NR-501: Theoretical Basis for Practice | Nursing
Theory Comprehensive Examination Practice
Questions with Answers & Rationales
Question 1
Which of the following best describes the primary function of the nursing
metaparadigm?
A) To provide a list of nursing interventions for specific diseases
B) To define the central concepts of the discipline—person, environment, health,
nursing—and their interrelationships
C) To establish legal standards for nursing licensure examinations
D) To replace middle-range theories in clinical research
Answer: B
Rationale: The metaparadigm is the global, abstract set of concepts that identify
the domain of nursing. It does not prescribe interventions, is not legal, and coexists
with, rather than replaces, middle-range theories. The four central concepts are
person, environment, health, and nursing.
Question 2
Which term refers to the most abstract level of knowledge that presents a global
view of a discipline?
A) Conceptual framework
B) Metaparadigm
C) Middle-range theory
D) Empirical indicator
Answer: B
Rationale: The metaparadigm is the most abstract, global perspective of a
discipline. Conceptual frameworks are less abstract, and middle-range theories are
more specific. The metaparadigm provides the broadest view of nursing's domain.
,Question 3
The four central concepts of the nursing metaparadigm are:
A) Nursing, medicine, sociology, psychology
B) Person, environment, health, nursing
C) Theory, research, practice, education
D) Diagnosis, intervention, outcome, evaluation
Answer: B
Rationale: The universally accepted nursing metaparadigm concepts are person
(recipient of care), environment (internal/external context), health (wellness/illness
continuum), and nursing (actions, roles). These four concepts define the domain of
nursing.
Question 4
What is the primary purpose of nursing theory?
A) To describe the disease process
B) To provide a framework for nursing practice
C) To guide nursing research and practice
D) To prescribe medication guidelines
Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing theory provides a systematic framework that guides nursing
practice, education, and research. It helps explain patient care phenomena and
guides interventions.
Question 5
A statement of beliefs and values about human beings and their world is called a:
A) Theory
B) Philosophy
C) Conceptual model
D) Metaparadigm
Answer: B
Rationale: A philosophy is a statement of beliefs and values about human beings
,and their world. It provides the foundational worldview that guides theory
development and practice.
Question 6
A set of logically interrelated concepts, statements, propositions, and definitions
supported by data, testing, and verification to account for or characterize some
phenomena is called a:
A) Philosophy
B) Hypothesis
C) Theory
D) Conceptual framework
Answer: C
Rationale: A theory is a set of logically interrelated concepts, statements,
propositions, and definitions supported by data, testing, and verification. Theories
account for or characterize phenomena.
Question 7
A nurse researcher criticizes a theory for lacking empirical adequacy. This critique
focuses on which aspect of the theory?
A) Its logical consistency with other known facts
B) The degree to which its concepts can be observed and tested in the real world
C) Its simplicity compared to competing theories
D) The personal values of the theorist
Answer: B
Rationale: Empirical adequacy refers to the extent to which a theory's propositions
have been supported by observable, measurable evidence. Logical consistency and
parsimony are other criteria, while the theorist's values are irrelevant to empirical
testing.
Question 8
Assumptions in nursing theory are best described as:
, A) Testable hypotheses derived from research
B) Beliefs about phenomena one must accept as true to accept a theory about the
phenomena as true
C) Empirical findings from clinical studies
D) Clinical practice guidelines
Answer: B
Rationale: Assumptions are beliefs about phenomena one must accept as true to
accept a theory about the phenomena as true. They form the foundational premises
upon which theories are built.
Question 9
A theory developed in another discipline that is not adapted to the worldview and
practice of nursing is called a:
A) Grand theory
B) Middle-range theory
C) Borrowed or shared theory
D) Practice theory
Answer: C
Rationale: A borrowed or shared theory is a theory developed in another
discipline that is not adapted to the worldview and practice of nursing. Nursing
often borrows theories from psychology, sociology, and other fields.
Question 10
Which of the following is a characteristic of a good nursing theory?
A) It is too abstract to be applied in practice
B) It is logically consistent and empirically adequate
C) It ignores the patient's perspective
D) It focuses only on disease processes
Answer: B
Rationale: A good nursing theory should be logically consistent and empirically
adequate. It should be applicable to practice and consider the patient holistically.
Theory Comprehensive Examination Practice
Questions with Answers & Rationales
Question 1
Which of the following best describes the primary function of the nursing
metaparadigm?
A) To provide a list of nursing interventions for specific diseases
B) To define the central concepts of the discipline—person, environment, health,
nursing—and their interrelationships
C) To establish legal standards for nursing licensure examinations
D) To replace middle-range theories in clinical research
Answer: B
Rationale: The metaparadigm is the global, abstract set of concepts that identify
the domain of nursing. It does not prescribe interventions, is not legal, and coexists
with, rather than replaces, middle-range theories. The four central concepts are
person, environment, health, and nursing.
Question 2
Which term refers to the most abstract level of knowledge that presents a global
view of a discipline?
A) Conceptual framework
B) Metaparadigm
C) Middle-range theory
D) Empirical indicator
Answer: B
Rationale: The metaparadigm is the most abstract, global perspective of a
discipline. Conceptual frameworks are less abstract, and middle-range theories are
more specific. The metaparadigm provides the broadest view of nursing's domain.
,Question 3
The four central concepts of the nursing metaparadigm are:
A) Nursing, medicine, sociology, psychology
B) Person, environment, health, nursing
C) Theory, research, practice, education
D) Diagnosis, intervention, outcome, evaluation
Answer: B
Rationale: The universally accepted nursing metaparadigm concepts are person
(recipient of care), environment (internal/external context), health (wellness/illness
continuum), and nursing (actions, roles). These four concepts define the domain of
nursing.
Question 4
What is the primary purpose of nursing theory?
A) To describe the disease process
B) To provide a framework for nursing practice
C) To guide nursing research and practice
D) To prescribe medication guidelines
Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing theory provides a systematic framework that guides nursing
practice, education, and research. It helps explain patient care phenomena and
guides interventions.
Question 5
A statement of beliefs and values about human beings and their world is called a:
A) Theory
B) Philosophy
C) Conceptual model
D) Metaparadigm
Answer: B
Rationale: A philosophy is a statement of beliefs and values about human beings
,and their world. It provides the foundational worldview that guides theory
development and practice.
Question 6
A set of logically interrelated concepts, statements, propositions, and definitions
supported by data, testing, and verification to account for or characterize some
phenomena is called a:
A) Philosophy
B) Hypothesis
C) Theory
D) Conceptual framework
Answer: C
Rationale: A theory is a set of logically interrelated concepts, statements,
propositions, and definitions supported by data, testing, and verification. Theories
account for or characterize phenomena.
Question 7
A nurse researcher criticizes a theory for lacking empirical adequacy. This critique
focuses on which aspect of the theory?
A) Its logical consistency with other known facts
B) The degree to which its concepts can be observed and tested in the real world
C) Its simplicity compared to competing theories
D) The personal values of the theorist
Answer: B
Rationale: Empirical adequacy refers to the extent to which a theory's propositions
have been supported by observable, measurable evidence. Logical consistency and
parsimony are other criteria, while the theorist's values are irrelevant to empirical
testing.
Question 8
Assumptions in nursing theory are best described as:
, A) Testable hypotheses derived from research
B) Beliefs about phenomena one must accept as true to accept a theory about the
phenomena as true
C) Empirical findings from clinical studies
D) Clinical practice guidelines
Answer: B
Rationale: Assumptions are beliefs about phenomena one must accept as true to
accept a theory about the phenomena as true. They form the foundational premises
upon which theories are built.
Question 9
A theory developed in another discipline that is not adapted to the worldview and
practice of nursing is called a:
A) Grand theory
B) Middle-range theory
C) Borrowed or shared theory
D) Practice theory
Answer: C
Rationale: A borrowed or shared theory is a theory developed in another
discipline that is not adapted to the worldview and practice of nursing. Nursing
often borrows theories from psychology, sociology, and other fields.
Question 10
Which of the following is a characteristic of a good nursing theory?
A) It is too abstract to be applied in practice
B) It is logically consistent and empirically adequate
C) It ignores the patient's perspective
D) It focuses only on disease processes
Answer: B
Rationale: A good nursing theory should be logically consistent and empirically
adequate. It should be applicable to practice and consider the patient holistically.
