NRS 445 Exam 3 V3 | NRS 445 Nursing Research
and Evidence-Based Practice | Actual Q&A with
Rationale (NRS445 Exam 3) | Grand Canyon
University
1. Which of the following are components of a properly formatted PICOT question? (Select all
that apply)
A. Population or Patient
B. Intervention or Issue
C. Comparison of interest
D. Outcome of interest
E. Time period
F. Provider credentials
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D, E
Explanation: The PICOT acronym stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison,
Outcome, and Time. These elements are essential for structuring a clinical research
question to guide evidence-based searches. Provider credentials are not a component of
the standardized PICOT clinical questioning framework.
2. A researcher is studying the effect of a new blood pressure medication. What is the
dependent variable in this study?
A. The new medication
,B. The dosage administered
C. The patient’s age
D. The patient’s blood pressure
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The dependent variable is the outcome or response that the researcher
measures to see if it changes based on the independent variable. In this case, blood
pressure is the effect being monitored. The medication itself is the independent variable
being manipulated by the researcher.
3. Which level of evidence represents the highest quality in the hierarchy of evidence for
clinical decision making?
A. Case-control studies
B. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of RCTs
C. Expert opinion of authorities
D. Single descriptive or qualitative studies
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials
(RCTs) are considered Level 1 evidence. They synthesize the findings of multiple high-
quality studies to provide the most reliable evidence for practice. Lower levels include
individual trials, observational studies, and finally, expert opinion at the base.
, 4. In quantitative research, what does a p-value of 0.03 typically indicate?
A. The results are statistically significant (assuming alpha = 0.05)
B. There is a 3% chance the null hypothesis is true
C. The results are due to chance
D. The results have strong clinical significance regardless of sample size
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: A p-value less than the alpha level (usually 0.05) indicates that the findings
are statistically significant. This means the probability of the results occurring by chance is
low enough to reject the null hypothesis. However, statistical significance does not always
equate to clinical relevance in practice.
5. Which ethical principles were outlined in the Belmont Report for the protection of human
subjects? (Select all that apply)
A. Respect for Persons
B. Beneficence
C. Justice
D. Non-maleficence
E. Paternalism
Correct Answer: A, B, C
and Evidence-Based Practice | Actual Q&A with
Rationale (NRS445 Exam 3) | Grand Canyon
University
1. Which of the following are components of a properly formatted PICOT question? (Select all
that apply)
A. Population or Patient
B. Intervention or Issue
C. Comparison of interest
D. Outcome of interest
E. Time period
F. Provider credentials
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D, E
Explanation: The PICOT acronym stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison,
Outcome, and Time. These elements are essential for structuring a clinical research
question to guide evidence-based searches. Provider credentials are not a component of
the standardized PICOT clinical questioning framework.
2. A researcher is studying the effect of a new blood pressure medication. What is the
dependent variable in this study?
A. The new medication
,B. The dosage administered
C. The patient’s age
D. The patient’s blood pressure
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The dependent variable is the outcome or response that the researcher
measures to see if it changes based on the independent variable. In this case, blood
pressure is the effect being monitored. The medication itself is the independent variable
being manipulated by the researcher.
3. Which level of evidence represents the highest quality in the hierarchy of evidence for
clinical decision making?
A. Case-control studies
B. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of RCTs
C. Expert opinion of authorities
D. Single descriptive or qualitative studies
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials
(RCTs) are considered Level 1 evidence. They synthesize the findings of multiple high-
quality studies to provide the most reliable evidence for practice. Lower levels include
individual trials, observational studies, and finally, expert opinion at the base.
, 4. In quantitative research, what does a p-value of 0.03 typically indicate?
A. The results are statistically significant (assuming alpha = 0.05)
B. There is a 3% chance the null hypothesis is true
C. The results are due to chance
D. The results have strong clinical significance regardless of sample size
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: A p-value less than the alpha level (usually 0.05) indicates that the findings
are statistically significant. This means the probability of the results occurring by chance is
low enough to reject the null hypothesis. However, statistical significance does not always
equate to clinical relevance in practice.
5. Which ethical principles were outlined in the Belmont Report for the protection of human
subjects? (Select all that apply)
A. Respect for Persons
B. Beneficence
C. Justice
D. Non-maleficence
E. Paternalism
Correct Answer: A, B, C
