By Jennifer R. Gray, Susan K. Grove
(All Chapters| Evidence-Based & Exam-Ready Questions with Rationales)
,Chapter 01: Discovering the World of Nursing Research
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing can participate in the implementation of research
into practice. This means that the BSN nurse:
a. develops evidence-based guidelines.
b. designs research studies on which protocols may be based.
c. evaluates and revises evidence-based protocols.
d. reads and critically appraises existing studies.
Answer: D
Nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree have knowledge of the research process
and skills in reading and critically appraising studies. They use the best research evidence in practice
with guidance. Nurses with a BSN also assist with problem identification and data collection. Nurses
with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) critically appraise and synthesize findings from studies to
revise or develop protocols, algorithms, or policies for use in practice. Nurses with a Doctor of
Nursing Practice (DNP) develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based guidelines. Nurses with a
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) assume a major role in conducting research.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis
2. A study is designed to test the idea of providing companion dogs to elders in a major hospital,
in order to determine the effect upon the elders’ level of orientation. This type of study can do which
of the following?
a. Control
b. Describe
c. Explain
d. Predict
,Answer: A
Control is the ability to manipulate the situation to produce the desired outcome. Description
involves observing and documenting nursing phenomena, providing a snapshot of reality. Explanation
clarifies the relationships among concepts and variables with the goal of understanding how they
work with each other. Prediction involves estimating the probability of a specific outcome in a given
situation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
3. A researcher wants to know whether children with autism who are hospitalized in a pediatric
ward will require more hours of nursing care than the average child, when the parents or caregivers
are not present. What type of research outcome does this provide?
a. Control
b. Description
c. Explanation
d. Prediction
Answer: D
Prediction involves estimating the probability of a specific outcome in a given situation. Control is the
ability to manipulate the situation to produce the desired outcome. Description involves observing and
documenting nursing phenomena, providing a snapshot of reality.
Explanation clarifies the relationships among concepts and variables with the goal of understanding
how they work with each other.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
4. Despite the presence of an intraventricular drain, the intracranial pressure of a patient in
neurological intensive care remains increased. The nurse recalibrates the machine, makes sure the
monitor is on the same level as the drain, checks all connections, and then notifies the physician, who
comes to the unit and inserts a new drain. What type of reasoning or thinking prompts the nurse to
recalibrate, assure proper placement, and check connections?
a. Abstract thinking
b. Concrete thinking
c. Logical reasoning
d. Dialectical reasoning
Answer: C
Logical reasoning is used to dissect components of a situation or conclusion, examine each carefully,
and analyze relationships among the parts. Abstract thinking is oriented toward the development of
an idea without application to, or association with, a particular instance.
Concrete thinking is oriented toward and limited by tangible things or by events that are observed and
experienced in reality. Dialectical reasoning involves looking at situations in a holistic way.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
5. A nurse with considerable clinical expertise develops a policy for managing agitated patients in
the Emergency Department. The resultant policy emanates from:
a. abstract thinking.
b. concrete thinking.