Which of the following would be considered a sentinel health event by the public health nurse?
A) Several nonsmokers in a community who develop lung cancer
B) An individual nonsmoker who develops cancer
C) Genetically related nonsmoking family members who develop lung cancer
D) A cluster of smokers in a community who develop lung cancer
A) Several nonsmokers in a community who develop lung cancer
Explanation: A) Some diseases are considered sentinel health events, meaning that they herald an environmental health problem not just for an individual, but also potentially for others in the home, work, and community environments. Environmental sentinel health events involve atypical health occurrences and are more likely to be recognized through population-based surveillance conducted by public health agencies, such as lung cancer that develops in people who are nonsmokers.
B) Sentinel health events involve atypical health occurrences and are more likely to be recognized through population-based surveillance conducted by public health agencies, such as lung cancer that develops in people who are nonsmokers or in a cluster of genetically unrelated people.
C) Environmental sentinel health events involve atypical health occurrences and are more likely to be recognized through population-based surveillance conducted by public health agencies, such as lung cancer that develops in people who are nonsmokers or in a cluster of genetically unrelated people.
D) A cluster of smokers who develop lung cancer is not atypical and therefore not a sentinel event.
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