NR 449 Final Exam 2026/2027 – Evidence-
Based Practice | Test Bank & Questions,
Answers with Rationales
Section 1: Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice
1. Which statement best defines evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A. Following institutional traditions
B. Integrating best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient
preferences
C. Using research findings without modification
D. Following physician recommendations exclusively
Answer: B. Integrating best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient
preferences
Rationale: EBP integrates the best available research evidence with
professional expertise and the patient's values, preferences, and
circumstances.
2. What is the primary goal of EBP?
A. Eliminate clinical judgment
B. Improve patient outcomes and quality of care
C. Reduce the need for nursing research
D. Standardize every patient's treatment
Answer: B. Improve patient outcomes and quality of care
Rationale: EBP supports informed clinical decisions that can improve safety,
quality, effectiveness, and patient outcomes.
,3. Which is NOT a major component of EBP?
A. Best research evidence
B. Clinical expertise
C. Patient preferences
D. Hospital tradition
Answer: D. Hospital tradition
Rationale: Tradition may influence practice, but it is not one of the three core
components of EBP.
4. A nurse uses clinical experience to determine whether a research-
supported intervention is appropriate for a particular patient. This
demonstrates:
A. Clinical expertise
B. Publication bias
C. Randomization
D. Statistical significance
Answer: A. Clinical expertise
Rationale: Clinical expertise allows nurses to interpret and apply evidence
appropriately to individual patients.
5. Why are patient preferences important in EBP?
A. They replace scientific evidence.
B. They help individualize evidence-based decisions.
C. They eliminate the need for assessment.
D. They determine whether research is valid.
Answer: B. They help individualize evidence-based decisions.
Rationale: EBP is patient-centered and incorporates patient values,
preferences, culture, circumstances, and goals.
,6. Which statement about EBP is correct?
A. Every patient should receive the intervention with the highest research
rating.
B. Evidence must be considered within the context of the individual patient.
C. Clinical expertise is unnecessary when research is available.
D. Patient preferences should never alter treatment decisions.
Answer: B. Evidence must be considered within the context of the individual
patient.
Rationale: Research findings must be integrated with clinical expertise and
patient-specific factors.
7. Which situation demonstrates tradition-based practice?
A. Reviewing current research before changing a protocol
B. Continuing a procedure because “we have always done it this way”
C. Comparing systematic reviews
D. Developing a PICOT question
Answer: B. Continuing a procedure because “we have always done it this way”
Rationale: Tradition-based practice relies on established routines rather than
current evidence.
8. Which activity represents evidence-based nursing?
A. Using a social-media post as the sole source for treatment
B. Reviewing current research and considering patient preferences before
changing care
C. Following a coworker's personal preference
D. Repeating a procedure without evaluation
Answer: B. Reviewing current research and considering patient preferences
before changing care
, Rationale: EBP requires evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences.
9. What is the difference between research and EBP?
A. Research generates knowledge; EBP integrates available evidence into
practice.
B. Research and EBP are identical.
C. EBP generates all new scientific knowledge.
D. Research never influences practice.
Answer: A. Research generates knowledge; EBP integrates available evidence
into practice.
Rationale: Research develops or tests knowledge, whereas EBP uses evidence
to inform clinical decisions.
10. Which is an example of a foreground clinical question?
A. What is diabetes?
B. What is hypertension?
C. In adults with diabetes, does structured education improve medication
adherence?
D. What is nursing?
Answer: C. In adults with diabetes, does structured education improve
medication adherence?
Rationale: A foreground question is focused and directly applicable to a
clinical decision.
Section 2: EBP Process
11. Which step generally begins the EBP process?
A. Apply
B. Ask a focused question
Based Practice | Test Bank & Questions,
Answers with Rationales
Section 1: Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice
1. Which statement best defines evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A. Following institutional traditions
B. Integrating best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient
preferences
C. Using research findings without modification
D. Following physician recommendations exclusively
Answer: B. Integrating best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient
preferences
Rationale: EBP integrates the best available research evidence with
professional expertise and the patient's values, preferences, and
circumstances.
2. What is the primary goal of EBP?
A. Eliminate clinical judgment
B. Improve patient outcomes and quality of care
C. Reduce the need for nursing research
D. Standardize every patient's treatment
Answer: B. Improve patient outcomes and quality of care
Rationale: EBP supports informed clinical decisions that can improve safety,
quality, effectiveness, and patient outcomes.
,3. Which is NOT a major component of EBP?
A. Best research evidence
B. Clinical expertise
C. Patient preferences
D. Hospital tradition
Answer: D. Hospital tradition
Rationale: Tradition may influence practice, but it is not one of the three core
components of EBP.
4. A nurse uses clinical experience to determine whether a research-
supported intervention is appropriate for a particular patient. This
demonstrates:
A. Clinical expertise
B. Publication bias
C. Randomization
D. Statistical significance
Answer: A. Clinical expertise
Rationale: Clinical expertise allows nurses to interpret and apply evidence
appropriately to individual patients.
5. Why are patient preferences important in EBP?
A. They replace scientific evidence.
B. They help individualize evidence-based decisions.
C. They eliminate the need for assessment.
D. They determine whether research is valid.
Answer: B. They help individualize evidence-based decisions.
Rationale: EBP is patient-centered and incorporates patient values,
preferences, culture, circumstances, and goals.
,6. Which statement about EBP is correct?
A. Every patient should receive the intervention with the highest research
rating.
B. Evidence must be considered within the context of the individual patient.
C. Clinical expertise is unnecessary when research is available.
D. Patient preferences should never alter treatment decisions.
Answer: B. Evidence must be considered within the context of the individual
patient.
Rationale: Research findings must be integrated with clinical expertise and
patient-specific factors.
7. Which situation demonstrates tradition-based practice?
A. Reviewing current research before changing a protocol
B. Continuing a procedure because “we have always done it this way”
C. Comparing systematic reviews
D. Developing a PICOT question
Answer: B. Continuing a procedure because “we have always done it this way”
Rationale: Tradition-based practice relies on established routines rather than
current evidence.
8. Which activity represents evidence-based nursing?
A. Using a social-media post as the sole source for treatment
B. Reviewing current research and considering patient preferences before
changing care
C. Following a coworker's personal preference
D. Repeating a procedure without evaluation
Answer: B. Reviewing current research and considering patient preferences
before changing care
, Rationale: EBP requires evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences.
9. What is the difference between research and EBP?
A. Research generates knowledge; EBP integrates available evidence into
practice.
B. Research and EBP are identical.
C. EBP generates all new scientific knowledge.
D. Research never influences practice.
Answer: A. Research generates knowledge; EBP integrates available evidence
into practice.
Rationale: Research develops or tests knowledge, whereas EBP uses evidence
to inform clinical decisions.
10. Which is an example of a foreground clinical question?
A. What is diabetes?
B. What is hypertension?
C. In adults with diabetes, does structured education improve medication
adherence?
D. What is nursing?
Answer: C. In adults with diabetes, does structured education improve
medication adherence?
Rationale: A foreground question is focused and directly applicable to a
clinical decision.
Section 2: EBP Process
11. Which step generally begins the EBP process?
A. Apply
B. Ask a focused question
