Compare primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention roles of nurses in population health.

• A. Primary prevention prevents disease; secondary involves screening/detection; tertiary focuses on rehabilitation and chronic disease management.
• B. Secondary prevention prevents disease; primary involves rehabilitation; tertiary is health promotion.
• C. Tertiary prevention prevents disease; primary is screening; secondary is rehabilitation.
• D. Primary and secondary are the same; tertiary is unnecessary.

Answer: (A)

In population health, prevention is a continuum that guides what nurses do at different stages. Primary prevention aims to stop disease from occurring by addressing risk factors and promoting healthy behaviors—think immunizations, health education, and environmental or policy changes that reduce exposure to hazards. Secondary prevention is about finding disease early to prevent its progression, so screenings and early diagnoses with prompt follow-up are key. Tertiary prevention focuses on reducing the impact of disease that is already present, through rehabilitation, chronic disease management, and prevention of complications to preserve function and quality of life.

This aligns with the chosen statement because it correctly pairs primary prevention with disease prevention, secondary prevention with screening and early detection, and tertiary prevention with rehabilitation and chronic disease management. The other options mix up the roles—for example, rehabilitation belongs to tertiary rather than primary, screening is a secondary activity rather than primary, and tertiary is not simply health promotion.