NR449 EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (EBP) EXAM 1 (PDF) |
2026 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY
GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. Which of the following best describes evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A) Using only randomized controlled trials to guide care
B) Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient values
C) Following hospital policy without question
D) Relying solely on intuition and experience
Correct Answer: B) Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient
values
Correct Answer: EBP is the conscientious use of current best evidence in decision-making
regarding patient care, integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient values and preferences. It is not limited to RCTs or intuition alone .
2. What is the primary goal of evidence-based practice?
A) To reduce healthcare costs
B) To improve patient outcomes by incorporating the best available evidence
C) To replace clinical judgment
D) To standardize all nursing care
Correct Answer: B) To improve patient outcomes by incorporating the best available evidence
Correct Answer: The primary goal of EBP is to improve patient outcomes by incorporating the
best available evidence into clinical decision-making. It enhances, rather than replaces, clinical
judgment .
3. Which step is considered the FIRST step in the EBP process?
A) Searching for evidence
B) Formulating a clinical question
C) Appraising the evidence
D) Implementing the change
Correct Answer: B) Formulating a clinical question
Correct Answer: The first step in the EBP process is formulating a clinical question using the
PICO(T) framework. This provides direction for the search and ensures the question is
answerable .
4. What is the correct order of the evidence-based practice process?
,A) Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Assess
B) Acquire, Ask, Appraise, Apply, Assess
C) Ask, Appraise, Acquire, Apply, Assess
D) Appraise, Ask, Acquire, Apply, Assess
Correct Answer: A) Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Assess
Correct Answer: The 5 A's of EBP are Ask (formulate question), Acquire (search for evidence),
Appraise (critically evaluate), Apply (implement), and Assess (evaluate outcomes) .
5. In a PICO question, what does the letter 'P' represent?
A) Patient
B) Population
C) Problem
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: B) Population
Correct Answer: In the PICO framework, 'P' represents Population—the specific patient group or
problem being addressed .
6. When formulating a PICOT question, what does the "T" represent?
A) Timeframe
B) Treatment
C) Type of study
D) Total population
Correct Answer: A) Timeframe
Correct Answer: T represents Timeframe—the period over which the intervention or outcome is
measured. Treatment is represented by the "I" (Intervention) component .
7. A patient asks the nurse about the effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic back pain. Which
PICOT element does "chronic back pain" represent?
A) Population
B) Intervention
C) Comparison
D) Outcome
Correct Answer: A) Population
Correct Answer: The population describes the patient group or problem of interest. The
intervention would be the treatment being studied (acupuncture) .
8. In a PICO question, what does the letter 'I' represent?
, A) Investigation
B) Intervention
C) Indicator
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: B) Intervention
Correct Answer: In the PICO framework, 'I' represents Intervention—the specific treatment,
therapy, or practice being introduced or evaluated .
9. In a PICO question, what does the "C" represent?
A) Control
B) Comparison
C) Condition
D) Cause
Correct Answer: B) Comparison
Correct Answer: "C" stands for Comparison. It's what you're comparing the intervention to, such
as another treatment or placebo .
10. A nurse is formulating a PICO question regarding the use of chlorhexidine vs. soap and water
to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). What does the use of soap
and water represent?
A) Population (P)
B) Intervention (I)
C) Comparison (C)
D) Outcome (O)
Correct Answer: C) Comparison (C)
Correct Answer: Soap and water serve as the standard or alternative practice against which the
new intervention (chlorhexidine) is being compared. In PICO, this is the Comparison component
.
11. Which of the following is an example of a well-written PICOT question?
A) Is handwashing effective?
B) Does hand hygiene reduce infection rates in hospitalized patients compared to no hand
hygiene?
C) Handwashing is important for nurses to perform.
D) Should nurses wash their hands before and after patient contact?
Correct Answer: B) Does hand hygiene reduce infection rates in hospitalized patients compared
to no hand hygiene?
Correct Answer: This question includes Population (hospitalized patients), Intervention (hand
hygiene), Comparison (no hand hygiene), Outcome (infection rates), and implied Timeframe .
2026 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY
GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. Which of the following best describes evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A) Using only randomized controlled trials to guide care
B) Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient values
C) Following hospital policy without question
D) Relying solely on intuition and experience
Correct Answer: B) Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient
values
Correct Answer: EBP is the conscientious use of current best evidence in decision-making
regarding patient care, integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient values and preferences. It is not limited to RCTs or intuition alone .
2. What is the primary goal of evidence-based practice?
A) To reduce healthcare costs
B) To improve patient outcomes by incorporating the best available evidence
C) To replace clinical judgment
D) To standardize all nursing care
Correct Answer: B) To improve patient outcomes by incorporating the best available evidence
Correct Answer: The primary goal of EBP is to improve patient outcomes by incorporating the
best available evidence into clinical decision-making. It enhances, rather than replaces, clinical
judgment .
3. Which step is considered the FIRST step in the EBP process?
A) Searching for evidence
B) Formulating a clinical question
C) Appraising the evidence
D) Implementing the change
Correct Answer: B) Formulating a clinical question
Correct Answer: The first step in the EBP process is formulating a clinical question using the
PICO(T) framework. This provides direction for the search and ensures the question is
answerable .
4. What is the correct order of the evidence-based practice process?
,A) Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Assess
B) Acquire, Ask, Appraise, Apply, Assess
C) Ask, Appraise, Acquire, Apply, Assess
D) Appraise, Ask, Acquire, Apply, Assess
Correct Answer: A) Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Assess
Correct Answer: The 5 A's of EBP are Ask (formulate question), Acquire (search for evidence),
Appraise (critically evaluate), Apply (implement), and Assess (evaluate outcomes) .
5. In a PICO question, what does the letter 'P' represent?
A) Patient
B) Population
C) Problem
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: B) Population
Correct Answer: In the PICO framework, 'P' represents Population—the specific patient group or
problem being addressed .
6. When formulating a PICOT question, what does the "T" represent?
A) Timeframe
B) Treatment
C) Type of study
D) Total population
Correct Answer: A) Timeframe
Correct Answer: T represents Timeframe—the period over which the intervention or outcome is
measured. Treatment is represented by the "I" (Intervention) component .
7. A patient asks the nurse about the effectiveness of acupuncture for chronic back pain. Which
PICOT element does "chronic back pain" represent?
A) Population
B) Intervention
C) Comparison
D) Outcome
Correct Answer: A) Population
Correct Answer: The population describes the patient group or problem of interest. The
intervention would be the treatment being studied (acupuncture) .
8. In a PICO question, what does the letter 'I' represent?
, A) Investigation
B) Intervention
C) Indicator
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: B) Intervention
Correct Answer: In the PICO framework, 'I' represents Intervention—the specific treatment,
therapy, or practice being introduced or evaluated .
9. In a PICO question, what does the "C" represent?
A) Control
B) Comparison
C) Condition
D) Cause
Correct Answer: B) Comparison
Correct Answer: "C" stands for Comparison. It's what you're comparing the intervention to, such
as another treatment or placebo .
10. A nurse is formulating a PICO question regarding the use of chlorhexidine vs. soap and water
to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). What does the use of soap
and water represent?
A) Population (P)
B) Intervention (I)
C) Comparison (C)
D) Outcome (O)
Correct Answer: C) Comparison (C)
Correct Answer: Soap and water serve as the standard or alternative practice against which the
new intervention (chlorhexidine) is being compared. In PICO, this is the Comparison component
.
11. Which of the following is an example of a well-written PICOT question?
A) Is handwashing effective?
B) Does hand hygiene reduce infection rates in hospitalized patients compared to no hand
hygiene?
C) Handwashing is important for nurses to perform.
D) Should nurses wash their hands before and after patient contact?
Correct Answer: B) Does hand hygiene reduce infection rates in hospitalized patients compared
to no hand hygiene?
Correct Answer: This question includes Population (hospitalized patients), Intervention (hand
hygiene), Comparison (no hand hygiene), Outcome (infection rates), and implied Timeframe .
