Critical Inquiry & Evidence-Informed Nursing Practice
NSGD 2216 – CRITICAL INQUIRY & EVIDENCE-INFORMED
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
2026/2027
NSGD 2216- Critical Inquiry & Evidence Informed
1. Which statement best describes evidence-informed nursing
practice?
A. Following unit routines that have been in place for many years
B. Relying primarily on the opinion of the most senior nurse on the
unit
C. Applying the findings of the most recent published study to every
patient
D. Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical
expertise, patient values and preferences, and the context of care
ANSWER : D. Integrating the best available research evidence
with clinical expertise, patient values and preferences, and the
context of care
Evidence-informed practice blends research, clinical judgment, patient
preferences and contextual resources; research alone does not dictate
care.
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, Critical Inquiry & Evidence-Informed Nursing Practice
2. A nurse uses the phrase "evidence-informed" rather than "evidence-
based." What is the main reason for this preference?
A. It limits decisions to findings from randomized controlled trials
B. It acknowledges that research is one of several inputs that shape
clinical decisions alongside context and patient values
C. It refers only to qualitative research findings
D. It means that research evidence is not required for practice
decisions
ANSWER : B. It acknowledges that research is one of several
inputs that shape clinical decisions alongside context and patient
values
"Informed" signals that evidence guides decisions without replacing
judgment, patient values or context.
3. Critical inquiry in nursing is best described as:
A. A disciplined process of questioning assumptions, examining
evidence and considering alternative perspectives before drawing
conclusions
B. Collecting as much data as possible without a guiding question
C. Finding fault with the work of colleagues
D. Accepting the conclusions of published authors without question
ANSWER : A. A disciplined process of questioning assumptions,
examining evidence and considering alternative perspectives
before drawing conclusions
Critical inquiry involves deliberate questioning and reasoned
evaluation of evidence and assumptions.
4. Which is the FIRST step in the evidence-informed practice process?
A. Asking a clinical question in an ANSWER able format
B. Implementing a practice change on the unit
C. Searching CINAHL for relevant articles
D. Appraising the quality of retrieved studies
ANSWER : A. Asking a clinical question in an ANSWER able
format
The process begins by framing a focused, ANSWER able question,
usually with PICO(T).
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5. In the PICOT format, the letter "C" stands for:
A. Comparison or control intervention
B. Clinical setting
C. Cost of the intervention
D. Confounding variable
ANSWER : A. Comparison or control intervention
C refers to the comparison or alternative against which the
intervention is evaluated.
6. A nurse asks: "In older adults after hip surgery, does early
mobilization compared with bed rest reduce pneumonia within 7
days?" Which element represents the outcome?
A. Early mobilization
B. Pneumonia
C. Older adults after hip surgery
D. Within 7 days
ANSWER : B. Pneumonia
The outcome (O) is the effect being measured, which here is the
occurrence of pneumonia.
7. In the PICOT question above, "within 7 days" represents which
component?
A. Comparison
B. Intervention
C. Time
D. Population
ANSWER : C. Time
T identifies the time frame over which the outcome is observed.
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, Critical Inquiry & Evidence-Informed Nursing Practice
8. Which type of clinical question is best suited to the PICo format
rather than PICOT?
A. A question comparing two medications for effectiveness
B. A question exploring the lived experience of patients
C. A question about the accuracy of a diagnostic test
D. A question about prognosis after stroke
ANSWER : B. A question exploring the lived experience of
patients
PICo (Population, phenomenon of Interest, Context) frames qualitative,
meaning-focused questions.
9. The term "phenomenon of interest" in a PICo question refers to:
A. The measurement instrument
B. The control group
C. The experience, event or process being explored
D. The statistical test used
ANSWER : C. The experience, event or process being explored
In qualitative questions the phenomenon of interest replaces the
intervention and comparison.
10. Which source of knowledge is based on "we have always done it
this way"?
A. Intuition
B. Tradition
C. Research
D. Trial and error
ANSWER : B. Tradition
Tradition relies on customs passed down, often without evaluation of
their effectiveness.
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NSGD 2216 – CRITICAL INQUIRY & EVIDENCE-INFORMED
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
2026/2027
NSGD 2216- Critical Inquiry & Evidence Informed
1. Which statement best describes evidence-informed nursing
practice?
A. Following unit routines that have been in place for many years
B. Relying primarily on the opinion of the most senior nurse on the
unit
C. Applying the findings of the most recent published study to every
patient
D. Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical
expertise, patient values and preferences, and the context of care
ANSWER : D. Integrating the best available research evidence
with clinical expertise, patient values and preferences, and the
context of care
Evidence-informed practice blends research, clinical judgment, patient
preferences and contextual resources; research alone does not dictate
care.
Page 1 of 62
, Critical Inquiry & Evidence-Informed Nursing Practice
2. A nurse uses the phrase "evidence-informed" rather than "evidence-
based." What is the main reason for this preference?
A. It limits decisions to findings from randomized controlled trials
B. It acknowledges that research is one of several inputs that shape
clinical decisions alongside context and patient values
C. It refers only to qualitative research findings
D. It means that research evidence is not required for practice
decisions
ANSWER : B. It acknowledges that research is one of several
inputs that shape clinical decisions alongside context and patient
values
"Informed" signals that evidence guides decisions without replacing
judgment, patient values or context.
3. Critical inquiry in nursing is best described as:
A. A disciplined process of questioning assumptions, examining
evidence and considering alternative perspectives before drawing
conclusions
B. Collecting as much data as possible without a guiding question
C. Finding fault with the work of colleagues
D. Accepting the conclusions of published authors without question
ANSWER : A. A disciplined process of questioning assumptions,
examining evidence and considering alternative perspectives
before drawing conclusions
Critical inquiry involves deliberate questioning and reasoned
evaluation of evidence and assumptions.
4. Which is the FIRST step in the evidence-informed practice process?
A. Asking a clinical question in an ANSWER able format
B. Implementing a practice change on the unit
C. Searching CINAHL for relevant articles
D. Appraising the quality of retrieved studies
ANSWER : A. Asking a clinical question in an ANSWER able
format
The process begins by framing a focused, ANSWER able question,
usually with PICO(T).
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, Critical Inquiry & Evidence-Informed Nursing Practice
5. In the PICOT format, the letter "C" stands for:
A. Comparison or control intervention
B. Clinical setting
C. Cost of the intervention
D. Confounding variable
ANSWER : A. Comparison or control intervention
C refers to the comparison or alternative against which the
intervention is evaluated.
6. A nurse asks: "In older adults after hip surgery, does early
mobilization compared with bed rest reduce pneumonia within 7
days?" Which element represents the outcome?
A. Early mobilization
B. Pneumonia
C. Older adults after hip surgery
D. Within 7 days
ANSWER : B. Pneumonia
The outcome (O) is the effect being measured, which here is the
occurrence of pneumonia.
7. In the PICOT question above, "within 7 days" represents which
component?
A. Comparison
B. Intervention
C. Time
D. Population
ANSWER : C. Time
T identifies the time frame over which the outcome is observed.
Page 3 of 62
, Critical Inquiry & Evidence-Informed Nursing Practice
8. Which type of clinical question is best suited to the PICo format
rather than PICOT?
A. A question comparing two medications for effectiveness
B. A question exploring the lived experience of patients
C. A question about the accuracy of a diagnostic test
D. A question about prognosis after stroke
ANSWER : B. A question exploring the lived experience of
patients
PICo (Population, phenomenon of Interest, Context) frames qualitative,
meaning-focused questions.
9. The term "phenomenon of interest" in a PICo question refers to:
A. The measurement instrument
B. The control group
C. The experience, event or process being explored
D. The statistical test used
ANSWER : C. The experience, event or process being explored
In qualitative questions the phenomenon of interest replaces the
intervention and comparison.
10. Which source of knowledge is based on "we have always done it
this way"?
A. Intuition
B. Tradition
C. Research
D. Trial and error
ANSWER : B. Tradition
Tradition relies on customs passed down, often without evaluation of
their effectiveness.
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