A community health nurse determined exactly how many cases of a partic

A community health nurse determined exactly how many cases of a particular disease were currently occurring in the community. Which of the following actions should the nurse take before determining what interventions should be planned?

a. Analyze whether the disease was a priority to the nurse’s agency
b. Compare the current rate with the previous rate of disease
c. Determine what resources are available to intervene
d. Share the findings with the public health agency leadership

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: B
No conclusions can really be drawn from just knowing a number. Only by converting that count to a rate and then comparing the rate with the previous rate, or with the rate in the broader environment or a similar community nearby, can any conclusions be drawn as to whether there is a problem or intervention needed. Once the rate has been calculated, the nurse will be able to share the findings with leadership, determine the resources available to intervene if necessary, and determine if the disease is a priority.