BSN3A Evidence-Based Nursing Practice Exam Questions & [Verified Answers], Plus Explained Rationales |
2026 Latest Update | Instant Download PDF
Questions 1–200
1. Which of the following best defines evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A) A process of following tradition and clinical expertise without research
B) The conscientious integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values
C) A method of conducting research studies in clinical settings
D) The use of clinical algorithms to standardize patient care
Answer B: The conscientious integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
values
Rationale: EBP integrates best evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences/values.
2. The PICOT format is used to:
A) Develop a focused clinical question for searching evidence
B) Analyze statistical data from research studies
C) Evaluate patient satisfaction with care
D) Document nursing interventions in medical records
Answer A: Develop a focused clinical question for searching evidence
Rationale: PICOT structures clinical questions into Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and
Time.
3. In PICOT, the letter "I" stands for:
A) Intervention
B) Implementation
C) Investigation
D) Integration
Answer A: Intervention
Rationale: I in PICOT stands for the Intervention being considered.
,4. A nurse asks, "In adults with hypertension, does a low-sodium diet compared to no dietary change
reduce blood pressure within 6 months?" This is an example of a(n):
A) Background question
B) Foreground question
C) Etiology question
D) Prognosis question
Answer B: Foreground question
Rationale: This is a specific foreground question with a defined population and comparison.
5. Which database is specifically designed for nursing and allied health literature?
A) PubMed
B) CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
C) PsychINFO
D) Web of Science
Answer B: CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
Rationale: CINAHL is the premier database for nursing and allied health literature.
6. The highest level of evidence in the evidence hierarchy is:
A) Randomized controlled trial
B) Cohort study
C) Systematic review with meta-analysis of RCTs
D) Expert opinion
Answer C: Systematic review with meta-analysis of RCTs
Rationale: Systematic reviews/meta-analyses of RCTs represent the highest level of evidence.
7. A systematic review is a:
A) Comprehensive summary of studies on a specific question using rigorous methods
B) A single experimental study
C) An opinion piece by an expert in the field
D) A qualitative research study
Answer A: Comprehensive summary of studies on a specific question using rigorous methods
Rationale: Systematic reviews systematically gather and summarize evidence on a specific topic.
,8. A meta-analysis is best described as:
A) A narrative review of a topic
B) A statistical technique that combines results from multiple studies
C) A single randomized controlled trial
D) A qualitative research method
Answer B: A statistical technique that combines results from multiple studies
Rationale: Meta-analysis statistically combines data from multiple studies to increase power.
9. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice is used to:
A) Conduct individual research studies
B) Guide the implementation of evidence into clinical practice
C) Develop nursing theories
D) Assess patient satisfaction
Answer B: Guide the implementation of evidence into clinical practice
Rationale: The Iowa Model provides a framework for EBP implementation in healthcare.
10. The Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice focuses on:
A) Individual practitioner use of evidence in practice
B) Organizational change management
C) Research study design
D) Quality improvement processes
Answer A: Individual practitioner use of evidence in practice
Rationale: The Stetler Model emphasizes practitioner-level use of evidence.
11. Which of the following is NOT a component of the EBP process?
A) Ask a clinical question
B) Conduct a primary research study
C) Appraise the evidence
D) Evaluate the outcome
Answer B: Conduct a primary research study
Rationale: EBP uses existing evidence; conducting primary research is not part of the EBP process.
, 12. When formulating a PICOT question, the "T" refers to:
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) Treatment
j0
B) Time
j0
C) Test
j0
D) Theme
j0
Answer B: Time j0 j0
Rationale: T in PICOT stands for Time (the duration of follow-up).
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
13. A nurse wants to know the best intervention for a specific patient population. This type of
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
j0 question is a: j0 j0
A) Therapy/Intervention question
j0 j0
B) Prognosis question
j0 j0
C) Diagnosis question
j0 j0
D) Meaning question
j0 j0
Answer A: Therapy/Intervention question
j0 j0 j0
Rationale: Therapy/intervention questions ask about the best intervention for a population.
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
14. Which Boolean operator narrows a search by requiring both terms to be present?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) ANDj0
B) OR j0
C) NOTj0
D) NEARj0
Answer A: AND j0 j0
Rationale: AND narrows a search by requiring both terms in the results.
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
15. Which Boolean operator broadens a search to include either term?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) ANDj0
B) OR j0
C) NOTj0
D) NEARj0
Answer B: OR j0 j0
2026 Latest Update | Instant Download PDF
Questions 1–200
1. Which of the following best defines evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A) A process of following tradition and clinical expertise without research
B) The conscientious integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values
C) A method of conducting research studies in clinical settings
D) The use of clinical algorithms to standardize patient care
Answer B: The conscientious integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
values
Rationale: EBP integrates best evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences/values.
2. The PICOT format is used to:
A) Develop a focused clinical question for searching evidence
B) Analyze statistical data from research studies
C) Evaluate patient satisfaction with care
D) Document nursing interventions in medical records
Answer A: Develop a focused clinical question for searching evidence
Rationale: PICOT structures clinical questions into Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and
Time.
3. In PICOT, the letter "I" stands for:
A) Intervention
B) Implementation
C) Investigation
D) Integration
Answer A: Intervention
Rationale: I in PICOT stands for the Intervention being considered.
,4. A nurse asks, "In adults with hypertension, does a low-sodium diet compared to no dietary change
reduce blood pressure within 6 months?" This is an example of a(n):
A) Background question
B) Foreground question
C) Etiology question
D) Prognosis question
Answer B: Foreground question
Rationale: This is a specific foreground question with a defined population and comparison.
5. Which database is specifically designed for nursing and allied health literature?
A) PubMed
B) CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
C) PsychINFO
D) Web of Science
Answer B: CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
Rationale: CINAHL is the premier database for nursing and allied health literature.
6. The highest level of evidence in the evidence hierarchy is:
A) Randomized controlled trial
B) Cohort study
C) Systematic review with meta-analysis of RCTs
D) Expert opinion
Answer C: Systematic review with meta-analysis of RCTs
Rationale: Systematic reviews/meta-analyses of RCTs represent the highest level of evidence.
7. A systematic review is a:
A) Comprehensive summary of studies on a specific question using rigorous methods
B) A single experimental study
C) An opinion piece by an expert in the field
D) A qualitative research study
Answer A: Comprehensive summary of studies on a specific question using rigorous methods
Rationale: Systematic reviews systematically gather and summarize evidence on a specific topic.
,8. A meta-analysis is best described as:
A) A narrative review of a topic
B) A statistical technique that combines results from multiple studies
C) A single randomized controlled trial
D) A qualitative research method
Answer B: A statistical technique that combines results from multiple studies
Rationale: Meta-analysis statistically combines data from multiple studies to increase power.
9. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice is used to:
A) Conduct individual research studies
B) Guide the implementation of evidence into clinical practice
C) Develop nursing theories
D) Assess patient satisfaction
Answer B: Guide the implementation of evidence into clinical practice
Rationale: The Iowa Model provides a framework for EBP implementation in healthcare.
10. The Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice focuses on:
A) Individual practitioner use of evidence in practice
B) Organizational change management
C) Research study design
D) Quality improvement processes
Answer A: Individual practitioner use of evidence in practice
Rationale: The Stetler Model emphasizes practitioner-level use of evidence.
11. Which of the following is NOT a component of the EBP process?
A) Ask a clinical question
B) Conduct a primary research study
C) Appraise the evidence
D) Evaluate the outcome
Answer B: Conduct a primary research study
Rationale: EBP uses existing evidence; conducting primary research is not part of the EBP process.
, 12. When formulating a PICOT question, the "T" refers to:
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) Treatment
j0
B) Time
j0
C) Test
j0
D) Theme
j0
Answer B: Time j0 j0
Rationale: T in PICOT stands for Time (the duration of follow-up).
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
13. A nurse wants to know the best intervention for a specific patient population. This type of
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
j0 question is a: j0 j0
A) Therapy/Intervention question
j0 j0
B) Prognosis question
j0 j0
C) Diagnosis question
j0 j0
D) Meaning question
j0 j0
Answer A: Therapy/Intervention question
j0 j0 j0
Rationale: Therapy/intervention questions ask about the best intervention for a population.
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
14. Which Boolean operator narrows a search by requiring both terms to be present?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) ANDj0
B) OR j0
C) NOTj0
D) NEARj0
Answer A: AND j0 j0
Rationale: AND narrows a search by requiring both terms in the results.
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
15. Which Boolean operator broadens a search to include either term?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) ANDj0
B) OR j0
C) NOTj0
D) NEARj0
Answer B: OR j0 j0
