,NSG 324 Final Exam Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Questions And Answers 2026/2027 Grand canyon university
Q1. Which statement best describes evidence-based practice in
nursing?
A) Integration of best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient
preferences
B) Reliance on clinical tradition when evidence is unavailable
C) Use of research findings without considering individual patients
D) Implementation of every published intervention
Correct Answer: A) Integration of best available evidence, clinical expertise,
and patient preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice combines the strongest available
evidence with professional expertise and the patient's preferences, values,
and circumstances.
Q2. What is the primary purpose of nursing research?
A) To replace clinical judgment
B) To generate or test knowledge that can improve nursing practice
C) To establish hospital staffing schedules
D) To eliminate variation among patients
Correct Answer: B) To generate or test knowledge that can improve nursing
practice
Rationale: Nursing research systematically investigates questions to
develop, validate, or expand knowledge that can inform nursing practice.
Q3. Which characteristic most clearly distinguishes evidence-based
practice from simply following research findings?
A) EBP uses only quantitative studies.
B) EBP excludes patient preferences.
C) EBP integrates research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
values.
D) EBP requires every patient to receive the same intervention.
Correct Answer: C) EBP integrates research evidence with clinical expertise
and patient values.
,Rationale: Research findings are one component of EBP. Appropriate
decisions also require professional judgment and consideration of individual
patient needs and preferences.
Q4. A nurse uses current research, clinical experience, and a
patient's treatment preferences to select an intervention. Which
EBP component is represented by the patient's preferences?
A) Research methodology
B) Statistical significance
C) Patient values and preferences
D) Quality measurement
Correct Answer: C) Patient values and preferences
Rationale: Patient preferences and values are an essential part of
individualized evidence-based decision-making.
Q5. Which activity is an example of nursing research rather than
quality improvement?
A) Developing a unit-specific plan to reduce call-light response time
B) Testing a research hypothesis about whether an intervention changes
patient outcomes
C) Monitoring the unit's monthly fall rate
D) Auditing compliance with an existing policy
Correct Answer: B) Testing a research hypothesis about whether an
intervention changes patient outcomes
Rationale: Research systematically develops or tests generalizable
knowledge, whereas quality improvement primarily focuses on improving
processes or outcomes within a specific setting.
Q6. A nurse notices that pressure injuries have increased on a unit.
What should this information initially prompt?
A) Automatic disciplinary action
B) Elimination of all existing interventions
C) Identification and investigation of a potential practice problem
D) Immediate publication of the findings
Correct Answer: C) Identification and investigation of a potential practice
problem
, Rationale: A worsening quality indicator can reveal a potential clinical
problem that warrants investigation before an appropriate change is
selected.
Q7. Which measure is most useful for evaluating a nurse-sensitive
quality indicator?
A) The number of visitors on the unit
B) The number of hospital employees
C) The hospital's annual advertising budget
D) A standardized patient outcome related to nursing care
Correct Answer: D) A standardized patient outcome related to nursing care
Rationale: Nurse-sensitive indicators measure aspects of care or outcomes
that are meaningfully influenced by nursing practice.
Q8. Why is clinical expertise important when applying research
evidence?
A) It helps the nurse determine how evidence fits the individual patient's
circumstances.
B) It allows the nurse to disregard strong evidence.
C) It eliminates the need for patient participation.
D) It guarantees a positive outcome.
Correct Answer: A) It helps the nurse determine how evidence fits the
individual patient's circumstances.
Rationale: Clinical expertise helps interpret and apply evidence
appropriately based on assessment findings, patient characteristics, risks,
and context.
Q9. Which action best demonstrates the evaluation phase of
evidence-based practice?
A) Identifying the original clinical problem
B) Searching a nursing database
C) Measuring whether the practice change produced the intended outcome
D) Writing the initial PICOT question
Correct Answer: C) Measuring whether the practice change produced the
intended outcome
Questions And Answers 2026/2027 Grand canyon university
Q1. Which statement best describes evidence-based practice in
nursing?
A) Integration of best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient
preferences
B) Reliance on clinical tradition when evidence is unavailable
C) Use of research findings without considering individual patients
D) Implementation of every published intervention
Correct Answer: A) Integration of best available evidence, clinical expertise,
and patient preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice combines the strongest available
evidence with professional expertise and the patient's preferences, values,
and circumstances.
Q2. What is the primary purpose of nursing research?
A) To replace clinical judgment
B) To generate or test knowledge that can improve nursing practice
C) To establish hospital staffing schedules
D) To eliminate variation among patients
Correct Answer: B) To generate or test knowledge that can improve nursing
practice
Rationale: Nursing research systematically investigates questions to
develop, validate, or expand knowledge that can inform nursing practice.
Q3. Which characteristic most clearly distinguishes evidence-based
practice from simply following research findings?
A) EBP uses only quantitative studies.
B) EBP excludes patient preferences.
C) EBP integrates research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
values.
D) EBP requires every patient to receive the same intervention.
Correct Answer: C) EBP integrates research evidence with clinical expertise
and patient values.
,Rationale: Research findings are one component of EBP. Appropriate
decisions also require professional judgment and consideration of individual
patient needs and preferences.
Q4. A nurse uses current research, clinical experience, and a
patient's treatment preferences to select an intervention. Which
EBP component is represented by the patient's preferences?
A) Research methodology
B) Statistical significance
C) Patient values and preferences
D) Quality measurement
Correct Answer: C) Patient values and preferences
Rationale: Patient preferences and values are an essential part of
individualized evidence-based decision-making.
Q5. Which activity is an example of nursing research rather than
quality improvement?
A) Developing a unit-specific plan to reduce call-light response time
B) Testing a research hypothesis about whether an intervention changes
patient outcomes
C) Monitoring the unit's monthly fall rate
D) Auditing compliance with an existing policy
Correct Answer: B) Testing a research hypothesis about whether an
intervention changes patient outcomes
Rationale: Research systematically develops or tests generalizable
knowledge, whereas quality improvement primarily focuses on improving
processes or outcomes within a specific setting.
Q6. A nurse notices that pressure injuries have increased on a unit.
What should this information initially prompt?
A) Automatic disciplinary action
B) Elimination of all existing interventions
C) Identification and investigation of a potential practice problem
D) Immediate publication of the findings
Correct Answer: C) Identification and investigation of a potential practice
problem
, Rationale: A worsening quality indicator can reveal a potential clinical
problem that warrants investigation before an appropriate change is
selected.
Q7. Which measure is most useful for evaluating a nurse-sensitive
quality indicator?
A) The number of visitors on the unit
B) The number of hospital employees
C) The hospital's annual advertising budget
D) A standardized patient outcome related to nursing care
Correct Answer: D) A standardized patient outcome related to nursing care
Rationale: Nurse-sensitive indicators measure aspects of care or outcomes
that are meaningfully influenced by nursing practice.
Q8. Why is clinical expertise important when applying research
evidence?
A) It helps the nurse determine how evidence fits the individual patient's
circumstances.
B) It allows the nurse to disregard strong evidence.
C) It eliminates the need for patient participation.
D) It guarantees a positive outcome.
Correct Answer: A) It helps the nurse determine how evidence fits the
individual patient's circumstances.
Rationale: Clinical expertise helps interpret and apply evidence
appropriately based on assessment findings, patient characteristics, risks,
and context.
Q9. Which action best demonstrates the evaluation phase of
evidence-based practice?
A) Identifying the original clinical problem
B) Searching a nursing database
C) Measuring whether the practice change produced the intended outcome
D) Writing the initial PICOT question
Correct Answer: C) Measuring whether the practice change produced the
intended outcome
