ECU NURS 4140- NURSING RESEARCH |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS |
RATED 100% CORRECT.
SECTION 1: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND
RESEARCH FOUNDATIONS
1. What is the definition of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?
A) The use of clinical expertise alone to make patient care decisions
B) The collection, evaluation, and integration of valid research evidence,
combined with clinical expertise and an understanding of patient and family
values and preferences, to inform clinical decision making
C) The systematic use of data to monitor outcomes of care
D) The application of theoretical frameworks to nursing practice
Answer: B) The collection, evaluation, and integration of valid
research evidence, combined with clinical expertise and an
understanding of patient and family values and preferences, to
inform clinical decision making
Rationale: Evidence-based practice is a problem-solving approach to clinical
decision-making that integrates the best available scientific evidence with
clinical expertise and patient/family values and preferences . This definition
distinguishes EBP from research, which creates knowledge, and quality
improvement, which improves processes . The "three-legged stool" of EBP
components includes best available clinical evidence, provider clinical
expertise, and patient values and expectations .
2. Quality Improvement (QI) is best defined as:
,A) The collection, evaluation, and integration of valid research evidence to
inform clinical decision making
B) The systematic use of data to monitor outcomes of care with the aim of
continuously improving the quality and safety of healthcare systems
C) The creation of new knowledge through systematic inquiry
D) The application of theoretical frameworks to nursing practice
Answer: B) The systematic use of data to monitor outcomes of care
with the aim of continuously improving the quality and safety of
healthcare systems
Rationale: Quality improvement is the systematic use of data to monitor
outcomes of care processes and the use of improvement methods to design
and test changes in practice, with the aim of continuously improving quality
and safety of healthcare systems . Research creates knowledge, EBP applies
evidence, and QI improves processes .
3. Which of the following is TRUE when differentiating Quality
Improvement (QI) from a research project?
A) Research projects typically get implemented into practice immediately
B) QI projects consistently use valid and reliable data collection
C) Research projects may impose some risks to participants
D) QI projects generate new knowledge that can be generalized
Answer: C) Research projects may impose some risks to participants
Rationale: Research projects may impose some risks to participants and
require IRB oversight. Quality improvement projects are designed to improve
local practice and typically do not generate generalizable knowledge. Unlike
research, QI findings are typically implemented locally rather than
immediately generalized .
4. What is the primary difference between research and evidence-
based practice?
A) Research creates knowledge; EBP applies evidence
B) Research applies evidence; EBP creates knowledge
, C) Research and EBP are the same process
D) Research is only conducted by PhD-prepared nurses
Answer: A) Research creates knowledge; EBP applies evidence
Rationale: Research creates knowledge through systematic inquiry, while
Evidence-Based Practice applies the best available research evidence to
clinical decision-making . This distinction is fundamental to understanding
the relationship between these two activities in nursing. Research builds the
scientific foundation for clinical practice, while EBP translates that knowledge
into practice .
5. An integrative review is best described as:
A) A systematic review of randomized controlled trials with meta-analysis
B) Research + theory synthesis
C) A review of literature without systematic methods
D) A qualitative study of lived experiences
Answer: B) Research + theory synthesis
Rationale: An integrative review combines research findings with theory
synthesis . It is a method that reviews, critiques, and synthesizes
representative literature on a topic in an integrated way such that new
frameworks and perspectives on the topic are generated. This is
distinguished from a systematic review which focuses primarily on research
evidence.
6. Which of the following is NOT a component of the "three-legged
stool" for improved patient outcomes?
A) Theory-based interventions
B) Best available clinical evidence
C) Provider clinical expertise
D) Patient values and expectations
Answer: A) Theory-based interventions
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS |
RATED 100% CORRECT.
SECTION 1: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND
RESEARCH FOUNDATIONS
1. What is the definition of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?
A) The use of clinical expertise alone to make patient care decisions
B) The collection, evaluation, and integration of valid research evidence,
combined with clinical expertise and an understanding of patient and family
values and preferences, to inform clinical decision making
C) The systematic use of data to monitor outcomes of care
D) The application of theoretical frameworks to nursing practice
Answer: B) The collection, evaluation, and integration of valid
research evidence, combined with clinical expertise and an
understanding of patient and family values and preferences, to
inform clinical decision making
Rationale: Evidence-based practice is a problem-solving approach to clinical
decision-making that integrates the best available scientific evidence with
clinical expertise and patient/family values and preferences . This definition
distinguishes EBP from research, which creates knowledge, and quality
improvement, which improves processes . The "three-legged stool" of EBP
components includes best available clinical evidence, provider clinical
expertise, and patient values and expectations .
2. Quality Improvement (QI) is best defined as:
,A) The collection, evaluation, and integration of valid research evidence to
inform clinical decision making
B) The systematic use of data to monitor outcomes of care with the aim of
continuously improving the quality and safety of healthcare systems
C) The creation of new knowledge through systematic inquiry
D) The application of theoretical frameworks to nursing practice
Answer: B) The systematic use of data to monitor outcomes of care
with the aim of continuously improving the quality and safety of
healthcare systems
Rationale: Quality improvement is the systematic use of data to monitor
outcomes of care processes and the use of improvement methods to design
and test changes in practice, with the aim of continuously improving quality
and safety of healthcare systems . Research creates knowledge, EBP applies
evidence, and QI improves processes .
3. Which of the following is TRUE when differentiating Quality
Improvement (QI) from a research project?
A) Research projects typically get implemented into practice immediately
B) QI projects consistently use valid and reliable data collection
C) Research projects may impose some risks to participants
D) QI projects generate new knowledge that can be generalized
Answer: C) Research projects may impose some risks to participants
Rationale: Research projects may impose some risks to participants and
require IRB oversight. Quality improvement projects are designed to improve
local practice and typically do not generate generalizable knowledge. Unlike
research, QI findings are typically implemented locally rather than
immediately generalized .
4. What is the primary difference between research and evidence-
based practice?
A) Research creates knowledge; EBP applies evidence
B) Research applies evidence; EBP creates knowledge
, C) Research and EBP are the same process
D) Research is only conducted by PhD-prepared nurses
Answer: A) Research creates knowledge; EBP applies evidence
Rationale: Research creates knowledge through systematic inquiry, while
Evidence-Based Practice applies the best available research evidence to
clinical decision-making . This distinction is fundamental to understanding
the relationship between these two activities in nursing. Research builds the
scientific foundation for clinical practice, while EBP translates that knowledge
into practice .
5. An integrative review is best described as:
A) A systematic review of randomized controlled trials with meta-analysis
B) Research + theory synthesis
C) A review of literature without systematic methods
D) A qualitative study of lived experiences
Answer: B) Research + theory synthesis
Rationale: An integrative review combines research findings with theory
synthesis . It is a method that reviews, critiques, and synthesizes
representative literature on a topic in an integrated way such that new
frameworks and perspectives on the topic are generated. This is
distinguished from a systematic review which focuses primarily on research
evidence.
6. Which of the following is NOT a component of the "three-legged
stool" for improved patient outcomes?
A) Theory-based interventions
B) Best available clinical evidence
C) Provider clinical expertise
D) Patient values and expectations
Answer: A) Theory-based interventions
