WGU RN-to-BSN Nursing Assessment ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD
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WGU RN-to-BSN Nursing Assessment: 100 Practice Questions
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. The correct answer and rationale follow each question.
,Domain 1: Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) & Research (Questions 1-15)
1. A nurse wants to implement a new evidence-based protocol for reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections
(CAUTIs). What is the first step the nurse should take?
A. Purchase new catheter kits.
B. Formulate a clear clinical question using the PICO format.
C. Survey staff to see if they agree with the change.
D. Write a policy and procedure for the new protocol.
Answer: B
Rationale: The first step in the EBP process is to identify a clinical problem and formulate a focused, answerable question,
often using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) format. This guides the subsequent search for
evidence.
2. Which type of research study provides the strongest level of evidence for determining the effectiveness of an
intervention?
A. A single descriptive study
B. A qualitative study
,C. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
D. A cohort study
Answer: C
Rationale: A systematic review or meta-analysis of multiple well-designed RCTs sits at the top of the evidence hierarchy. It
synthesizes the results of all available high-quality evidence on a specific topic, providing the most reliable conclusion.
3. A nurse is reading a research article and wants to determine if the results are applicable to their patient population. This
concept is known as:
A. Reliability
B. Validity
C. Generalizability
D. Statistical significance
Answer: C
Rationale: Generalizability (or external validity) refers to the extent to which the findings of a study can be applied to other
populations, settings, and times. The nurse must assess if the study's sample is similar enough to their own patients.
4. What is the primary purpose of a literature review in the EBP process?
A. To prove the nurse's opinion is correct.
, B. To critically appraise and synthesize existing knowledge on a topic.
C. To find one article that supports a practice change.
D. To fulfill a requirement for a graduate degree.
Answer: B
Rationale: A literature review is a systematic and critical appraisal of existing research on a specific topic. Its purpose is to
summarize the current state of knowledge, identify gaps, and provide a foundation for evidence-based practice changes.
5. A nurse manager wants to decrease patient falls on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following is an example of a
primary source of evidence?
A. A nursing textbook on medical-surgical nursing.
B. An article in a nursing journal summarizing a conference presentation.
C. A research study published in a peer-reviewed journal.
D. A clinical practice guideline from a professional organization.
Answer: C
Rationale: A primary source is the original, firsthand report of a study or event, written by the person(s) who conducted the
research. A research study published in a peer-reviewed journal is a primary source. Textbooks, summaries, and
guidelines are secondary sources.
6. The nurse is using the PICO format to develop a clinical question. The "O" in PICO stands for:
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD
WGU RN-to-BSN Nursing Assessment: 100 Practice Questions
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. The correct answer and rationale follow each question.
,Domain 1: Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) & Research (Questions 1-15)
1. A nurse wants to implement a new evidence-based protocol for reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections
(CAUTIs). What is the first step the nurse should take?
A. Purchase new catheter kits.
B. Formulate a clear clinical question using the PICO format.
C. Survey staff to see if they agree with the change.
D. Write a policy and procedure for the new protocol.
Answer: B
Rationale: The first step in the EBP process is to identify a clinical problem and formulate a focused, answerable question,
often using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) format. This guides the subsequent search for
evidence.
2. Which type of research study provides the strongest level of evidence for determining the effectiveness of an
intervention?
A. A single descriptive study
B. A qualitative study
,C. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
D. A cohort study
Answer: C
Rationale: A systematic review or meta-analysis of multiple well-designed RCTs sits at the top of the evidence hierarchy. It
synthesizes the results of all available high-quality evidence on a specific topic, providing the most reliable conclusion.
3. A nurse is reading a research article and wants to determine if the results are applicable to their patient population. This
concept is known as:
A. Reliability
B. Validity
C. Generalizability
D. Statistical significance
Answer: C
Rationale: Generalizability (or external validity) refers to the extent to which the findings of a study can be applied to other
populations, settings, and times. The nurse must assess if the study's sample is similar enough to their own patients.
4. What is the primary purpose of a literature review in the EBP process?
A. To prove the nurse's opinion is correct.
, B. To critically appraise and synthesize existing knowledge on a topic.
C. To find one article that supports a practice change.
D. To fulfill a requirement for a graduate degree.
Answer: B
Rationale: A literature review is a systematic and critical appraisal of existing research on a specific topic. Its purpose is to
summarize the current state of knowledge, identify gaps, and provide a foundation for evidence-based practice changes.
5. A nurse manager wants to decrease patient falls on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following is an example of a
primary source of evidence?
A. A nursing textbook on medical-surgical nursing.
B. An article in a nursing journal summarizing a conference presentation.
C. A research study published in a peer-reviewed journal.
D. A clinical practice guideline from a professional organization.
Answer: C
Rationale: A primary source is the original, firsthand report of a study or event, written by the person(s) who conducted the
research. A research study published in a peer-reviewed journal is a primary source. Textbooks, summaries, and
guidelines are secondary sources.
6. The nurse is using the PICO format to develop a clinical question. The "O" in PICO stands for:
