The public health nurse has an understanding that ensuring there is a competent public health workforce when working with vulnerable populations is which of the following public health core functions?

Choice A rationale

Avoiding legal complications aligns with primary prevention, but the nurse’s focus is reducing health risks associated with drug use, especially blood-borne diseases from shared needles.

Choice B rationale

Tertiary prevention minimizes harm like disease transmission. Providing sterilization education addresses risks from ongoing drug use, emphasizing reduction of complications rather than complete cessation.

Choice C rationale

Secondary prevention detects or prevents complications early. While sterilizing needles helps, the focus here is ongoing harm reduction rather than immediate risk identification or complication prevention.

Choice D rationale

Educating about safe injections promotes harm reduction but does not focus on primary prevention. Tertiary prevention is the appropriate classification for reducing ongoing drug use risks. .

Choice A rationale

Reassuring teenagers they will not be forced to participate establishes safety but does not actively encourage engagement in the group discussion, which is crucial for sharing and mutual support.

Choice B rationale

Encouraging comfort before sharing personal problems respects boundaries, but it does not fully address the group’s purpose to create a supportive environment for individuals facing similar challenges.

Choice C rationale

Highlighting a safe space for sharing problems emphasizes the group’s supportive intent, helping the teenager feel understood and potentially encouraging participation in mutual problem-solving.

Choice D rationale

Validating feelings acknowledges emotional concerns but may not fully explain the group’s purpose, missing an opportunity to motivate the teenager to engage with peers. .