Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

A community health nurse finds an outbreak of pinworm. What key advice should be given to day care workers?

1. Close the day care until cleaned

2. No action needed due to treatment

3. Good hand washing is crucial

4. All children should be treated

The correct answer is: Good hand washing is crucial

The key advice that should be given to day care workers in the context of a pinworm outbreak is centered around the importance of good handwashing practices. Pinworms are highly contagious and are primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route, meaning that proper hygiene is critical in preventing further spread. Emphasizing good handwashing helps to eliminate any eggs that may be present on the hands and reduces the risk of transmitting the infection to others, particularly in a setting like a daycare where children are in close proximity and may not practice good hygiene on their own. This includes washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom, before eating, and after changing diapers. While closing the daycare, treating all children, or suggesting no action may seem plausible, they do not address the immediate preventive measures needed to control the outbreak effectively. Hence, promoting good handwashing stands out as the most direct and actionable advice to mitigate the situation.