WGU D237 – Nursing Capstone Exam
Questions With Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf.
1. A nurse is completing a capstone project designed to improve
medication reconciliation during hospital admission. Which outcome
measure would best demonstrate whether the intervention was
successful?
A. Number of nurses who attended the educational session
B. Nurses’ satisfaction with the new medication-reconciliation form
C. Percentage of patients with medication discrepancies identified and
corrected within 24 hours
D. Number of medication-reconciliation forms printed each month
Answer: C. Percentage of patients with medication discrepancies
identified and corrected within 24 hours
Rationale: A strong outcome measure evaluates whether the
intervention produced the intended clinical improvement. Measuring
the percentage of medication discrepancies identified and corrected
directly evaluates the effectiveness of the medication-reconciliation
intervention. Attendance, satisfaction, and the number of forms printed
are process measures and do not demonstrate whether patient care
actually improved.
,2. A nurse is developing a quality-improvement project to reduce
patient falls on a medical-surgical unit. Which intervention is most
appropriate as an evidence-based strategy?
A. Restricting all high-risk patients to bed
B. Implementing individualized fall-risk assessments and prevention
plans
C. Asking family members to remain with every patient
D. Placing every patient in a room closest to the nurses’ station
Answer: B. Implementing individualized fall-risk assessments and
prevention plans
Rationale: Fall prevention should be individualized according to each
patient's risk factors. A comprehensive fall-risk assessment allows
nurses to identify factors such as impaired mobility, medications,
cognition, and environmental hazards and then implement targeted
interventions. Routine bed restriction can cause complications, while
assigning every patient to a particular room or requiring family
supervision is neither practical nor individualized.
3. Which statement best describes evidence-based practice in nursing?
A. Using clinical experience as the sole basis for patient-care decisions
B. Following hospital policies without considering patient preferences
C. Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and
patient preferences
D. Selecting interventions based primarily on the preferences of the
nurse
,Answer: C. Integrating the best available evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice combines three major components:
the best available research evidence, professional clinical expertise, and
the patient's values, preferences, and circumstances. Relying exclusively
on personal experience, organizational policy, or clinician preference
does not represent comprehensive evidence-based practice.
4. A nurse wants to determine whether a newly implemented hourly
rounding protocol reduces patient falls. Which research design would
provide the strongest evidence for determining causality?
A. Randomized controlled trial
B. Case report
C. Cross-sectional survey
D. Qualitative interview study
Answer: A. Randomized controlled trial
Rationale: Randomized controlled trials provide strong evidence for
determining causal relationships because participants are randomly
assigned to intervention and control groups, reducing the effects of
confounding variables. Case reports describe individual cases, cross-
sectional studies examine variables at a particular point in time, and
qualitative studies explore experiences or perceptions rather than
primarily establishing causal relationships.
, 5. A nurse manager notices that catheter-associated urinary tract
infections (CAUTIs) have increased on the unit. Which action should the
nurse take first when beginning a quality-improvement initiative?
A. Immediately discipline nurses who have patients with CAUTIs
B. Collect baseline data to determine the current rate and identify
contributing factors
C. Purchase new urinary catheter equipment
D. Implement a new catheter policy without further assessment
Answer: B. Collect baseline data to determine the current rate and
identify contributing factors
Rationale: Quality improvement begins with assessment of the current
state. Baseline data establish the magnitude of the problem and help
identify patterns or contributing factors. Interventions should be
selected after the problem has been analyzed rather than implemented
without understanding its causes.
6. Which patient outcome is considered a nurse-sensitive indicator?
A. Hospital construction costs
B. Nursing staff turnover only
C. Patient falls
D. Hospital parking availability
Answer: C. Patient falls
Rationale: Nurse-sensitive indicators are outcomes that are influenced
by nursing care and nursing practice. Examples include patient falls,
pressure injuries, medication errors, patient satisfaction, and some
Questions With Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf.
1. A nurse is completing a capstone project designed to improve
medication reconciliation during hospital admission. Which outcome
measure would best demonstrate whether the intervention was
successful?
A. Number of nurses who attended the educational session
B. Nurses’ satisfaction with the new medication-reconciliation form
C. Percentage of patients with medication discrepancies identified and
corrected within 24 hours
D. Number of medication-reconciliation forms printed each month
Answer: C. Percentage of patients with medication discrepancies
identified and corrected within 24 hours
Rationale: A strong outcome measure evaluates whether the
intervention produced the intended clinical improvement. Measuring
the percentage of medication discrepancies identified and corrected
directly evaluates the effectiveness of the medication-reconciliation
intervention. Attendance, satisfaction, and the number of forms printed
are process measures and do not demonstrate whether patient care
actually improved.
,2. A nurse is developing a quality-improvement project to reduce
patient falls on a medical-surgical unit. Which intervention is most
appropriate as an evidence-based strategy?
A. Restricting all high-risk patients to bed
B. Implementing individualized fall-risk assessments and prevention
plans
C. Asking family members to remain with every patient
D. Placing every patient in a room closest to the nurses’ station
Answer: B. Implementing individualized fall-risk assessments and
prevention plans
Rationale: Fall prevention should be individualized according to each
patient's risk factors. A comprehensive fall-risk assessment allows
nurses to identify factors such as impaired mobility, medications,
cognition, and environmental hazards and then implement targeted
interventions. Routine bed restriction can cause complications, while
assigning every patient to a particular room or requiring family
supervision is neither practical nor individualized.
3. Which statement best describes evidence-based practice in nursing?
A. Using clinical experience as the sole basis for patient-care decisions
B. Following hospital policies without considering patient preferences
C. Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and
patient preferences
D. Selecting interventions based primarily on the preferences of the
nurse
,Answer: C. Integrating the best available evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice combines three major components:
the best available research evidence, professional clinical expertise, and
the patient's values, preferences, and circumstances. Relying exclusively
on personal experience, organizational policy, or clinician preference
does not represent comprehensive evidence-based practice.
4. A nurse wants to determine whether a newly implemented hourly
rounding protocol reduces patient falls. Which research design would
provide the strongest evidence for determining causality?
A. Randomized controlled trial
B. Case report
C. Cross-sectional survey
D. Qualitative interview study
Answer: A. Randomized controlled trial
Rationale: Randomized controlled trials provide strong evidence for
determining causal relationships because participants are randomly
assigned to intervention and control groups, reducing the effects of
confounding variables. Case reports describe individual cases, cross-
sectional studies examine variables at a particular point in time, and
qualitative studies explore experiences or perceptions rather than
primarily establishing causal relationships.
, 5. A nurse manager notices that catheter-associated urinary tract
infections (CAUTIs) have increased on the unit. Which action should the
nurse take first when beginning a quality-improvement initiative?
A. Immediately discipline nurses who have patients with CAUTIs
B. Collect baseline data to determine the current rate and identify
contributing factors
C. Purchase new urinary catheter equipment
D. Implement a new catheter policy without further assessment
Answer: B. Collect baseline data to determine the current rate and
identify contributing factors
Rationale: Quality improvement begins with assessment of the current
state. Baseline data establish the magnitude of the problem and help
identify patterns or contributing factors. Interventions should be
selected after the problem has been analyzed rather than implemented
without understanding its causes.
6. Which patient outcome is considered a nurse-sensitive indicator?
A. Hospital construction costs
B. Nursing staff turnover only
C. Patient falls
D. Hospital parking availability
Answer: C. Patient falls
Rationale: Nurse-sensitive indicators are outcomes that are influenced
by nursing care and nursing practice. Examples include patient falls,
pressure injuries, medication errors, patient satisfaction, and some
