NURS 600 Week 6 Quiz: Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
2026 |Maryville
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of middle-range
nursing theories?
A. To provide an all-encompassing framework for every nursing situation.
B. To establish the philosophical basis for nursing as a discipline.
C. To link specific nursing interventions to predicted patient outcomes.
D. To define the four components of the nursing metaparadigm.
Answer: C
Rationale: Middle-range theories are more specific than grand theories and are designed
to guide research and practice by linking interventions to outcomes.
2. According to Pender’s Health Promotion Model, what is the most powerful
predictor of health-promoting behavior?
A. Prior related behavior
B. Biological factors
C. Self-efficacy
D. Situational influences
Answer: C
Rationale: Self-efficacy, or the belief in one’s capability to organize and execute a health-
promoting behavior, is a central and powerful predictor in Pender’s model.
,3. In Mishel’s Uncertainty in Illness Theory, uncertainty is initially processed as:
A. A cognitive stressor
B. A positive opportunity for growth
C. A behavioral adaptation
D. An emotional defense mechanism
Answer: A
Rationale: Mishel’s theory posits that uncertainty is a cognitive state where the individual
cannot adequately structure or categorize an illness event, acting as a stressor.
4. Swanson’s Theory of Caring defines ‘Doing For’ as:
A. Maintaining a belief in the patient’s capacity to get through an event.
B. Performing tasks for the patient that they would do for themselves if they could.
C. Being emotionally present with the patient.
D. Striving to understand an event as it has meaning in the life of the other.
Answer: B
Rationale: ‘Doing For’ refers to performing for others what they would do for themselves if
it were at all possible, maintaining their dignity while doing so.
5. Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort identifies three forms of comfort. Which of the
following is NOT one of those forms?
A. Relief
B. Ease
C. Transcendence
D. Resilience
Answer: D
Rationale: Kolcaba’s three forms of comfort are Relief, Ease, and Transcendence.
Resilience is a different concept often studied in nursing but not a form of comfort in this
specific theory.
, 6. When evaluating a theory, the criterion of ‘Parsimony’ refers to:
A. The complexity and depth of the theoretical constructs.
B. The elegance of the theory in using the fewest possible concepts to explain a phenomenon.
C. The geographic range where the theory can be applied.
D. The financial cost of implementing the theory in practice.
Answer: B
Rationale: Parsimony means simplicity. A parsimonious theory explains a phenomenon
clearly and completely using the minimum number of concepts and propositions.
7. In the context of theory evaluation, ‘Pragmatic Adequacy’ asks which of the
following questions?
A. Can the theory be applied in real-world clinical practice?
B. Does the theory use unique nursing terminology?
C. Is the theory logical and consistent?
D. Does the theory have historical significance?
Answer: A
Rationale: Pragmatic adequacy refers to the practical utility of the theory and whether it
can actually be used to guide nursing actions and achieve goals.
8. Which middle-range theory focuses on the ‘vulnerability’ of individuals and
their ability to expand self-boundaries?
A. Lenz’s Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms
B. Eakes’s Chronic Sorrow Theory
C. Reed’s Self-Transcendence Theory
D. Meleis’s Transitions Theory
Answer: C
Rationale: Pamela Reed’s Self-Transcendence Theory focuses on how people in vulnerable
life stages (like aging or end-of-life) expand their self-boundaries to achieve well-being.
2026 |Maryville
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of middle-range
nursing theories?
A. To provide an all-encompassing framework for every nursing situation.
B. To establish the philosophical basis for nursing as a discipline.
C. To link specific nursing interventions to predicted patient outcomes.
D. To define the four components of the nursing metaparadigm.
Answer: C
Rationale: Middle-range theories are more specific than grand theories and are designed
to guide research and practice by linking interventions to outcomes.
2. According to Pender’s Health Promotion Model, what is the most powerful
predictor of health-promoting behavior?
A. Prior related behavior
B. Biological factors
C. Self-efficacy
D. Situational influences
Answer: C
Rationale: Self-efficacy, or the belief in one’s capability to organize and execute a health-
promoting behavior, is a central and powerful predictor in Pender’s model.
,3. In Mishel’s Uncertainty in Illness Theory, uncertainty is initially processed as:
A. A cognitive stressor
B. A positive opportunity for growth
C. A behavioral adaptation
D. An emotional defense mechanism
Answer: A
Rationale: Mishel’s theory posits that uncertainty is a cognitive state where the individual
cannot adequately structure or categorize an illness event, acting as a stressor.
4. Swanson’s Theory of Caring defines ‘Doing For’ as:
A. Maintaining a belief in the patient’s capacity to get through an event.
B. Performing tasks for the patient that they would do for themselves if they could.
C. Being emotionally present with the patient.
D. Striving to understand an event as it has meaning in the life of the other.
Answer: B
Rationale: ‘Doing For’ refers to performing for others what they would do for themselves if
it were at all possible, maintaining their dignity while doing so.
5. Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort identifies three forms of comfort. Which of the
following is NOT one of those forms?
A. Relief
B. Ease
C. Transcendence
D. Resilience
Answer: D
Rationale: Kolcaba’s three forms of comfort are Relief, Ease, and Transcendence.
Resilience is a different concept often studied in nursing but not a form of comfort in this
specific theory.
, 6. When evaluating a theory, the criterion of ‘Parsimony’ refers to:
A. The complexity and depth of the theoretical constructs.
B. The elegance of the theory in using the fewest possible concepts to explain a phenomenon.
C. The geographic range where the theory can be applied.
D. The financial cost of implementing the theory in practice.
Answer: B
Rationale: Parsimony means simplicity. A parsimonious theory explains a phenomenon
clearly and completely using the minimum number of concepts and propositions.
7. In the context of theory evaluation, ‘Pragmatic Adequacy’ asks which of the
following questions?
A. Can the theory be applied in real-world clinical practice?
B. Does the theory use unique nursing terminology?
C. Is the theory logical and consistent?
D. Does the theory have historical significance?
Answer: A
Rationale: Pragmatic adequacy refers to the practical utility of the theory and whether it
can actually be used to guide nursing actions and achieve goals.
8. Which middle-range theory focuses on the ‘vulnerability’ of individuals and
their ability to expand self-boundaries?
A. Lenz’s Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms
B. Eakes’s Chronic Sorrow Theory
C. Reed’s Self-Transcendence Theory
D. Meleis’s Transitions Theory
Answer: C
Rationale: Pamela Reed’s Self-Transcendence Theory focuses on how people in vulnerable
life stages (like aging or end-of-life) expand their self-boundaries to achieve well-being.
