NR 452 Capstone Nursing Exam Review
Latest 2026 Questions with Verified
Answers & Rationales A+ Guaranteed
Evidence-Based Practice & Professional Nursing
1. What is the primary purpose of evidence-based nursing practice?
A. Follow tradition
B. Combine best evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences
C. Eliminate clinical judgment
D. Follow physician preference only
Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-based practice integrates current evidence with professional expertise and
patient values/preferences.
2. What does the “P” in PICOT represent?
A. Provider
B. Population or patient problem
C. Procedure
D. Prognosis
Answer: B
Rationale: PICOT begins by identifying the population or patient problem.
3. Which source generally provides the strongest evidence for an intervention?
A. Personal opinion
B. Social-media post
C. Systematic review of high-quality studies
D. Anecdotal experience
Answer: C
Rationale: A well-conducted systematic review synthesizes findings from multiple studies and is
generally high-level evidence.
,4. Which is a process measure?
A. Mortality rate
B. Hand-hygiene compliance
C. Patient survival
D. Hospital readmission rate
Answer: B
Rationale: Process measures evaluate whether a specific care process is performed correctly.
5. Which is an outcome measure?
A. Number of nurses trained
B. Percentage of patients receiving education
C. Hospital-acquired infection rate
D. Number of staff meetings
Answer: C
Rationale: Infection rate measures the result of healthcare processes.
6. What is the primary purpose of quality improvement?
A. Punish individual nurses
B. Improve healthcare processes and patient outcomes
C. Replace nursing research
D. Reduce documentation
Answer: B
Rationale: QI identifies system or process improvements that can enhance safety and
outcomes.
7. Which action demonstrates evidence-based practice?
A. Continuing a procedure because “we've always done it”
B. Reviewing current evidence before changing practice
C. Using social media as the primary evidence source
D. Ignoring patient preferences
Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-based decisions should be informed by credible current evidence.
,8. Peer review means that:
A. Patients approve research
B. Experts evaluate research before publication
C. Government officials write the article
D. Researchers guarantee the results
Answer: B
Rationale: Peer review provides expert evaluation of research quality before publication.
9. Which ethical principle refers to the patient's right to make healthcare decisions?
A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Fidelity
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: B
Rationale: Autonomy recognizes the patient's right to make informed decisions.
10. Nonmaleficence means:
A. Do good
B. Treat everyone equally
C. Avoid causing harm
D. Keep promises
Answer: C
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid unnecessary harm.
Prioritization & Clinical Judgment
11. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client requesting a blanket
B. Client with chronic arthritis pain
C. Client with sudden chest pressure and diaphoresis
D. Client awaiting discharge instructions
, Answer: C
Rationale: Chest pressure with diaphoresis may indicate acute coronary syndrome and is
potentially life-threatening.
12. Which assessment takes priority when a client suddenly becomes restless and confused?
A. Oxygenation
B. Dietary intake
C. Sleep pattern
D. Family history
Answer: A
Rationale: Acute restlessness and confusion can be early signs of hypoxemia.
13. A postoperative client suddenly develops dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain. The nurse
should suspect:
A. Constipation
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Urinary retention
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain are classic concerning findings for
pulmonary embolism.
14. Which client requires immediate intervention?
A. Stable client with chronic back pain
B. Client with oxygen saturation of 82% and respiratory distress
C. Client requesting pain medication for chronic pain
D. Client awaiting routine laboratory results
Answer: B
Rationale: Severe hypoxemia and respiratory distress threaten airway and breathing.
15. Which assessment follows the ABC priority framework?
A. Pain before airway
B. Airway before breathing and circulation
Latest 2026 Questions with Verified
Answers & Rationales A+ Guaranteed
Evidence-Based Practice & Professional Nursing
1. What is the primary purpose of evidence-based nursing practice?
A. Follow tradition
B. Combine best evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences
C. Eliminate clinical judgment
D. Follow physician preference only
Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-based practice integrates current evidence with professional expertise and
patient values/preferences.
2. What does the “P” in PICOT represent?
A. Provider
B. Population or patient problem
C. Procedure
D. Prognosis
Answer: B
Rationale: PICOT begins by identifying the population or patient problem.
3. Which source generally provides the strongest evidence for an intervention?
A. Personal opinion
B. Social-media post
C. Systematic review of high-quality studies
D. Anecdotal experience
Answer: C
Rationale: A well-conducted systematic review synthesizes findings from multiple studies and is
generally high-level evidence.
,4. Which is a process measure?
A. Mortality rate
B. Hand-hygiene compliance
C. Patient survival
D. Hospital readmission rate
Answer: B
Rationale: Process measures evaluate whether a specific care process is performed correctly.
5. Which is an outcome measure?
A. Number of nurses trained
B. Percentage of patients receiving education
C. Hospital-acquired infection rate
D. Number of staff meetings
Answer: C
Rationale: Infection rate measures the result of healthcare processes.
6. What is the primary purpose of quality improvement?
A. Punish individual nurses
B. Improve healthcare processes and patient outcomes
C. Replace nursing research
D. Reduce documentation
Answer: B
Rationale: QI identifies system or process improvements that can enhance safety and
outcomes.
7. Which action demonstrates evidence-based practice?
A. Continuing a procedure because “we've always done it”
B. Reviewing current evidence before changing practice
C. Using social media as the primary evidence source
D. Ignoring patient preferences
Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-based decisions should be informed by credible current evidence.
,8. Peer review means that:
A. Patients approve research
B. Experts evaluate research before publication
C. Government officials write the article
D. Researchers guarantee the results
Answer: B
Rationale: Peer review provides expert evaluation of research quality before publication.
9. Which ethical principle refers to the patient's right to make healthcare decisions?
A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Fidelity
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: B
Rationale: Autonomy recognizes the patient's right to make informed decisions.
10. Nonmaleficence means:
A. Do good
B. Treat everyone equally
C. Avoid causing harm
D. Keep promises
Answer: C
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid unnecessary harm.
Prioritization & Clinical Judgment
11. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. Client requesting a blanket
B. Client with chronic arthritis pain
C. Client with sudden chest pressure and diaphoresis
D. Client awaiting discharge instructions
, Answer: C
Rationale: Chest pressure with diaphoresis may indicate acute coronary syndrome and is
potentially life-threatening.
12. Which assessment takes priority when a client suddenly becomes restless and confused?
A. Oxygenation
B. Dietary intake
C. Sleep pattern
D. Family history
Answer: A
Rationale: Acute restlessness and confusion can be early signs of hypoxemia.
13. A postoperative client suddenly develops dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain. The nurse
should suspect:
A. Constipation
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Urinary retention
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain are classic concerning findings for
pulmonary embolism.
14. Which client requires immediate intervention?
A. Stable client with chronic back pain
B. Client with oxygen saturation of 82% and respiratory distress
C. Client requesting pain medication for chronic pain
D. Client awaiting routine laboratory results
Answer: B
Rationale: Severe hypoxemia and respiratory distress threaten airway and breathing.
15. Which assessment follows the ABC priority framework?
A. Pain before airway
B. Airway before breathing and circulation
