Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

When would it be appropriate for a nurse to use a Geographic Information System (GIS)?

1. Recording client data collected at a foot clinic

2. Determining neighborhoods that have an increased incidence of lead poisoning

3. Evaluating effectiveness of a farm safety program

4. Scheduling health promotion programs in the community

The correct answer is: Determining neighborhoods that have an increased incidence of lead poisoning

Using a Geographic Information System (GIS) is most appropriate when analyzing spatial data to identify trends, patterns, and issues that are influenced by geographic factors. In the context of public health, GIS enables practitioners to visually map data related to health outcomes and risk factors. Determining neighborhoods that have an increased incidence of lead poisoning exemplifies the effective use of GIS. This type of analysis involves overlaying data about lead poisoning cases with geographical data, such as housing age, socioeconomic status, and proximity to known sources of lead exposure. The resulting maps can help public health officials identify high-risk areas, enabling targeted interventions and resource allocation to reduce health disparities. In contrast, the other choices involve activities that do not leverage the spatial analysis capabilities of GIS in the same way. Recording client data at a foot clinic, for example, is more about individual patient documentation rather than analyzing geographic patterns. Evaluating the effectiveness of a farm safety program and scheduling health promotion programs may involve some data assessment, but they do not inherently require a geographic perspective or mapping functions that GIS provides. Therefore, the use of GIS is specifically suited for identifying and addressing geographical health issues, such as lead poisoning incidence across different communities.