,NURS 4152 Nursing Research & Evidence-Based
Practice Exam Prep — Comprehensive Review +
Practice MCQs — Walden University 2025/2026
1. Which statement best defines evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing?
A. Using only research studies to make clinical decisions
B. Following institutional policies without considering patient preferences
C. Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences
D. Selecting interventions based primarily on personal clinical experience
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: EBP integrates three major components: the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and
patient values and preferences. Research evidence is essential but should not be used in isolation. A clinically
appropriate decision considers evidence alongside professional judgment and the patient's individual
circumstances, preferences, and goals.
2. A nurse wants to determine whether hourly rounding decreases patient falls on a medical-surgical unit.
Which component of an evidence-based practice question identifies the intervention?
A. Patient falls
B. Medical-surgical patients
C. Hourly rounding
D. Comparison with usual care
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In a PICOT question, the intervention is the treatment, practice change, diagnostic approach, or
exposure being evaluated. Hourly rounding is the intervention being implemented to determine whether it
reduces patient falls. The patient population is represented by medical-surgical patients, while the outcome is
the rate of patient falls.
3. A nurse develops the following PICOT question: "In adults hospitalized with hypertension, does daily blood
pressure monitoring compared with monitoring every 4 hours improve blood pressure control within 2
weeks?" Which part represents the outcome?
A. Adults hospitalized with hypertension
B. Daily blood pressure monitoring
C. Monitoring every 4 hours
D. Improved blood pressure control
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The O in PICOT represents the outcome that the researcher expects to measure after implementing
the intervention. Improved blood pressure control is the desired measurable result. The population is adults
hospitalized with hypertension, the intervention is daily blood pressure monitoring, and the comparison is
monitoring every 4 hours.
4. Which source would generally provide the strongest evidence for determining the effectiveness of an
intervention?
A. Expert opinion
B. Systematic review or meta-analysis of high-quality studies
, C. Individual case report
D. Personal clinical experience
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesize findings from multiple studies using a structured
and transparent process. When the included studies are high quality and sufficiently similar, the combined
evidence can provide a stronger estimate of an intervention's effectiveness than an individual study. Expert
opinion and clinical experience contribute to EBP but generally provide lower-level evidence for questions
about intervention effectiveness.
5. A nurse is evaluating whether a research article is trustworthy. Which question is most important when
assessing internal validity?
A. Does the article contain attractive graphics?
B. Was the study conducted in another country?
C. Were the study methods appropriate for answering the research question?
D. Is the article longer than five pages?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Internal validity refers to the extent to which a study's design and methods allow accurate
conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships. The appropriateness of study methods for the research
question is the central consideration in assessing internal validity.
6. Which model is most commonly used to guide the implementation of EBP in nursing settings?
Practice Exam Prep — Comprehensive Review +
Practice MCQs — Walden University 2025/2026
1. Which statement best defines evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing?
A. Using only research studies to make clinical decisions
B. Following institutional policies without considering patient preferences
C. Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences
D. Selecting interventions based primarily on personal clinical experience
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: EBP integrates three major components: the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and
patient values and preferences. Research evidence is essential but should not be used in isolation. A clinically
appropriate decision considers evidence alongside professional judgment and the patient's individual
circumstances, preferences, and goals.
2. A nurse wants to determine whether hourly rounding decreases patient falls on a medical-surgical unit.
Which component of an evidence-based practice question identifies the intervention?
A. Patient falls
B. Medical-surgical patients
C. Hourly rounding
D. Comparison with usual care
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In a PICOT question, the intervention is the treatment, practice change, diagnostic approach, or
exposure being evaluated. Hourly rounding is the intervention being implemented to determine whether it
reduces patient falls. The patient population is represented by medical-surgical patients, while the outcome is
the rate of patient falls.
3. A nurse develops the following PICOT question: "In adults hospitalized with hypertension, does daily blood
pressure monitoring compared with monitoring every 4 hours improve blood pressure control within 2
weeks?" Which part represents the outcome?
A. Adults hospitalized with hypertension
B. Daily blood pressure monitoring
C. Monitoring every 4 hours
D. Improved blood pressure control
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The O in PICOT represents the outcome that the researcher expects to measure after implementing
the intervention. Improved blood pressure control is the desired measurable result. The population is adults
hospitalized with hypertension, the intervention is daily blood pressure monitoring, and the comparison is
monitoring every 4 hours.
4. Which source would generally provide the strongest evidence for determining the effectiveness of an
intervention?
A. Expert opinion
B. Systematic review or meta-analysis of high-quality studies
, C. Individual case report
D. Personal clinical experience
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesize findings from multiple studies using a structured
and transparent process. When the included studies are high quality and sufficiently similar, the combined
evidence can provide a stronger estimate of an intervention's effectiveness than an individual study. Expert
opinion and clinical experience contribute to EBP but generally provide lower-level evidence for questions
about intervention effectiveness.
5. A nurse is evaluating whether a research article is trustworthy. Which question is most important when
assessing internal validity?
A. Does the article contain attractive graphics?
B. Was the study conducted in another country?
C. Were the study methods appropriate for answering the research question?
D. Is the article longer than five pages?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Internal validity refers to the extent to which a study's design and methods allow accurate
conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships. The appropriateness of study methods for the research
question is the central consideration in assessing internal validity.
6. Which model is most commonly used to guide the implementation of EBP in nursing settings?
