EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE IN NURSING
& HEALTHCARE
A GUIDE TO BEST PRACTICE
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)BERNADETTE MAZUREK
MELNYK; ELLEN FINEOUT-OVERHOLT
TEST BANK
1) Spirit of inquiry in practice
Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for Evidence-Based
Practice and Cultivating a Spirit of Inquiry
Stem: A medical-surgical nurse notices that postoperative
patients on one shift receive hourly rounding, while similar
patients on another shift are checked only when they call. The
unit’s fall rates remain unchanged, and staff members say, “We
have always done it this way.” The nurse wants to respond in a
,way that reflects a true spirit of inquiry rather than simple
criticism.
Options:
A. Accept the variation because each shift has its own workflow
B. Ask what evidence supports the current rounding approach
and whether outcomes differ by shift
C. Report the concern to management without discussing the
practice with colleagues
D. Wait until a formal research study is published before
changing anything
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
B is correct. A spirit of inquiry begins with questioning
routine practice and looking for evidence that explains variation
and outcomes. The best response is to ask what supports the
current approach and whether patient outcomes differ, which
opens the door to EBP rather than opinion-based care.
A is incorrect. Workflow differences do not justify clinical
inconsistency when patient safety outcomes are involved.
C is incorrect. Escalation may be appropriate later, but
inquiry should begin by examining the practice and evidence.
D is incorrect. EBP does not require waiting for original
research when existing evidence can inform practice.
Teaching Point: Question routine practice when outcomes are
inconsistent.
,Citation: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023).
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare (5th ed.). Ch.
1.
2) Best description of EBP
Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for Evidence-Based
Practice and Cultivating a Spirit of Inquiry
Stem: During orientation, a new nurse asks what evidence-
based practice really means. The educator wants to emphasize
the concept in a way that prevents the common mistake of
treating EBP as “just reading research articles.”
Options:
A. Applying the latest published study exactly as written
B. Blending best research evidence, clinical expertise, and
patient preferences to make decisions
C. Following the physician’s preferred order set because it is
already approved
D. Using only randomized controlled trials for every nursing
decision
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
B is correct. EBP integrates the best available evidence with
clinician expertise and patient values. This is the core decision-
making framework, not simply research reading or rigid
, protocol use.
A is incorrect. One study alone is rarely enough for practice
decisions, and evidence must be interpreted in context.
C is incorrect. Orders may guide care, but EBP requires
independent evaluation of whether the order reflects best
evidence.
D is incorrect. RCTs are strong evidence for many questions,
but not all practice questions are answered by RCTs alone.
Teaching Point: EBP = evidence + expertise + patient values.
Citation: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023).
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare (5th ed.). Ch.
1.
3) Evidence-practice gap
Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for Evidence-Based
Practice and Cultivating a Spirit of Inquiry
Stem: A unit continues to use a dressing-change method that
staff members learned years ago, even though wound-healing
times have not improved and a newer approach is widely
supported in the literature. The nurse manager asks what
problem this situation represents in EBP terms.
Options:
A. A research design flaw
B. An evidence-practice gap
& HEALTHCARE
A GUIDE TO BEST PRACTICE
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)BERNADETTE MAZUREK
MELNYK; ELLEN FINEOUT-OVERHOLT
TEST BANK
1) Spirit of inquiry in practice
Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for Evidence-Based
Practice and Cultivating a Spirit of Inquiry
Stem: A medical-surgical nurse notices that postoperative
patients on one shift receive hourly rounding, while similar
patients on another shift are checked only when they call. The
unit’s fall rates remain unchanged, and staff members say, “We
have always done it this way.” The nurse wants to respond in a
,way that reflects a true spirit of inquiry rather than simple
criticism.
Options:
A. Accept the variation because each shift has its own workflow
B. Ask what evidence supports the current rounding approach
and whether outcomes differ by shift
C. Report the concern to management without discussing the
practice with colleagues
D. Wait until a formal research study is published before
changing anything
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
B is correct. A spirit of inquiry begins with questioning
routine practice and looking for evidence that explains variation
and outcomes. The best response is to ask what supports the
current approach and whether patient outcomes differ, which
opens the door to EBP rather than opinion-based care.
A is incorrect. Workflow differences do not justify clinical
inconsistency when patient safety outcomes are involved.
C is incorrect. Escalation may be appropriate later, but
inquiry should begin by examining the practice and evidence.
D is incorrect. EBP does not require waiting for original
research when existing evidence can inform practice.
Teaching Point: Question routine practice when outcomes are
inconsistent.
,Citation: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023).
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare (5th ed.). Ch.
1.
2) Best description of EBP
Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for Evidence-Based
Practice and Cultivating a Spirit of Inquiry
Stem: During orientation, a new nurse asks what evidence-
based practice really means. The educator wants to emphasize
the concept in a way that prevents the common mistake of
treating EBP as “just reading research articles.”
Options:
A. Applying the latest published study exactly as written
B. Blending best research evidence, clinical expertise, and
patient preferences to make decisions
C. Following the physician’s preferred order set because it is
already approved
D. Using only randomized controlled trials for every nursing
decision
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
B is correct. EBP integrates the best available evidence with
clinician expertise and patient values. This is the core decision-
making framework, not simply research reading or rigid
, protocol use.
A is incorrect. One study alone is rarely enough for practice
decisions, and evidence must be interpreted in context.
C is incorrect. Orders may guide care, but EBP requires
independent evaluation of whether the order reflects best
evidence.
D is incorrect. RCTs are strong evidence for many questions,
but not all practice questions are answered by RCTs alone.
Teaching Point: EBP = evidence + expertise + patient values.
Citation: Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023).
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare (5th ed.). Ch.
1.
3) Evidence-practice gap
Reference: Ch. 1 — Making the Case for Evidence-Based
Practice and Cultivating a Spirit of Inquiry
Stem: A unit continues to use a dressing-change method that
staff members learned years ago, even though wound-healing
times have not improved and a newer approach is widely
supported in the literature. The nurse manager asks what
problem this situation represents in EBP terms.
Options:
A. A research design flaw
B. An evidence-practice gap
