NR449 EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (EBP) EXAM 3 (PDF) |
2026 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY
GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. A nurse researcher is designing a study to examine the effectiveness of a new pain
management protocol. Which step of the evidence-based practice process should the
nurse prioritize first?
A) Implement the new protocol on the unit
B) Evaluate the outcomes of the protocol
C) Formulate a clinical question using PICOT format
D) Disseminate the findings to colleagues
Correct Answer: C) Formulate a clinical question using PICOT format
Correct Answer: The first step in EBP is asking a well-built clinical question using the PICOT
format to guide the search for evidence. Implementation occurs later in the process after
evidence has been gathered and appraised. Evaluation happens after implementation, and
dissemination is the final step.
2. Which of the following represents 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). The process
begins with asking the clinical question, followed by acquisition of evidence before appraisal.
3. 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. Type of study is not
part of the PICOT acronym.
, 4. 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). The comparison would be an
alternative treatment or control.
5. 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.
Option A lacks specificity, C is a statement, and D is a yes/no question lacking PICOT
components.
6. In evidence-based practice, what is the highest level of evidence for a therapy/treatment
question?
A) Expert opinion
B) Systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
C) Case-control studies
D) Qualitative studies
Correct Answer: B) Systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
Correct Answer: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of multiple randomized controlled trials
provide the strongest evidence (Level I) due to rigorous minimization of bias. Expert opinion
represents the lowest level of evidence.
7. A nurse is reviewing research articles and finds a systematic review. What does this type
of article represent?
A) A single research study
B) A summary of multiple studies on a specific topic
C) An opinion piece from an expert
D) A case report of a single patient
, Correct Answer: B) A summary of multiple studies on a specific topic
Correct Answer: A systematic review synthesizes findings from multiple studies using rigorous,
transparent methodology to identify, appraise, and synthesize all relevant studies on a specific
topic.
8. What is the primary purpose of the "Appraise" step in EBP?
A) To find relevant research articles
B) To critically evaluate the quality and validity of evidence
C) To implement the evidence into practice
D) To evaluate the outcomes of the change
Correct Answer: B) To critically evaluate the quality and validity of evidence
Correct Answer: Appraisal involves evaluating the quality, validity, and applicability of research
evidence. Finding articles is the "Acquire" step, and implementation is the "Apply" step.
9. Which of the following is a primary barrier to implementing evidence-based practice?
A) Abundance of high-quality research
B) Lack of time and resources
C) Strong institutional support
D) Sufficient research skills
Correct Answer: B) Lack of time and resources
Correct Answer: Time constraints, limited resources, and heavy workloads are common barriers
to EBP implementation. Institutional support and research skills facilitate EBP implementation.
10. A nurse is reading a research article. The p-value is reported as 0.03. What does this
indicate?
A) The results are not statistically significant
B) There is a 3% chance the results are due to chance
C) The study has a type II error
D) The findings are clinically significant
Correct Answer: B) There is a 3% chance the results are due to chance
Correct Answer: A p-value of 0.03 means there is a 3% probability that the observed results
occurred by chance if the null hypothesis is true. Since 0.03 is less than 0.05, the results are
statistically significant.
11. What is the fundamental difference between Research Utilization (RU) and Evidence-
Based Practice (EBP)?
A) RU requires a much larger budget than EBP
B) RU focuses on implementing a single study's findings, while EBP synthesizes multiple
forms of evidence
C) EBP relies purely on quantitative laboratory data
D) RU does not require any critical appraisal steps
2026 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY
GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. A nurse researcher is designing a study to examine the effectiveness of a new pain
management protocol. Which step of the evidence-based practice process should the
nurse prioritize first?
A) Implement the new protocol on the unit
B) Evaluate the outcomes of the protocol
C) Formulate a clinical question using PICOT format
D) Disseminate the findings to colleagues
Correct Answer: C) Formulate a clinical question using PICOT format
Correct Answer: The first step in EBP is asking a well-built clinical question using the PICOT
format to guide the search for evidence. Implementation occurs later in the process after
evidence has been gathered and appraised. Evaluation happens after implementation, and
dissemination is the final step.
2. Which of the following represents 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). The process
begins with asking the clinical question, followed by acquisition of evidence before appraisal.
3. 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. Type of study is not
part of the PICOT acronym.
, 4. 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). The comparison would be an
alternative treatment or control.
5. 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.
Option A lacks specificity, C is a statement, and D is a yes/no question lacking PICOT
components.
6. In evidence-based practice, what is the highest level of evidence for a therapy/treatment
question?
A) Expert opinion
B) Systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
C) Case-control studies
D) Qualitative studies
Correct Answer: B) Systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
Correct Answer: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of multiple randomized controlled trials
provide the strongest evidence (Level I) due to rigorous minimization of bias. Expert opinion
represents the lowest level of evidence.
7. A nurse is reviewing research articles and finds a systematic review. What does this type
of article represent?
A) A single research study
B) A summary of multiple studies on a specific topic
C) An opinion piece from an expert
D) A case report of a single patient
, Correct Answer: B) A summary of multiple studies on a specific topic
Correct Answer: A systematic review synthesizes findings from multiple studies using rigorous,
transparent methodology to identify, appraise, and synthesize all relevant studies on a specific
topic.
8. What is the primary purpose of the "Appraise" step in EBP?
A) To find relevant research articles
B) To critically evaluate the quality and validity of evidence
C) To implement the evidence into practice
D) To evaluate the outcomes of the change
Correct Answer: B) To critically evaluate the quality and validity of evidence
Correct Answer: Appraisal involves evaluating the quality, validity, and applicability of research
evidence. Finding articles is the "Acquire" step, and implementation is the "Apply" step.
9. Which of the following is a primary barrier to implementing evidence-based practice?
A) Abundance of high-quality research
B) Lack of time and resources
C) Strong institutional support
D) Sufficient research skills
Correct Answer: B) Lack of time and resources
Correct Answer: Time constraints, limited resources, and heavy workloads are common barriers
to EBP implementation. Institutional support and research skills facilitate EBP implementation.
10. A nurse is reading a research article. The p-value is reported as 0.03. What does this
indicate?
A) The results are not statistically significant
B) There is a 3% chance the results are due to chance
C) The study has a type II error
D) The findings are clinically significant
Correct Answer: B) There is a 3% chance the results are due to chance
Correct Answer: A p-value of 0.03 means there is a 3% probability that the observed results
occurred by chance if the null hypothesis is true. Since 0.03 is less than 0.05, the results are
statistically significant.
11. What is the fundamental difference between Research Utilization (RU) and Evidence-
Based Practice (EBP)?
A) RU requires a much larger budget than EBP
B) RU focuses on implementing a single study's findings, while EBP synthesizes multiple
forms of evidence
C) EBP relies purely on quantitative laboratory data
D) RU does not require any critical appraisal steps
