APUS NURS 602 Midterm Exam (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Evidence Based
Practice Q&A | Nursing
1. Which of the following best defines evidence-based practice (EBP) in
nursing?
A) Relying solely on clinical experience to make patient care decisions
B) Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise
and patient values and preferences
C) Following hospital policies and procedures without question
D) Using only quantitative research findings to guide practice
Correct Answer: Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient values and preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice is a problem-solving approach to clinical
decision-making that integrates the best available research evidence with
clinical expertise and patient values and preferences.
2. The primary goal of evidence-based practice is to:
A) Reduce healthcare costs
B) Improve patient outcomes and quality of care
C) Increase the use of technology in healthcare
D) Standardize all nursing interventions
Correct Answer: Improve patient outcomes and quality of care
Rationale: The ultimate goal of EBP is to improve patient outcomes and the
quality of care by ensuring that clinical decisions are informed by the best
available evidence.
3. The modern evidence-based practice movement in healthcare is widely
considered to have originated with the work of which individual?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Archie Cochrane
C) Frederick Taylor
,D) Abraham Maslow
Correct Answer: Archie Cochrane
Rationale: Archie Cochrane, a British epidemiologist, was a strong advocate
for using evidence from randomized controlled trials to inform healthcare
decisions. His work directly inspired the establishment of the Cochrane
Collaboration.
4. Which of the following is a core component of evidence-based practice?
A) Best available research evidence
B) Clinical expertise
C) Patient preferences and values
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Rationale: The three core components of EBP are best available research
evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences and values.
5. A nurse is reading a research article and evaluating its relevance to a
clinical question. This activity is part of which step in the EBP process?
A) Asking a clinical question
B) Acquiring the best evidence
C) Appraising the evidence
D) Applying the evidence
Correct Answer: Appraising the evidence
Rationale: The EBP process includes the following steps: Ask, Acquire,
Appraise, Apply, and Assess. Appraising the evidence involves critically
evaluating the research for its validity, relevance, and applicability.
6. The "levels of evidence" hierarchy is used to:
A) Rate the quality and strength of evidence
,B) Determine the cost-effectiveness of an intervention
C) Measure patient satisfaction
D) Evaluate the feasibility of a research study
Correct Answer: Rate the quality and strength of evidence
Rationale: Evidence hierarchies are used to rank evidence based on its
quality and the strength of the study design, helping clinicians make
decisions about the best available evidence.
7. Which of the following represents the highest level of evidence according
to most evidence hierarchies?
A) Expert opinion
B) Case reports
C) Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials
(RCTs)
D) Cohort studies
Correct Answer: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized
controlled trials (RCTs)
Rationale: Evidence hierarchies typically place systematic reviews and meta-
analyses of RCTs at the top, as they synthesize the highest quality evidence.
8. Which of the following is the correct order of the steps in the evidence-
based practice process?
A) Assess, Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply
B) Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Assess
C) Acquire, Appraise, Ask, Apply, Assess
D) Appraise, Ask, Acquire, Apply, Assess
Correct Answer: Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Assess
Rationale: The five steps of the EBP process are: Ask a clinical question,
Acquire the best evidence, Appraise the evidence, Apply the evidence to
practice, and Assess the outcome.
, 9. The "P" in the PICOT format for formulating a clinical question stands for:
A) Population
B) Problem
C) Practice
D) Patient
Correct Answer: Population
Rationale: In the PICOT format, "P" stands for Patient population or the
specific group of patients being studied.
10. The "I" in the PICOT format stands for:
A) Implementation
B) Intervention
C) Investigation
D) Integration
Correct Answer: Intervention
Rationale: PICOT stands for Patient population, Intervention, Comparison,
Outcome, and Time. The "I" represents the specific intervention being
considered.
11. A nurse is formulating a clinical question: "In adult patients with type 2
diabetes (P), does a low-carbohydrate diet (I) compared to a standard
diabetic diet (C) lead to better glycemic control (O) over 6 months (T)?" This
is an example of which type of question?
A) Therapy/Intervention
B) Diagnosis
C) Prognosis
D) Meaning
Correct Answer: Therapy/Intervention
Practice Q&A | Nursing
1. Which of the following best defines evidence-based practice (EBP) in
nursing?
A) Relying solely on clinical experience to make patient care decisions
B) Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise
and patient values and preferences
C) Following hospital policies and procedures without question
D) Using only quantitative research findings to guide practice
Correct Answer: Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient values and preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice is a problem-solving approach to clinical
decision-making that integrates the best available research evidence with
clinical expertise and patient values and preferences.
2. The primary goal of evidence-based practice is to:
A) Reduce healthcare costs
B) Improve patient outcomes and quality of care
C) Increase the use of technology in healthcare
D) Standardize all nursing interventions
Correct Answer: Improve patient outcomes and quality of care
Rationale: The ultimate goal of EBP is to improve patient outcomes and the
quality of care by ensuring that clinical decisions are informed by the best
available evidence.
3. The modern evidence-based practice movement in healthcare is widely
considered to have originated with the work of which individual?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Archie Cochrane
C) Frederick Taylor
,D) Abraham Maslow
Correct Answer: Archie Cochrane
Rationale: Archie Cochrane, a British epidemiologist, was a strong advocate
for using evidence from randomized controlled trials to inform healthcare
decisions. His work directly inspired the establishment of the Cochrane
Collaboration.
4. Which of the following is a core component of evidence-based practice?
A) Best available research evidence
B) Clinical expertise
C) Patient preferences and values
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Rationale: The three core components of EBP are best available research
evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences and values.
5. A nurse is reading a research article and evaluating its relevance to a
clinical question. This activity is part of which step in the EBP process?
A) Asking a clinical question
B) Acquiring the best evidence
C) Appraising the evidence
D) Applying the evidence
Correct Answer: Appraising the evidence
Rationale: The EBP process includes the following steps: Ask, Acquire,
Appraise, Apply, and Assess. Appraising the evidence involves critically
evaluating the research for its validity, relevance, and applicability.
6. The "levels of evidence" hierarchy is used to:
A) Rate the quality and strength of evidence
,B) Determine the cost-effectiveness of an intervention
C) Measure patient satisfaction
D) Evaluate the feasibility of a research study
Correct Answer: Rate the quality and strength of evidence
Rationale: Evidence hierarchies are used to rank evidence based on its
quality and the strength of the study design, helping clinicians make
decisions about the best available evidence.
7. Which of the following represents the highest level of evidence according
to most evidence hierarchies?
A) Expert opinion
B) Case reports
C) Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials
(RCTs)
D) Cohort studies
Correct Answer: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized
controlled trials (RCTs)
Rationale: Evidence hierarchies typically place systematic reviews and meta-
analyses of RCTs at the top, as they synthesize the highest quality evidence.
8. Which of the following is the correct order of the steps in the evidence-
based practice process?
A) Assess, Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply
B) Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Assess
C) Acquire, Appraise, Ask, Apply, Assess
D) Appraise, Ask, Acquire, Apply, Assess
Correct Answer: Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Assess
Rationale: The five steps of the EBP process are: Ask a clinical question,
Acquire the best evidence, Appraise the evidence, Apply the evidence to
practice, and Assess the outcome.
, 9. The "P" in the PICOT format for formulating a clinical question stands for:
A) Population
B) Problem
C) Practice
D) Patient
Correct Answer: Population
Rationale: In the PICOT format, "P" stands for Patient population or the
specific group of patients being studied.
10. The "I" in the PICOT format stands for:
A) Implementation
B) Intervention
C) Investigation
D) Integration
Correct Answer: Intervention
Rationale: PICOT stands for Patient population, Intervention, Comparison,
Outcome, and Time. The "I" represents the specific intervention being
considered.
11. A nurse is formulating a clinical question: "In adult patients with type 2
diabetes (P), does a low-carbohydrate diet (I) compared to a standard
diabetic diet (C) lead to better glycemic control (O) over 6 months (T)?" This
is an example of which type of question?
A) Therapy/Intervention
B) Diagnosis
C) Prognosis
D) Meaning
Correct Answer: Therapy/Intervention
