Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

What was the role of the Public Health Service established in response to epidemics?

1. To provide hospital care exclusively

2. To protect seacoast cities

3. To set national health standards

4. To promote mental health services

The correct answer is: To protect seacoast cities

The correct answer is tied to the historical context of the Public Health Service, primarily established to address public health crises, especially during epidemics. The role of the Public Health Service in protecting seacoast cities was crucial during times when diseases like yellow fever and cholera were rampant, often spreading through ports and maritime routes. This protective role included implementing measures to control the spread of infectious diseases, such as quarantining vessels and inspecting cargo. While hospital care, national health standards, and mental health services are important facets of public health, they do not directly relate to the original mission of the Public Health Service in reaction to epidemics. The agency’s emphasis was on prevention and management of disease outbreaks, focusing on community health protection, particularly in vulnerable coastal areas that faced immediate health threats from epidemic outbreaks.