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NUR 621 MODULE 4 COMPLETE EXAM | 220 QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | 2026
UPDATE | UTICA COLLEGE
SECTION 1: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE & CLINICAL GUIDELINES (Questions 1-30)
1. Your collaborating physician has asked you to present a credible source of evidence at the
next staff meeting. Which statement is true of clinical practice guidelines?
A) Clinical practice guidelines are based on expert opinion only
B) Clinical practice guidelines are evidence-based when conducted systematically and
recommendations formed using the evidence
C) Clinical practice guidelines do not require systematic review
D) Clinical practice guidelines are only valid if published by the government
Correct Answer: B) Clinical practice guidelines are evidence-based when conducted
systematically and recommendations formed using the evidence
Rationale: Clinical practice guidelines are considered evidence-based when they are developed
through systematic methods that include comprehensive literature review, critical appraisal of
, 2
evidence, and transparent formulation of recommendations. Expert opinion alone is not
sufficient for evidence-based guidelines .
2. Which represents a primary source of evidence?
A) Meta-analysis
B) Systematic review
C) Individual study
D) Clinical practice guideline
Correct Answer: C) Individual study
Rationale: Primary sources of evidence are original research studies that report new findings
directly from investigators. These include randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-
control studies, and other original research designs. Secondary sources (meta-analyses,
systematic reviews, clinical practice guidelines) are interpretations and analyses based on
primary sources .
3. What sources are interpretations and analyses based on primary sources?
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A) Tertiary sources
B) Secondary sources
C) Primary sources
D) Expert opinion
Correct Answer: B) Secondary sources
Rationale: Secondary sources include meta-synthesis, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and
clinical practice guidelines. These sources synthesize, interpret, and analyze findings from
multiple primary studies to provide higher-level evidence for clinical decision-making .
4. What are examples of secondary sources? Select all that apply.
A) Meta-synthesis
B) Meta-analysis
C) Systematic reviews
D) Clinical practice guidelines
E) Individual case reports
, 4
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: Meta-synthesis, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and clinical practice guidelines
are all secondary sources that synthesize and interpret evidence from multiple primary studies.
Individual case reports are primary sources .
5. What source of evidence best supports practice change?
A) Expert opinion
B) Case reports
C) Peer-reviewed systematic reviews
D) Single randomized controlled trial
Correct Answer: C) Peer-reviewed systematic reviews
Rationale: Peer-reviewed systematic reviews provide the highest level of evidence for guiding
practice change because they comprehensively synthesize all available evidence on a clinical
question, using rigorous methods to minimize bias. They are considered the gold standard for
evidence-based practice .
NUR 621 MODULE 4 COMPLETE EXAM | 220 QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | 2026
UPDATE | UTICA COLLEGE
SECTION 1: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE & CLINICAL GUIDELINES (Questions 1-30)
1. Your collaborating physician has asked you to present a credible source of evidence at the
next staff meeting. Which statement is true of clinical practice guidelines?
A) Clinical practice guidelines are based on expert opinion only
B) Clinical practice guidelines are evidence-based when conducted systematically and
recommendations formed using the evidence
C) Clinical practice guidelines do not require systematic review
D) Clinical practice guidelines are only valid if published by the government
Correct Answer: B) Clinical practice guidelines are evidence-based when conducted
systematically and recommendations formed using the evidence
Rationale: Clinical practice guidelines are considered evidence-based when they are developed
through systematic methods that include comprehensive literature review, critical appraisal of
, 2
evidence, and transparent formulation of recommendations. Expert opinion alone is not
sufficient for evidence-based guidelines .
2. Which represents a primary source of evidence?
A) Meta-analysis
B) Systematic review
C) Individual study
D) Clinical practice guideline
Correct Answer: C) Individual study
Rationale: Primary sources of evidence are original research studies that report new findings
directly from investigators. These include randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-
control studies, and other original research designs. Secondary sources (meta-analyses,
systematic reviews, clinical practice guidelines) are interpretations and analyses based on
primary sources .
3. What sources are interpretations and analyses based on primary sources?
, 3
A) Tertiary sources
B) Secondary sources
C) Primary sources
D) Expert opinion
Correct Answer: B) Secondary sources
Rationale: Secondary sources include meta-synthesis, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and
clinical practice guidelines. These sources synthesize, interpret, and analyze findings from
multiple primary studies to provide higher-level evidence for clinical decision-making .
4. What are examples of secondary sources? Select all that apply.
A) Meta-synthesis
B) Meta-analysis
C) Systematic reviews
D) Clinical practice guidelines
E) Individual case reports
, 4
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: Meta-synthesis, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and clinical practice guidelines
are all secondary sources that synthesize and interpret evidence from multiple primary studies.
Individual case reports are primary sources .
5. What source of evidence best supports practice change?
A) Expert opinion
B) Case reports
C) Peer-reviewed systematic reviews
D) Single randomized controlled trial
Correct Answer: C) Peer-reviewed systematic reviews
Rationale: Peer-reviewed systematic reviews provide the highest level of evidence for guiding
practice change because they comprehensively synthesize all available evidence on a clinical
question, using rigorous methods to minimize bias. They are considered the gold standard for
evidence-based practice .