EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE IN NURSING
& HEALTHCARE
A GUIDE TO BEST PRACTICE
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)BERNADETTE MAZUREK
MELNYK; ELLEN FINEOUT-OVERHOLT
TEST BANK
) Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for EBP — Spirit of
Inquiry
A medical-surgical unit has continued using an outdated
repositioning schedule for immobile patients because “it has
always worked.” Over the past 3 months, the unit has
documented more pressure injuries despite stable staffing and
similar patient acuity. The charge nurse asks the team to
,explore whether the current approach is supported by the best
available evidence.
Which action best reflects a spirit of inquiry?
A. Accept the current schedule because it has been used safely
for years
B. Ask what the evidence says about repositioning frequency
and pressure injury prevention
C. Wait until a formal adverse-event review is completed before
considering change
D. Change the schedule immediately without evaluating any
evidence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: A spirit of inquiry begins with questioning
routine practice when outcomes suggest a possible gap. Asking
what the evidence says moves the team toward evidence-based
decision making rather than tradition-based care.
Rationale — Incorrect A: Longevity of a practice does not
establish its effectiveness. Continuing an outdated intervention
without questioning it contradicts EBP.
Rationale — Incorrect C: Formal review may be useful, but
inquiry should begin before an adverse event reaches a crisis
threshold. EBP is proactive, not purely reactive.
Rationale — Incorrect D: Immediate change without evidence
review risks implementing an ineffective or harmful
intervention. EBP requires deliberate appraisal, not guesswork.
,Teaching Point: Inquiry starts when outcomes or variation make
routine practice worth questioning.
Citation: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023).
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to
Best Practice (5th ed.). Ch. 1.
2) Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for EBP — Clinical
Practice Gap
A pediatric clinic notes that many families miss follow-up
appointments after discharge teaching, even when written
instructions are provided. The nurse manager wants the team
to identify a better approach before defaulting to more
reminders or longer teaching sessions. The staff must decide
what problem should be addressed first.
What is the most appropriate first step?
A. Search for interventions that have improved follow-up
adherence in similar settings
B. Assume the problem is family motivation and design a
motivational poster
C. Implement a new discharge form immediately to standardize
teaching
D. Ask staff to document why families missed appointments
without reviewing the pattern
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale — Correct: The team should begin by identifying
what evidence exists for improving follow-up adherence in
comparable populations. That is the most direct way to
translate a practice concern into an EBP question.
Rationale — Incorrect B: Blaming motivation is speculative and
not evidence-based. It skips problem analysis and may reinforce
bias.
Rationale — Incorrect C: Standardizing a form may help, but
the team should not implement a change before examining the
evidence for effective strategies. EBP begins with inquiry, not
immediate redesign.
Rationale — Incorrect D: Documentation alone does not move
the team toward an evidence-informed solution. The pattern
must be linked to an actionable evidence search.
Teaching Point: Start with the problem, then search for
evidence matched to that problem.
Citation: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023).
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to
Best Practice (5th ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for EBP — Tradition vs
Evidence
A unit educator hears that several nurses continue using a
dressing technique because “the senior nurses taught us this
& HEALTHCARE
A GUIDE TO BEST PRACTICE
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)BERNADETTE MAZUREK
MELNYK; ELLEN FINEOUT-OVERHOLT
TEST BANK
) Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for EBP — Spirit of
Inquiry
A medical-surgical unit has continued using an outdated
repositioning schedule for immobile patients because “it has
always worked.” Over the past 3 months, the unit has
documented more pressure injuries despite stable staffing and
similar patient acuity. The charge nurse asks the team to
,explore whether the current approach is supported by the best
available evidence.
Which action best reflects a spirit of inquiry?
A. Accept the current schedule because it has been used safely
for years
B. Ask what the evidence says about repositioning frequency
and pressure injury prevention
C. Wait until a formal adverse-event review is completed before
considering change
D. Change the schedule immediately without evaluating any
evidence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: A spirit of inquiry begins with questioning
routine practice when outcomes suggest a possible gap. Asking
what the evidence says moves the team toward evidence-based
decision making rather than tradition-based care.
Rationale — Incorrect A: Longevity of a practice does not
establish its effectiveness. Continuing an outdated intervention
without questioning it contradicts EBP.
Rationale — Incorrect C: Formal review may be useful, but
inquiry should begin before an adverse event reaches a crisis
threshold. EBP is proactive, not purely reactive.
Rationale — Incorrect D: Immediate change without evidence
review risks implementing an ineffective or harmful
intervention. EBP requires deliberate appraisal, not guesswork.
,Teaching Point: Inquiry starts when outcomes or variation make
routine practice worth questioning.
Citation: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023).
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to
Best Practice (5th ed.). Ch. 1.
2) Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for EBP — Clinical
Practice Gap
A pediatric clinic notes that many families miss follow-up
appointments after discharge teaching, even when written
instructions are provided. The nurse manager wants the team
to identify a better approach before defaulting to more
reminders or longer teaching sessions. The staff must decide
what problem should be addressed first.
What is the most appropriate first step?
A. Search for interventions that have improved follow-up
adherence in similar settings
B. Assume the problem is family motivation and design a
motivational poster
C. Implement a new discharge form immediately to standardize
teaching
D. Ask staff to document why families missed appointments
without reviewing the pattern
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale — Correct: The team should begin by identifying
what evidence exists for improving follow-up adherence in
comparable populations. That is the most direct way to
translate a practice concern into an EBP question.
Rationale — Incorrect B: Blaming motivation is speculative and
not evidence-based. It skips problem analysis and may reinforce
bias.
Rationale — Incorrect C: Standardizing a form may help, but
the team should not implement a change before examining the
evidence for effective strategies. EBP begins with inquiry, not
immediate redesign.
Rationale — Incorrect D: Documentation alone does not move
the team toward an evidence-informed solution. The pattern
must be linked to an actionable evidence search.
Teaching Point: Start with the problem, then search for
evidence matched to that problem.
Citation: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023).
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to
Best Practice (5th ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for EBP — Tradition vs
Evidence
A unit educator hears that several nurses continue using a
dressing technique because “the senior nurses taught us this
