NSGD 2216 Critical Inquiry & Evidence-Informed Practice 2026/2027 Study Guide
| ACTUAL-Style NSGD 2216 Critical Inquiry & Evidence-Informed Practice Practice
Questions & Answers, NSGD 2216 Exam Prep, Nursing Research & Evidence-Based
Practice Review, Verified Answers, Detailed Rationales, Critical Inquiry, Evidence-
Informed Nursing Practice, Evidence-Based Practice, Research Methods, Research
Design, Quantitative & Qualitative Research, Literature Review, Database
Searching, Research Evidence, Levels of Evidence, Evidence Appraisal, PICO/PICOT
Questions, Clinical Inquiry, Research Ethics, Bias, Validity & Reliability, Quality
Improvement & Complete NSGD 2216 Review
Question 1: Which statement best defines evidence-informed nursing
practice?
A. Applying research findings exactly as published without adaptation
B. Making clinical decisions based on tradition and expert opinion only
C. Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient
preferences
D. Relying solely on patient values to guide all clinical decisions
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Integrating the best available evidence with
clinical expertise and patient preferences
Rationale: Evidence-informed practice requires the thoughtful integration
of the best available research evidence, the nurse's clinical expertise, and
the patient's preferences and values. This triad distinguishes evidence-
informed practice from simple research application or reliance on any
single source of knowledge.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of critical inquiry in nursing?
A. To memorize established nursing protocols
B. To question assumptions and evaluate the basis of clinical decisions
C. To complete continuing education requirements
D. To follow physician orders without question
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To question assumptions and evaluate the basis
of clinical decisions
Rationale: Critical inquiry involves disciplined questioning and systematic
examination of assumptions, evidence, and reasoning that underlie clinical
practice. It empowers nurses to evaluate the credibility and applicability of
knowledge rather than accepting information uncritically.
,Question 3: Which type of research evidence is generally considered
the strongest for answering questions about the effectiveness of an
intervention?
A. Expert opinion
B. Single descriptive study
C. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
D. Case report
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Systematic review of randomized controlled
trials
Rationale: Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials sit near the
top of the evidence hierarchy for intervention effectiveness because they
synthesize multiple rigorous studies, reducing bias and increasing
precision of estimates. Expert opinion and case reports represent lower
levels of evidence.
Question 4: A nurse asks, "What is the best way to prevent catheter-
associated urinary tract infections in postoperative patients?" Which
component of the PICOT framework does "postoperative patients"
represent?
A. Intervention
B. Comparison
C. Outcome
D. Population
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Population
Rationale: In the PICOT framework, P stands for population or patient
problem, which describes the group of interest. In this question,
postoperative patients constitute the population being studied.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a primary source in
nursing research?
A. A textbook summarizing multiple studies
B. An original research article written by the investigators
C. A clinical practice guideline
D. A systematic review
,CORRECT ANSWER: B. An original research article written by the
investigators
Rationale: A primary source presents original data and findings generated
by the researchers themselves. Textbooks, guidelines, and systematic
reviews are secondary sources because they interpret or synthesize
primary research.
Question 6: What is the key difference between quantitative and
qualitative research?
A. Quantitative research is always more valuable than qualitative research
B. Quantitative research uses numbers and statistics, while qualitative
research explores meanings and experiences
C. Qualitative research cannot be used in nursing
D. Quantitative research does not require ethical approval
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Quantitative research uses numbers and
statistics, while qualitative research explores meanings and
experiences
Rationale: Quantitative research emphasizes measurement, numerical
data, and statistical analysis to test hypotheses. Qualitative research
explores human experiences, meanings, and social processes through
non-numerical data such as interviews and observations. Both are
valuable in nursing.
Question 7: Which ethical principle requires that research participants
be fully informed about the study before agreeing to participate?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Informed consent
D. Confidentiality
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Informed consent
Rationale: Informed consent is the ethical and legal requirement that
participants receive complete information about the purpose, procedures,
risks, and benefits of a study before voluntarily agreeing to participate. It
upholds respect for autonomy.
, Question 8: A nurse researcher ensures that participants' identities are
not linked to their responses. This practice protects which ethical
principle?
A. Anonymity
B. Veracity
C. Fidelity
D. Paternalism
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Anonymity
Rationale: Anonymity means the researcher cannot link individual
responses to specific participants. It protects privacy and encourages
honest participation. Confidentiality, by contrast, means the researcher
knows identities but does not disclose them.
Question 9: Which section of a research article typically describes how
the study was conducted?
A. Introduction
B. Literature review
C. Methods
D. Discussion
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Methods
Rationale: The methods section details the research design, sample,
setting, data collection procedures, and analysis strategies. This
information allows readers to evaluate the rigor and reproducibility of the
study.
Question 10: What is the purpose of a literature review in a research
study?
A. To present the researcher's personal opinions
B. To summarize and critically evaluate existing knowledge on the topic
C. To replace the need for data collection
D. To advertise the researcher's previous work
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To summarize and critically evaluate existing
knowledge on the topic
| ACTUAL-Style NSGD 2216 Critical Inquiry & Evidence-Informed Practice Practice
Questions & Answers, NSGD 2216 Exam Prep, Nursing Research & Evidence-Based
Practice Review, Verified Answers, Detailed Rationales, Critical Inquiry, Evidence-
Informed Nursing Practice, Evidence-Based Practice, Research Methods, Research
Design, Quantitative & Qualitative Research, Literature Review, Database
Searching, Research Evidence, Levels of Evidence, Evidence Appraisal, PICO/PICOT
Questions, Clinical Inquiry, Research Ethics, Bias, Validity & Reliability, Quality
Improvement & Complete NSGD 2216 Review
Question 1: Which statement best defines evidence-informed nursing
practice?
A. Applying research findings exactly as published without adaptation
B. Making clinical decisions based on tradition and expert opinion only
C. Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient
preferences
D. Relying solely on patient values to guide all clinical decisions
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Integrating the best available evidence with
clinical expertise and patient preferences
Rationale: Evidence-informed practice requires the thoughtful integration
of the best available research evidence, the nurse's clinical expertise, and
the patient's preferences and values. This triad distinguishes evidence-
informed practice from simple research application or reliance on any
single source of knowledge.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of critical inquiry in nursing?
A. To memorize established nursing protocols
B. To question assumptions and evaluate the basis of clinical decisions
C. To complete continuing education requirements
D. To follow physician orders without question
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To question assumptions and evaluate the basis
of clinical decisions
Rationale: Critical inquiry involves disciplined questioning and systematic
examination of assumptions, evidence, and reasoning that underlie clinical
practice. It empowers nurses to evaluate the credibility and applicability of
knowledge rather than accepting information uncritically.
,Question 3: Which type of research evidence is generally considered
the strongest for answering questions about the effectiveness of an
intervention?
A. Expert opinion
B. Single descriptive study
C. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
D. Case report
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Systematic review of randomized controlled
trials
Rationale: Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials sit near the
top of the evidence hierarchy for intervention effectiveness because they
synthesize multiple rigorous studies, reducing bias and increasing
precision of estimates. Expert opinion and case reports represent lower
levels of evidence.
Question 4: A nurse asks, "What is the best way to prevent catheter-
associated urinary tract infections in postoperative patients?" Which
component of the PICOT framework does "postoperative patients"
represent?
A. Intervention
B. Comparison
C. Outcome
D. Population
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Population
Rationale: In the PICOT framework, P stands for population or patient
problem, which describes the group of interest. In this question,
postoperative patients constitute the population being studied.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a primary source in
nursing research?
A. A textbook summarizing multiple studies
B. An original research article written by the investigators
C. A clinical practice guideline
D. A systematic review
,CORRECT ANSWER: B. An original research article written by the
investigators
Rationale: A primary source presents original data and findings generated
by the researchers themselves. Textbooks, guidelines, and systematic
reviews are secondary sources because they interpret or synthesize
primary research.
Question 6: What is the key difference between quantitative and
qualitative research?
A. Quantitative research is always more valuable than qualitative research
B. Quantitative research uses numbers and statistics, while qualitative
research explores meanings and experiences
C. Qualitative research cannot be used in nursing
D. Quantitative research does not require ethical approval
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Quantitative research uses numbers and
statistics, while qualitative research explores meanings and
experiences
Rationale: Quantitative research emphasizes measurement, numerical
data, and statistical analysis to test hypotheses. Qualitative research
explores human experiences, meanings, and social processes through
non-numerical data such as interviews and observations. Both are
valuable in nursing.
Question 7: Which ethical principle requires that research participants
be fully informed about the study before agreeing to participate?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Informed consent
D. Confidentiality
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Informed consent
Rationale: Informed consent is the ethical and legal requirement that
participants receive complete information about the purpose, procedures,
risks, and benefits of a study before voluntarily agreeing to participate. It
upholds respect for autonomy.
, Question 8: A nurse researcher ensures that participants' identities are
not linked to their responses. This practice protects which ethical
principle?
A. Anonymity
B. Veracity
C. Fidelity
D. Paternalism
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Anonymity
Rationale: Anonymity means the researcher cannot link individual
responses to specific participants. It protects privacy and encourages
honest participation. Confidentiality, by contrast, means the researcher
knows identities but does not disclose them.
Question 9: Which section of a research article typically describes how
the study was conducted?
A. Introduction
B. Literature review
C. Methods
D. Discussion
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Methods
Rationale: The methods section details the research design, sample,
setting, data collection procedures, and analysis strategies. This
information allows readers to evaluate the rigor and reproducibility of the
study.
Question 10: What is the purpose of a literature review in a research
study?
A. To present the researcher's personal opinions
B. To summarize and critically evaluate existing knowledge on the topic
C. To replace the need for data collection
D. To advertise the researcher's previous work
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To summarize and critically evaluate existing
knowledge on the topic
