Galen NSG 4000 Exam 1 | Nursing Practice – Complex Health
(2026) Actual Q&A PDF
1. A nurse is preparing to implement evidence-based practice (EBP) on a medical-surgical unit.
Which statement best describes the primary goal of EBP in the clinical setting?
A) To reduce the cost of healthcare supplies
B) To increase the workload of nursing staff
C) To improve patient outcomes through validated research
D) To ensure all nurses have advanced research degrees
Correct Answer: To improve patient outcomes through validated research
Rationale: The primary driver of EBP is to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes by
integrating the best available research with clinical expertise and patient preferences. Cost
reduction and workload are not primary goals, and EBP does not require advanced research
degrees.
2. Which of the following is a key component of a well-built clinical question using the PICOT
format?
A) A clearly defined patient population or problem
B) The cost of the intervention
C) The name of the researcher
D) The hospital's policy on the issue
Correct Answer: A clearly defined patient population or problem
Rationale: A well-built PICOT question includes a clearly defined Population (P), Intervention (I),
Comparison (C), Outcome (O), and Time (T). This structure helps in searching for evidence
efficiently.
,3. A nurse is formulating a clinical question using PICOT. Which element is represented by the
"length of stay" in a study comparing two wound care protocols?
A) Population
B) Intervention
C) Comparison
D) Outcome
Correct Answer: Outcome
Rationale: The "O" in PICOT represents the Outcome, which is the result being measured, such
as length of stay, infection rate, or healing time.
4. In the PICOT format for framing clinical questions, what does the "I" represent?
A) Institution
B) Intervention
C) Implementation
D) Investigation
Correct Answer: Intervention
Rationale: In the PICOT acronym (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time), the "I"
stands for the intervention or issue being studied. This is the core treatment, exposure, or
practice being examined.
5. A nurse is preparing a PICOT question: "In adults with type 2 diabetes, how does a structured
exercise program compared to standard care affect blood glucose levels over 6 months?" The
"P" in this question is:
,A) Structured exercise program
B) Standard care
C) Blood glucose levels
D) Adults with type 2 diabetes
Correct Answer: Adults with type 2 diabetes
Rationale: The "P" in PICOT stands for the Population or patient problem. In this question, the
population is "adults with type 2 diabetes".
6. A nurse researcher is looking for the "gold standard" of evidence to support a change in
wound care protocols. Which source represents the highest level of evidence?
A) A systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
B) A single randomized controlled trial
C) A qualitative study
D) An expert opinion
Correct Answer: A systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
Rationale: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are
considered the highest level of evidence because they synthesize findings from multiple high-
quality studies.
7. What is the primary purpose of a literature review in the evidence-based practice process?
A) To identify a gap in knowledge and evaluate existing evidence
B) To prove a researcher's hypothesis is correct
C) To summarize a single research article
, D) To provide a list of all published books on a topic
Correct Answer: To identify a gap in knowledge and evaluate existing evidence
Rationale: A literature review synthesizes existing research to identify what is known and what
gaps remain. This helps build a foundation for new research or practice changes.
8. A nurse is reading a research article and notes that the study used a randomized controlled
trial design. This type of study is best described as:
A) A qualitative study exploring patient experiences
B) A quantitative study that tests cause-and-effect relationships
C) A descriptive study that observes a population
D) A case study of a single patient
Correct Answer: A quantitative study that tests cause-and-effect relationships
Rationale: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a quantitative study design used to test cause-
and-effect relationships by randomly assigning participants to intervention or control groups.
9. The "levels of evidence" hierarchy is used to:
A) Rank the quality and strength of research studies
B) Determine the cost of a research project
C) Identify the most popular research topics
D) Assign grades to nursing students
Correct Answer: Rank the quality and strength of research studies
(2026) Actual Q&A PDF
1. A nurse is preparing to implement evidence-based practice (EBP) on a medical-surgical unit.
Which statement best describes the primary goal of EBP in the clinical setting?
A) To reduce the cost of healthcare supplies
B) To increase the workload of nursing staff
C) To improve patient outcomes through validated research
D) To ensure all nurses have advanced research degrees
Correct Answer: To improve patient outcomes through validated research
Rationale: The primary driver of EBP is to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes by
integrating the best available research with clinical expertise and patient preferences. Cost
reduction and workload are not primary goals, and EBP does not require advanced research
degrees.
2. Which of the following is a key component of a well-built clinical question using the PICOT
format?
A) A clearly defined patient population or problem
B) The cost of the intervention
C) The name of the researcher
D) The hospital's policy on the issue
Correct Answer: A clearly defined patient population or problem
Rationale: A well-built PICOT question includes a clearly defined Population (P), Intervention (I),
Comparison (C), Outcome (O), and Time (T). This structure helps in searching for evidence
efficiently.
,3. A nurse is formulating a clinical question using PICOT. Which element is represented by the
"length of stay" in a study comparing two wound care protocols?
A) Population
B) Intervention
C) Comparison
D) Outcome
Correct Answer: Outcome
Rationale: The "O" in PICOT represents the Outcome, which is the result being measured, such
as length of stay, infection rate, or healing time.
4. In the PICOT format for framing clinical questions, what does the "I" represent?
A) Institution
B) Intervention
C) Implementation
D) Investigation
Correct Answer: Intervention
Rationale: In the PICOT acronym (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time), the "I"
stands for the intervention or issue being studied. This is the core treatment, exposure, or
practice being examined.
5. A nurse is preparing a PICOT question: "In adults with type 2 diabetes, how does a structured
exercise program compared to standard care affect blood glucose levels over 6 months?" The
"P" in this question is:
,A) Structured exercise program
B) Standard care
C) Blood glucose levels
D) Adults with type 2 diabetes
Correct Answer: Adults with type 2 diabetes
Rationale: The "P" in PICOT stands for the Population or patient problem. In this question, the
population is "adults with type 2 diabetes".
6. A nurse researcher is looking for the "gold standard" of evidence to support a change in
wound care protocols. Which source represents the highest level of evidence?
A) A systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
B) A single randomized controlled trial
C) A qualitative study
D) An expert opinion
Correct Answer: A systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
Rationale: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are
considered the highest level of evidence because they synthesize findings from multiple high-
quality studies.
7. What is the primary purpose of a literature review in the evidence-based practice process?
A) To identify a gap in knowledge and evaluate existing evidence
B) To prove a researcher's hypothesis is correct
C) To summarize a single research article
, D) To provide a list of all published books on a topic
Correct Answer: To identify a gap in knowledge and evaluate existing evidence
Rationale: A literature review synthesizes existing research to identify what is known and what
gaps remain. This helps build a foundation for new research or practice changes.
8. A nurse is reading a research article and notes that the study used a randomized controlled
trial design. This type of study is best described as:
A) A qualitative study exploring patient experiences
B) A quantitative study that tests cause-and-effect relationships
C) A descriptive study that observes a population
D) A case study of a single patient
Correct Answer: A quantitative study that tests cause-and-effect relationships
Rationale: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a quantitative study design used to test cause-
and-effect relationships by randomly assigning participants to intervention or control groups.
9. The "levels of evidence" hierarchy is used to:
A) Rank the quality and strength of research studies
B) Determine the cost of a research project
C) Identify the most popular research topics
D) Assign grades to nursing students
Correct Answer: Rank the quality and strength of research studies
