WGU D219 – Scholarship in Nursing
Practice Exam Questions and Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf.
1. A nurse leader is beginning a quality improvement project aimed
at reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
What should be the first step?
A. Implement staff education immediately
B. Purchase new catheter supplies
C. Identify the problem using baseline data
D. Develop a publication plan
Rationale: The first step in any quality improvement (QI) initiative is
identifying the problem through reliable baseline data. Data establish
the scope of the issue, guide intervention planning, and provide a
benchmark for evaluating outcomes. Implementing interventions before
understanding the problem can result in ineffective or unnecessary
changes.
2. Which statement best describes evidence-based practice (EBP)?
,A. Using interventions based solely on clinical experience
B. Following physician preferences without question
C. Integrating the best available research, clinical expertise, and
patient preferences
D. Applying only randomized controlled trials to every patient
Rationale: Evidence-based practice combines the best available research
evidence, clinician expertise, and patient values and preferences to
support individualized care decisions. It is not limited to one type of
research design and emphasizes patient-centered decision-making.
3. A nurse is formulating a clinical question using the PICOT
framework. What does the "O" represent?
A. Observation
B. Organization
C. Outcome
D. Objective
Rationale: In the PICOT framework, "O" stands for Outcome, referring to
the measurable result expected from the intervention. Clearly defining
the outcome helps focus literature searches and evaluate intervention
effectiveness.
4. Which research design provides the highest level of evidence for
evaluating clinical interventions?
A. Case report
B. Cross-sectional study
,C. Cohort study
D. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled
trials
Rationale: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesize findings
from multiple high-quality randomized controlled trials, providing the
strongest level of evidence for determining intervention effectiveness
while minimizing bias.
5. A nurse identifies a statistically significant finding with a p-value of
0.02. What does this indicate?
A. The results are clinically insignificant.
B. The intervention failed.
C. There is a low probability the results occurred by chance.
D. The study has no limitations.
Rationale: A p-value of 0.02 indicates a 2% probability that the observed
results occurred by chance if the null hypothesis were true. Since this is
below the common significance threshold of 0.05, the findings are
considered statistically significant.
6. Which database is considered one of the primary resources for
nursing research?
A. LexisNexis
B. CINAHL
C. Bloomberg Terminal
D. JSTOR
, Rationale: CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health
Literature) is a specialized database containing nursing and allied health
research, making it one of the most valuable resources for evidence-
based nursing practice.
7. What is the primary purpose of a literature review?
A. Recruit study participants
B. Develop a hospital budget
C. Summarize existing knowledge and identify research gaps
D. Replace data collection
Rationale: A literature review evaluates current evidence, identifies
knowledge gaps, avoids duplication of previous work, and establishes
the rationale for conducting new research or quality improvement
projects.
8. Which ethical principle requires obtaining informed consent
before enrolling participants in research?
A. Justice
B. Respect for persons (Autonomy)
C. Beneficence
D. Fidelity
Rationale: Respect for persons, also known as autonomy, requires
researchers to provide adequate information so participants can
voluntarily decide whether to participate. Informed consent is a
cornerstone of ethical research.
Practice Exam Questions and Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf.
1. A nurse leader is beginning a quality improvement project aimed
at reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
What should be the first step?
A. Implement staff education immediately
B. Purchase new catheter supplies
C. Identify the problem using baseline data
D. Develop a publication plan
Rationale: The first step in any quality improvement (QI) initiative is
identifying the problem through reliable baseline data. Data establish
the scope of the issue, guide intervention planning, and provide a
benchmark for evaluating outcomes. Implementing interventions before
understanding the problem can result in ineffective or unnecessary
changes.
2. Which statement best describes evidence-based practice (EBP)?
,A. Using interventions based solely on clinical experience
B. Following physician preferences without question
C. Integrating the best available research, clinical expertise, and
patient preferences
D. Applying only randomized controlled trials to every patient
Rationale: Evidence-based practice combines the best available research
evidence, clinician expertise, and patient values and preferences to
support individualized care decisions. It is not limited to one type of
research design and emphasizes patient-centered decision-making.
3. A nurse is formulating a clinical question using the PICOT
framework. What does the "O" represent?
A. Observation
B. Organization
C. Outcome
D. Objective
Rationale: In the PICOT framework, "O" stands for Outcome, referring to
the measurable result expected from the intervention. Clearly defining
the outcome helps focus literature searches and evaluate intervention
effectiveness.
4. Which research design provides the highest level of evidence for
evaluating clinical interventions?
A. Case report
B. Cross-sectional study
,C. Cohort study
D. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled
trials
Rationale: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesize findings
from multiple high-quality randomized controlled trials, providing the
strongest level of evidence for determining intervention effectiveness
while minimizing bias.
5. A nurse identifies a statistically significant finding with a p-value of
0.02. What does this indicate?
A. The results are clinically insignificant.
B. The intervention failed.
C. There is a low probability the results occurred by chance.
D. The study has no limitations.
Rationale: A p-value of 0.02 indicates a 2% probability that the observed
results occurred by chance if the null hypothesis were true. Since this is
below the common significance threshold of 0.05, the findings are
considered statistically significant.
6. Which database is considered one of the primary resources for
nursing research?
A. LexisNexis
B. CINAHL
C. Bloomberg Terminal
D. JSTOR
, Rationale: CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health
Literature) is a specialized database containing nursing and allied health
research, making it one of the most valuable resources for evidence-
based nursing practice.
7. What is the primary purpose of a literature review?
A. Recruit study participants
B. Develop a hospital budget
C. Summarize existing knowledge and identify research gaps
D. Replace data collection
Rationale: A literature review evaluates current evidence, identifies
knowledge gaps, avoids duplication of previous work, and establishes
the rationale for conducting new research or quality improvement
projects.
8. Which ethical principle requires obtaining informed consent
before enrolling participants in research?
A. Justice
B. Respect for persons (Autonomy)
C. Beneficence
D. Fidelity
Rationale: Respect for persons, also known as autonomy, requires
researchers to provide adequate information so participants can
voluntarily decide whether to participate. Informed consent is a
cornerstone of ethical research.
