Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

In what scenario would a nurse practitioner engage in tertiary prevention?

1. Conducting screenings for risk factors

2. Providing rehabilitation for a chronic illness

3. Educating a community about disease prevention

4. Identifying at-risk populations

The correct answer is: Providing rehabilitation for a chronic illness

Tertiary prevention focuses on reducing the impact of an ongoing illness or injury that has lasting effects. It aims to help individuals manage long-term challenging health conditions and improve their quality of life. In this context, providing rehabilitation for a chronic illness directly aligns with the goals of tertiary prevention. Rehabilitation can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and support groups, all of which are designed to help individuals regain function and independence after a health setback. In contrast, conducting screenings for risk factors is part of secondary prevention, aimed at early detection of diseases. Educating a community about disease prevention is also oriented towards primary prevention, which seeks to avert illness before it occurs. Identifying at-risk populations similarly falls under primary or secondary prevention strategies, as it focuses on reducing the risk of disease development rather than managing established conditions. Therefore, the scenario involving rehabilitation for a chronic illness represents a clear application of tertiary prevention principles.