Evidence-Based Practice
1. According to the fundamental concepts of nursing research, which of the
following best describes the primary reason research is significant to the
nursing profession?
A) It decreases the legal liability of nurses in clinical practice.
B) It helps to define the legal scope of practice for nurses in each state.
C) It generates a specialized body of nursing knowledge for use in practice.
D) It is a requirement for obtaining a nursing license in most states.
Correct Answer: It generates a specialized body of nursing knowledge for use
in practice.
Rationale: Nursing research is significant because it generates a specialized
scientific knowledge base that empowers the nursing profession to anticipate
and meet the challenges of healthcare delivery. While research can
document accountability, the scope of practice is defined by each state's
Nurse Practice Act, and research does not change a nurse's liability.
2. A nurse is reviewing the ANA's Code for Nurses. Which fundamental
concept is also a primary aspect of the scientific investigation of nursing
practice?
A) Standards of care
B) Professional accountability
C) Legal scope of practice
D) Advanced practice nursing activities
Correct Answer: Professional accountability
,Rationale: Scientific investigation promotes professional accountability, a
hallmark of the nursing profession and a fundamental concept of the ANA's
Code for Nurses. While standards of care and scope of practice are
important, they are defined by other entities and are not the primary concept
linking the Code to research.
3. A nurse who does not plan to conduct research should still understand the
nursing research process primarily to:
A) Identify potential subjects for clinical research studies.
B) Assist as an accurate data collector in research studies.
C) Teach patients about the usefulness of consenting to participate in
research.
D) Evaluate nursing research reports for relevance to their own clinical
practice.
Correct Answer: Evaluate nursing research reports for relevance to their own
clinical practice.
Rationale: Even nurses who do not conduct research need to understand the
research process to be able to evaluate nursing research reports for
relevance to their own clinical practice. This is a core component of
evidence-based practice and professional development.
4. A nurse is planning a quantitative research study. Which of the following is
a fundamental assumption of quantitative research?
A) Reality is subjective and embedded in context.
B) Reality can be measured objectively.
C) The goal is discovery and understanding of meaning.
D) Knowledge is gained through observation and reflection.
Correct Answer: Reality can be measured objectively.
,Rationale: Quantitative research operates on the assumption that reality can
be measured objectively. It uses statistical analysis and seeks to establish
cause-and-effect relationships, in contrast to qualitative research, which
studies the meanings that individuals create.
5. A nurse is conducting a qualitative research study. Which activity is the
nurse most likely to be involved in?
A) Testing a hypothesis using inferential statistics
B) Studying the meanings that individuals create
C) Measuring variables using reliable instruments
D) Controlling bias through randomization
Correct Answer: Studying the meanings that individuals create
Rationale: Qualitative research focuses on understanding the meaning of an
experience from the individual's perspective. The nurse studies the
meanings that individuals create and how reality is embedded in its context.
6. What is the first step a nurse researcher should take in the qualitative
research process?
A) Determine the study design.
B) Plan the recruitment process for participants.
C) Review the literature.
D) Identify inclusion and exclusion criteria for the sample.
Correct Answer: Review the literature.
, Rationale: The first step in the qualitative research process is to review the
literature to understand what is already known about the topic. This helps to
refine the research question and provides a foundation for the study.
7. A nurse researcher is evaluating the quality of a qualitative study. Which
criteria are appropriate for appraising qualitative research? (Select all that
apply.)
A) Reliability
B) Fittingness
C) Credibility
D) Audibility
Correct Answer: Fittingness; Credibility; Audibility
Rationale: The scientific criteria appropriate for qualitative research include
credibility, fittingness, and audibility. Reliability and validity are criteria used
to evaluate quantitative research.
8. A nurse wants to study the effectiveness of meditation on people with
anxiety disorder. Which variable would be most relevant to explore in the
literature on this topic?
A) Outcomes of meditation when used by elderly populations
B) Meditation techniques found to be effective
C) Use of meditation during childbirth
D) Pain management for people with anxiety disorders
Correct Answer: Pain management for people with anxiety disorders
Rationale: When studying the effectiveness of a specific intervention
(meditation) on a specific population (people with anxiety disorder), the