Final answer:
The community health nurse focuses on the health needs of the population and works on preventive measures to address health disparities, while the community-based nurse tends to individual health needs and involves the family in decision making.
Step-by-step explanation:
The community health nurse primarily differs from the community-based nurse in their focus on the needs of the population as opposed to focusing on individual care. Community health nurses address health disparities within populations, often working with groups to identify and manage community-level health issues. They use public health principles to improve the health of people and communities through preventive measures, understanding disease spread, and the effects of socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic factors on health.
In contrast, community-based nurses deliver care on a more individual basis, often within the home setting or in one-to-one interactions within the community. They make the family and individual's health needs a priority, which includes involving the family in decision making and being a point of initial contact in the healthcare system.
The correct answer to the student's question is that the community health nurse understands the needs of the population (Option 1).