NR-439 – RN Evidence-Based Practice
Comprehensive Study Guide, Nursing Research,
Evidence Integration, Clinical Decision-Making,
and Practice Questions
Question 1
A nurse is learning about the core principles of evidence-based practice (EBP).
Which of the following best defines EBP?
A) Using clinical expertise alone to make patient care decisions
B) Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient values and preferences
C) Following institutional policies and procedures without question
D) Relying solely on patient preferences to guide care
Answer: B) Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient values and preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice is the integration of the best available research
evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values and preferences. It is not based on
any single component alone. EBP is a problem-solving approach to clinical
decision-making that incorporates multiple sources of evidence.
Question 2
A nurse is identifying a clinical question for an EBP project. Which of the
following is the most appropriate format for developing a well-built clinical
question?
A) PICO(T)
B) SOAP
C) PIE
D) SBAR
Answer: A) PICO(T)
,Rationale: PICO(T) is the most appropriate format for developing a well-built
clinical question in evidence-based practice. It stands for Patient/Population,
Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and (Time). SOAP, PIE, and SBAR are
documentation and communication formats, not question formats.
Question 3
A nurse is formulating a PICO(T) question. Which of the following is the "P" in
PICO(T)?
A) The intervention being considered
B) The patient population or problem of interest
C) The comparison intervention
D) The expected outcome
Answer: B) The patient population or problem of interest
Rationale: In PICO(T), "P" stands for Patient/Population or Problem. It describes
the patient population or the clinical problem of interest. The "I" is the
intervention, "C" is the comparison, "O" is the outcome, and "T" is the time frame
(optional).
Question 4
A nurse is using the PICO(T) format to develop a clinical question. Which of the
following is an example of a well-built PICO(T) question?
A) "What is the best treatment for hypertension?"
B) "In hospitalized older adults, does the use of hourly rounding compared to
standard rounding decrease the incidence of falls?"
C) "Why do patients fall in hospitals?"
D) "How can we reduce falls in older adults?"
Answer: B) "In hospitalized older adults, does the use of hourly rounding
compared to standard rounding decrease the incidence of falls?"
Rationale: Option B is a well-built PICO(T) question because it includes all
components: Population (hospitalized older adults), Intervention (hourly rounding),
Comparison (standard rounding), and Outcome (decrease incidence of falls). The
other options are too broad or do not contain all PICO components.
,Question 5
A nurse is reviewing the hierarchy of evidence. Which of the following represents
the highest level of evidence?
A) Expert opinion
B) Randomized controlled trials
C) Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
D) Case-control studies
Answer: C) Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Rationale: In the hierarchy of evidence, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of
randomized controlled trials represent the highest level of evidence. They
synthesize the best available research on a topic. Randomized controlled trials are
high-level evidence, but systematic reviews are considered the "gold standard" of
evidence.
Question 6
A nurse is comparing different types of research studies. Which of the following is
a characteristic of a randomized controlled trial (RCT)?
A) Participants are randomly assigned to intervention or control groups
B) Participants are observed without any intervention
C) Participants are studied over a long period without randomization
D) Participants are interviewed about their experiences
Answer: A) Participants are randomly assigned to intervention or control
groups
Rationale: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is characterized by the random
assignment of participants to intervention or control groups. This minimizes bias
and allows for causal inferences. Observational studies (Option B) do not involve
intervention. Longitudinal studies (Option C) observe over time but do not
randomize. Qualitative studies (Option D) explore experiences.
, Question 7
A nurse is evaluating a research article. Which of the following is a key component
of a research article's methodology section?
A) The study's conclusions
B) The study's findings
C) The study's design and procedures
D) The study's implications for practice
Answer: C) The study's design and procedures
Rationale: The methodology section of a research article describes the study's
design, sample, setting, procedures, and data collection methods. Conclusions
(Option A) are in the discussion section. Findings (Option B) are in the results
section. Implications (Option D) are in the discussion or conclusion section.
Question 8
A nurse is implementing an EBP change. Which of the following is the first step in
the EBP process?
A) Appraise the evidence
B) Search for the best evidence
C) Ask the clinical question
D) Apply the evidence to practice
Answer: C) Ask the clinical question
Rationale: The first step in the EBP process is to ask a well-built clinical question.
This is followed by searching for the best evidence (Step 2), appraising the
evidence (Step 3), applying the evidence (Step 4), and evaluating the outcomes
(Step 5). The "Ask" step is foundational to the entire process.
Question 9
A nurse is using the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice. Which of the
following is a key component of this model?
A) The model focuses on individual clinical decision-making
B) The model emphasizes the importance of organizational infrastructure and
leadership support
Comprehensive Study Guide, Nursing Research,
Evidence Integration, Clinical Decision-Making,
and Practice Questions
Question 1
A nurse is learning about the core principles of evidence-based practice (EBP).
Which of the following best defines EBP?
A) Using clinical expertise alone to make patient care decisions
B) Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient values and preferences
C) Following institutional policies and procedures without question
D) Relying solely on patient preferences to guide care
Answer: B) Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient values and preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice is the integration of the best available research
evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values and preferences. It is not based on
any single component alone. EBP is a problem-solving approach to clinical
decision-making that incorporates multiple sources of evidence.
Question 2
A nurse is identifying a clinical question for an EBP project. Which of the
following is the most appropriate format for developing a well-built clinical
question?
A) PICO(T)
B) SOAP
C) PIE
D) SBAR
Answer: A) PICO(T)
,Rationale: PICO(T) is the most appropriate format for developing a well-built
clinical question in evidence-based practice. It stands for Patient/Population,
Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and (Time). SOAP, PIE, and SBAR are
documentation and communication formats, not question formats.
Question 3
A nurse is formulating a PICO(T) question. Which of the following is the "P" in
PICO(T)?
A) The intervention being considered
B) The patient population or problem of interest
C) The comparison intervention
D) The expected outcome
Answer: B) The patient population or problem of interest
Rationale: In PICO(T), "P" stands for Patient/Population or Problem. It describes
the patient population or the clinical problem of interest. The "I" is the
intervention, "C" is the comparison, "O" is the outcome, and "T" is the time frame
(optional).
Question 4
A nurse is using the PICO(T) format to develop a clinical question. Which of the
following is an example of a well-built PICO(T) question?
A) "What is the best treatment for hypertension?"
B) "In hospitalized older adults, does the use of hourly rounding compared to
standard rounding decrease the incidence of falls?"
C) "Why do patients fall in hospitals?"
D) "How can we reduce falls in older adults?"
Answer: B) "In hospitalized older adults, does the use of hourly rounding
compared to standard rounding decrease the incidence of falls?"
Rationale: Option B is a well-built PICO(T) question because it includes all
components: Population (hospitalized older adults), Intervention (hourly rounding),
Comparison (standard rounding), and Outcome (decrease incidence of falls). The
other options are too broad or do not contain all PICO components.
,Question 5
A nurse is reviewing the hierarchy of evidence. Which of the following represents
the highest level of evidence?
A) Expert opinion
B) Randomized controlled trials
C) Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
D) Case-control studies
Answer: C) Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Rationale: In the hierarchy of evidence, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of
randomized controlled trials represent the highest level of evidence. They
synthesize the best available research on a topic. Randomized controlled trials are
high-level evidence, but systematic reviews are considered the "gold standard" of
evidence.
Question 6
A nurse is comparing different types of research studies. Which of the following is
a characteristic of a randomized controlled trial (RCT)?
A) Participants are randomly assigned to intervention or control groups
B) Participants are observed without any intervention
C) Participants are studied over a long period without randomization
D) Participants are interviewed about their experiences
Answer: A) Participants are randomly assigned to intervention or control
groups
Rationale: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is characterized by the random
assignment of participants to intervention or control groups. This minimizes bias
and allows for causal inferences. Observational studies (Option B) do not involve
intervention. Longitudinal studies (Option C) observe over time but do not
randomize. Qualitative studies (Option D) explore experiences.
, Question 7
A nurse is evaluating a research article. Which of the following is a key component
of a research article's methodology section?
A) The study's conclusions
B) The study's findings
C) The study's design and procedures
D) The study's implications for practice
Answer: C) The study's design and procedures
Rationale: The methodology section of a research article describes the study's
design, sample, setting, procedures, and data collection methods. Conclusions
(Option A) are in the discussion section. Findings (Option B) are in the results
section. Implications (Option D) are in the discussion or conclusion section.
Question 8
A nurse is implementing an EBP change. Which of the following is the first step in
the EBP process?
A) Appraise the evidence
B) Search for the best evidence
C) Ask the clinical question
D) Apply the evidence to practice
Answer: C) Ask the clinical question
Rationale: The first step in the EBP process is to ask a well-built clinical question.
This is followed by searching for the best evidence (Step 2), appraising the
evidence (Step 3), applying the evidence (Step 4), and evaluating the outcomes
(Step 5). The "Ask" step is foundational to the entire process.
Question 9
A nurse is using the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice. Which of the
following is a key component of this model?
A) The model focuses on individual clinical decision-making
B) The model emphasizes the importance of organizational infrastructure and
leadership support
