ATI Evidence-
Based Practice:
Advanced
Comprehensive
Examination well
written one year
2025 /2026
,updated graded
A+ Version 2.0 - 150 Multiple-Choice
Questions for Advanced Nursing Professionals
SECTION A: ADVANCED RESEARCH EVIDENCE AND EVIDENCE
HIERARCHIES (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse researcher is evaluating the strength of evidence from a systematic review of
randomized controlled trials examining the effectiveness of early mobilization in
reducing ICU-acquired weakness. According to the GRADE system, the initial quality
rating for evidence from randomized controlled trials is:
A) Low
B) Moderate
C) High
D) Very Low
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-C
Rationale: According to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development
and Evaluation) system, randomized controlled trials are initially rated as high-quality evidence.
The rating can be downgraded based on risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness, imprecision, or
,publication bias, or upgraded based on large effect size, dose-response gradient, or plausible
confounding.
2. A nurse is appraising a meta-analysis on the effectiveness of chlorhexidine bathing in
reducing hospital-acquired infections. Which statistical measure represents the average
effect size across all included studies in a meta-analysis?
A) Odds ratio
B) Confidence interval
C) Pooled effect estimate
D) p-value
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-C
Rationale: A pooled effect estimate represents the weighted average of effect sizes across all
included studies in a meta-analysis. This provides a single estimate of the overall effect,
accounting for the sample sizes of individual studies.
3. A nurse is evaluating a research article and notes that the study used a factorial
design. In a factorial design, researchers:
A) Study one independent variable at a time
B) Study two or more independent variables simultaneously
C) Study only qualitative variables
D) Study only one group of participants
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-B
Rationale: Factorial designs allow researchers to study two or more independent variables
simultaneously, enabling examination of both main effects (individual variable effects) and
interaction effects (combined effects of variables).
4. A nurse is appraising a study that used a propensity score matching design. Propensity
score matching is used to:
A) Randomize participants to groups
, B) Reduce selection bias in observational studies
C) Increase sample size
D) Measure study outcomes
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-B
Rationale: Propensity score matching is a statistical technique used to reduce selection bias in
observational studies by matching participants in the treatment and control groups based on
their likelihood of receiving the treatment.
5. A nurse is evaluating a research study and notes that the authors used an instrumental
variable analysis. Instrumental variable analysis is used to:
A) Increase sample size
B) Control for unmeasured confounding in observational studies
C) Ensure random assignment
D) Measure study outcomes
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-B
Rationale: Instrumental variable analysis is a statistical technique used to control for
unmeasured confounding in observational studies. An instrumental variable is a variable that is
associated with the exposure but not directly with the outcome.
6. A nurse is appraising a systematic review and notes that the review used a
metaregression analysis. Meta-regression is used to:
A) Combine results from qualitative studies
B) Explore sources of heterogeneity among studies in a meta-analysis
C) Calculate the overall effect size
D) Assess publication bias
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-B
Rationale: Meta-regression is a statistical technique used to explore sources of heterogeneity
in a meta-analysis by examining the relationship between study characteristics (moderators)
and effect sizes.
Based Practice:
Advanced
Comprehensive
Examination well
written one year
2025 /2026
,updated graded
A+ Version 2.0 - 150 Multiple-Choice
Questions for Advanced Nursing Professionals
SECTION A: ADVANCED RESEARCH EVIDENCE AND EVIDENCE
HIERARCHIES (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse researcher is evaluating the strength of evidence from a systematic review of
randomized controlled trials examining the effectiveness of early mobilization in
reducing ICU-acquired weakness. According to the GRADE system, the initial quality
rating for evidence from randomized controlled trials is:
A) Low
B) Moderate
C) High
D) Very Low
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-C
Rationale: According to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development
and Evaluation) system, randomized controlled trials are initially rated as high-quality evidence.
The rating can be downgraded based on risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness, imprecision, or
,publication bias, or upgraded based on large effect size, dose-response gradient, or plausible
confounding.
2. A nurse is appraising a meta-analysis on the effectiveness of chlorhexidine bathing in
reducing hospital-acquired infections. Which statistical measure represents the average
effect size across all included studies in a meta-analysis?
A) Odds ratio
B) Confidence interval
C) Pooled effect estimate
D) p-value
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-C
Rationale: A pooled effect estimate represents the weighted average of effect sizes across all
included studies in a meta-analysis. This provides a single estimate of the overall effect,
accounting for the sample sizes of individual studies.
3. A nurse is evaluating a research article and notes that the study used a factorial
design. In a factorial design, researchers:
A) Study one independent variable at a time
B) Study two or more independent variables simultaneously
C) Study only qualitative variables
D) Study only one group of participants
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-B
Rationale: Factorial designs allow researchers to study two or more independent variables
simultaneously, enabling examination of both main effects (individual variable effects) and
interaction effects (combined effects of variables).
4. A nurse is appraising a study that used a propensity score matching design. Propensity
score matching is used to:
A) Randomize participants to groups
, B) Reduce selection bias in observational studies
C) Increase sample size
D) Measure study outcomes
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-B
Rationale: Propensity score matching is a statistical technique used to reduce selection bias in
observational studies by matching participants in the treatment and control groups based on
their likelihood of receiving the treatment.
5. A nurse is evaluating a research study and notes that the authors used an instrumental
variable analysis. Instrumental variable analysis is used to:
A) Increase sample size
B) Control for unmeasured confounding in observational studies
C) Ensure random assignment
D) Measure study outcomes
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-B
Rationale: Instrumental variable analysis is a statistical technique used to control for
unmeasured confounding in observational studies. An instrumental variable is a variable that is
associated with the exposure but not directly with the outcome.
6. A nurse is appraising a systematic review and notes that the review used a
metaregression analysis. Meta-regression is used to:
A) Combine results from qualitative studies
B) Explore sources of heterogeneity among studies in a meta-analysis
C) Calculate the overall effect size
D) Assess publication bias
- detailed answer 100 % correct :-B
Rationale: Meta-regression is a statistical technique used to explore sources of heterogeneity
in a meta-analysis by examining the relationship between study characteristics (moderators)
and effect sizes.
