NSG 300 FINAL EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. A nurse researcher is developing a PICO question. Which component represents the ‘I’ in a
study comparing the effectiveness of saline flushes versus heparin flushes for peripheral IV
patency?
A. Peripheral IV patency
B. Heparin flushes
C. Saline flushes
D. Hospitalized patients
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: In the PICO format, ‘I’ stands for Intervention. In this scenario,
the primary intervention being tested is the saline flush, while the heparin flush serves as
the comparison.
2. Which level of evidence is considered the ‘gold standard’ for determining the efficacy of a
clinical intervention?
A. Expert opinion and consensus reports
,B. Single randomized controlled trials (RCT)
C. Systematic reviews of RCTs
D. Case-control studies
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomized controlled
trials are at the top of the evidence hierarchy (Level I) because they synthesize results from
multiple high-quality studies.
3. A researcher determines that a new treatment for hypertension has a p-value of 0.02. How
should this result be interpreted?
A. The results are not statistically significant.
B. The clinical significance is guaranteed by the low p-value.
C. There is a 2% chance that the results occurred by chance alone.
D. The power of the study was insufficient to detect a difference.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A p-value of 0.02 is less than the typical alpha of 0.05, meaning
the result is statistically significant and there is only a 2% probability that the finding was
due to random chance.
4. In a double-blind study, who is unaware of the treatment assignments?
A. The participants only
, B. The researchers only
C. Both the participants and the researchers
D. The Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Double-blinding ensures that neither the subjects nor the
investigators know who is receiving the intervention, which minimizes bias in outcome
measurement.
5. A study explores the ‘lived experience’ of patients surviving a sudden cardiac arrest. Which
qualitative research design is most appropriate?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Historical Research
C. Ethnography
D. Phenomenology
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on describing the meaning of a lived
experience for a group of individuals who have all experienced the same phenomenon.
6. What is the primary purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
A. To ensure the study has adequate funding
B. To verify the statistical accuracy of the research data
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. A nurse researcher is developing a PICO question. Which component represents the ‘I’ in a
study comparing the effectiveness of saline flushes versus heparin flushes for peripheral IV
patency?
A. Peripheral IV patency
B. Heparin flushes
C. Saline flushes
D. Hospitalized patients
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: In the PICO format, ‘I’ stands for Intervention. In this scenario,
the primary intervention being tested is the saline flush, while the heparin flush serves as
the comparison.
2. Which level of evidence is considered the ‘gold standard’ for determining the efficacy of a
clinical intervention?
A. Expert opinion and consensus reports
,B. Single randomized controlled trials (RCT)
C. Systematic reviews of RCTs
D. Case-control studies
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomized controlled
trials are at the top of the evidence hierarchy (Level I) because they synthesize results from
multiple high-quality studies.
3. A researcher determines that a new treatment for hypertension has a p-value of 0.02. How
should this result be interpreted?
A. The results are not statistically significant.
B. The clinical significance is guaranteed by the low p-value.
C. There is a 2% chance that the results occurred by chance alone.
D. The power of the study was insufficient to detect a difference.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A p-value of 0.02 is less than the typical alpha of 0.05, meaning
the result is statistically significant and there is only a 2% probability that the finding was
due to random chance.
4. In a double-blind study, who is unaware of the treatment assignments?
A. The participants only
, B. The researchers only
C. Both the participants and the researchers
D. The Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Double-blinding ensures that neither the subjects nor the
investigators know who is receiving the intervention, which minimizes bias in outcome
measurement.
5. A study explores the ‘lived experience’ of patients surviving a sudden cardiac arrest. Which
qualitative research design is most appropriate?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Historical Research
C. Ethnography
D. Phenomenology
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on describing the meaning of a lived
experience for a group of individuals who have all experienced the same phenomenon.
6. What is the primary purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
A. To ensure the study has adequate funding
B. To verify the statistical accuracy of the research data
