Choice D Reason:
Case fatality rate (CFR) is the most appropriate measure for determining the virulence of a new virus. CFR is calculated by dividing the number of deaths caused by the disease by the number of diagnosed cases of the disease, then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage. This measure directly indicates the lethality of the virus by showing the proportion of diagnosed cases that result in death. It is a critical indicator for assessing the severity and potential impact of a new infectious disease.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A: "For Best Results, Collaboration in the Community Should Be Limited to a Smaller Number of Groups Sharing Common Backgrounds and Interests."
This statement is incorrect. Effective collaboration in community health involves bringing together diverse groups with different backgrounds and interests. This diversity enriches the collaborative process by incorporating a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and expertise, which can lead to more comprehensive and effective solutions to community health issues.
Choice B: "I Will Act Only in a Subservient Role, Taking Direction from Community Leaders in Collaborative Efforts."
This statement is also incorrect. While it is important to respect and work with community leaders, effective collaboration requires active participation and contribution from all team members, including the public health nurse. Collaboration is a partnership where all members share responsibility and contribute their knowledge and skills to achieve common goals.
Choice C: "Collaboration Allows Key Stakeholders to Share Differing Viewpoints."
This is the correct statement. Collaboration in community health is about bringing together key stakeholders to share their differing viewpoints and expertise. This inclusive approach ensures that all relevant perspectives are considered, leading to more holistic and effective strategies for addressing community health issues.
Choice D: "I Will Encourage Subpopulations to Develop Unique Goals to Meet Their Unique Needs."
While it is important to recognize and address the unique needs of subpopulations, this statement does not fully capture the essence of collaboration. Effective collaboration involves integrating the goals and needs of various subpopulations into a cohesive strategy that benefits the entire community. Encouraging subpopulations to develop unique goals is part of the process, but it should be done within the context of a collaborative effort.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Autonomy refers to respecting an individual's right to make their own decisions. In the context of healthcare, it means allowing patients to make informed choices about their own care. While autonomy is an important ethical principle, it is not the primary focus when considering the balance of benefits and harms in a community-wide intervention.
Choice B Reason:
Beneficence is the ethical principle that involves acting in the best interest of others by promoting good and preventing harm. In this scenario, the nurse demonstrates beneficence by ensuring that the benefits of the physical activity program substantially outweigh any potential harms. This principle is central to public health initiatives, where the goal is to enhance the well-being of the community.
Choice C Reason:
Nonmaleficence is the principle of "do no harm." It emphasizes the importance of not causing harm to others. While nonmaleficence is closely related to beneficence, the focus in this scenario is on the positive impact of the intervention (beneficence) rather than solely avoiding harm (nonmaleficence).
Choice D Reason:
Justice refers to fairness and equality in the distribution of resources and treatment. It ensures that all individuals have equal access to healthcare and that no group is unfairly disadvantaged. Although justice is a crucial ethical principle, the scenario specifically highlights the balance of benefits and harms, which aligns more closely with beneficence.
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