Nursing Theory FINAL EXAM With
Complete Rationales 2026-2027
Updated.
Definition of nursing - Answer "The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick
or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to a
peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or
knowledge."
Roles of the nurse - Answer Caregiver
Communicator
Collaborator
Educator
Manager
Leader
Advocate
Researcher & Innovator
Evidence Based Practice - Answer clinical decision making that integrates the best available
research with clinical expertise and patient characteristics and preferences
Quality Improvement - Answer focuses on improvement of health care-related processes,
systems, satisfactions, and cost outcomes.
The Research Process - Answer Conceptualize the problem
Design the study
Implement the design
Analyze/Interpret the data
Use the results
Independant variable - Answer the variable that is manipulated; presumed cause
Dependent variable - Answer the outcome variable that is being measured; relies on the
independent variable
Key concepts of quantitative research - Answer control, randomization, manipulation,
, Hypothesis - Answer A testable prediction of the link between two variables.
2 types of statistical tests - Answer descriptive and inferential
Descriptive statistics - Answer Brief, descriptive numbers that summarize a sample of data.
(measures of central tendency, standard deviation, variability)
Inferential statistics - Answer Used to make inferences ABOUT THE POPULATION based on
sample data; make inferences about the hypotheses and interpret the findings.
Statistical significance - Answer P < 0.05 to be statistically significant!
(means STRONG relationship between the two variables, so we reject the null hypothesis)
Key concepts of qualitative research - Answer investigate phenomena, words, NOT
stats/numbers, flexible (we can go where the research takes us), data collection and analysis
happen at the same time
Qualitative research data collection methods - Answer interviews, observations, focus groups,
questionnaires, field notes, participant journals & diaries, photo elicitation
Types of qualitative research - Answer Phenomenology
Ethnography
Grounded Theory
Historical
Case Study
Narrative
Phenomenology - Answer Understanding people's everyday lived experience
Asks meaning questions (meaning behind living through a hurricane, having breast cancer, etc.)
Ethnography - Answer Asks descriptive and interpretative questions about a culture and
cultural behavior
(behavior, artifacts, speech)
Participant sampling in qualitative research - Answer Purposive/Purposeful Sample
Complete Rationales 2026-2027
Updated.
Definition of nursing - Answer "The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick
or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to a
peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or
knowledge."
Roles of the nurse - Answer Caregiver
Communicator
Collaborator
Educator
Manager
Leader
Advocate
Researcher & Innovator
Evidence Based Practice - Answer clinical decision making that integrates the best available
research with clinical expertise and patient characteristics and preferences
Quality Improvement - Answer focuses on improvement of health care-related processes,
systems, satisfactions, and cost outcomes.
The Research Process - Answer Conceptualize the problem
Design the study
Implement the design
Analyze/Interpret the data
Use the results
Independant variable - Answer the variable that is manipulated; presumed cause
Dependent variable - Answer the outcome variable that is being measured; relies on the
independent variable
Key concepts of quantitative research - Answer control, randomization, manipulation,
, Hypothesis - Answer A testable prediction of the link between two variables.
2 types of statistical tests - Answer descriptive and inferential
Descriptive statistics - Answer Brief, descriptive numbers that summarize a sample of data.
(measures of central tendency, standard deviation, variability)
Inferential statistics - Answer Used to make inferences ABOUT THE POPULATION based on
sample data; make inferences about the hypotheses and interpret the findings.
Statistical significance - Answer P < 0.05 to be statistically significant!
(means STRONG relationship between the two variables, so we reject the null hypothesis)
Key concepts of qualitative research - Answer investigate phenomena, words, NOT
stats/numbers, flexible (we can go where the research takes us), data collection and analysis
happen at the same time
Qualitative research data collection methods - Answer interviews, observations, focus groups,
questionnaires, field notes, participant journals & diaries, photo elicitation
Types of qualitative research - Answer Phenomenology
Ethnography
Grounded Theory
Historical
Case Study
Narrative
Phenomenology - Answer Understanding people's everyday lived experience
Asks meaning questions (meaning behind living through a hurricane, having breast cancer, etc.)
Ethnography - Answer Asks descriptive and interpretative questions about a culture and
cultural behavior
(behavior, artifacts, speech)
Participant sampling in qualitative research - Answer Purposive/Purposeful Sample
