MSN Module 4: Capstone & Scholarly Project Assessment 2026 |Galen
1. What is the primary purpose of the MSN Capstone Project?
A. To complete a required clinical rotation for licensure
B. To conduct original bench science research in a laboratory setting
C. To demonstrate mastery of program competencies through a scholarly project
D. To provide a platform for student socialization into the nursing profession
Answer: C
Rationale: The capstone project serves as a cumulative experience where students
synthesize and apply knowledge gained throughout the MSN program to solve a real-world
nursing problem.
2. In the context of a scholarly project, what does the ‘I’ represent in the PICOT
framework?
A. Information
B. Intervention
C. Implementation
D. Inquiry
Answer: B
Rationale: In PICOT (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time), ‘I’ stands for
the specific intervention or clinical issue being addressed.
,3. Which document is typically required to ensure that a project complies with
ethical standards regarding human subjects?
A. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or waiver
B. The project’s budget report
C. The student’s resume
D. A letter of recommendation from a peer
Answer: A
Rationale: The IRB ensures that the rights and welfare of human subjects are protected
during the project or research process.
4. Which stage of the PDSA cycle involves carrying out the plan and collecting
data?
A. Plan
B. Do
C. Study
D. Act
Answer: B
Rationale: The ‘Do’ phase is where the intervention is implemented and initial data is
gathered for later analysis.
5. What is the main goal of a ‘Sustainability Plan’ in a nursing project?
A. To maintain project improvements and benefits after the initial implementation phase
B. To ensure the project results are published in a high-impact journal
C. To secure funding for the student’s future education
D. To describe the historical background of the clinical problem
Answer: A
Rationale: Sustainability plans focus on how the positive changes will be maintained by
the organization once the student’s involvement ends.
, 6. Which of the following is considered a primary stakeholder in a project
focused on improving bedside handoff?
A. The hospital’s marketing department
B. Frontline nursing staff and patients
C. The medical records storage facility
D. Local nursing schools
Answer: B
Rationale: Stakeholders are those directly affected by the change; frontline nurses and
patients are central to the handoff process.
7. What is the difference between Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and traditional
research?
A. EBP seeks to generate new knowledge, while research applies existing knowledge
B. Research is only for PhD students, while EBP is only for MSN students
C. EBP focuses on applying the best available evidence to clinical decisions, while research generates new
knowledge
D. There is no difference between the two terms
Answer: C
Rationale: EBP is the translation of evidence into practice to improve outcomes, whereas
research aims to produce new scientific discoveries.
8. When synthesizing literature, what is the student’s primary task?
A. Summarizing each article individually in chronological order
B. Copying abstracts of relevant articles into a single document
C. Critically analyzing and identifying themes across multiple sources
D. Listing the qualifications of the authors of the selected studies
Answer: C
Rationale: Synthesis involves looking for patterns, strengths, and weaknesses across
various sources to provide a coherent argument for the project.
1. What is the primary purpose of the MSN Capstone Project?
A. To complete a required clinical rotation for licensure
B. To conduct original bench science research in a laboratory setting
C. To demonstrate mastery of program competencies through a scholarly project
D. To provide a platform for student socialization into the nursing profession
Answer: C
Rationale: The capstone project serves as a cumulative experience where students
synthesize and apply knowledge gained throughout the MSN program to solve a real-world
nursing problem.
2. In the context of a scholarly project, what does the ‘I’ represent in the PICOT
framework?
A. Information
B. Intervention
C. Implementation
D. Inquiry
Answer: B
Rationale: In PICOT (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time), ‘I’ stands for
the specific intervention or clinical issue being addressed.
,3. Which document is typically required to ensure that a project complies with
ethical standards regarding human subjects?
A. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or waiver
B. The project’s budget report
C. The student’s resume
D. A letter of recommendation from a peer
Answer: A
Rationale: The IRB ensures that the rights and welfare of human subjects are protected
during the project or research process.
4. Which stage of the PDSA cycle involves carrying out the plan and collecting
data?
A. Plan
B. Do
C. Study
D. Act
Answer: B
Rationale: The ‘Do’ phase is where the intervention is implemented and initial data is
gathered for later analysis.
5. What is the main goal of a ‘Sustainability Plan’ in a nursing project?
A. To maintain project improvements and benefits after the initial implementation phase
B. To ensure the project results are published in a high-impact journal
C. To secure funding for the student’s future education
D. To describe the historical background of the clinical problem
Answer: A
Rationale: Sustainability plans focus on how the positive changes will be maintained by
the organization once the student’s involvement ends.
, 6. Which of the following is considered a primary stakeholder in a project
focused on improving bedside handoff?
A. The hospital’s marketing department
B. Frontline nursing staff and patients
C. The medical records storage facility
D. Local nursing schools
Answer: B
Rationale: Stakeholders are those directly affected by the change; frontline nurses and
patients are central to the handoff process.
7. What is the difference between Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and traditional
research?
A. EBP seeks to generate new knowledge, while research applies existing knowledge
B. Research is only for PhD students, while EBP is only for MSN students
C. EBP focuses on applying the best available evidence to clinical decisions, while research generates new
knowledge
D. There is no difference between the two terms
Answer: C
Rationale: EBP is the translation of evidence into practice to improve outcomes, whereas
research aims to produce new scientific discoveries.
8. When synthesizing literature, what is the student’s primary task?
A. Summarizing each article individually in chronological order
B. Copying abstracts of relevant articles into a single document
C. Critically analyzing and identifying themes across multiple sources
D. Listing the qualifications of the authors of the selected studies
Answer: C
Rationale: Synthesis involves looking for patterns, strengths, and weaknesses across
various sources to provide a coherent argument for the project.
