Evidence-Based Practice - 2026 Nursing Primer: Midterm Exam
(Units 1-7) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Florence Nightingale contributed to the foundations of EBP by:
A. Inventing randomized trials
B. Creating the PICO format
C. Founding the Cochrane Collaboration
D. Collecting and analyzing mortality data to change care practices
Correct Answer: D. Collecting and analyzing mortality data to change care practices
Rationale: Her statistical diagrams showed sanitation reduced deaths. Randomized trials and
Cochrane came later.
2. The AACN Essentials (2021) address EBP primarily in the domain of:
A. Professionalism only
B. Informatics only
C. Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
D. Population Health only
Correct Answer: C. Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
Rationale: Domain 4 covers generating, synthesizing, translating and applying evidence. EBP
also appears across other domains.
3. A nurse's professional responsibility for EBP is supported by the ANA Scope and Standards
because:
A. EBP is optional
B. Only researchers use evidence
C. Standards call for nurses to integrate evidence and research findings into practice
D. Standards prohibit change
Correct Answer: C. Standards call for nurses to integrate evidence and research findings into
practice
Rationale: The standards include evidence-based practice and research. Nurses are accountable
for current practice.
,4. Clinical practice policies on a unit should be:
A. Based on current evidence and reviewed regularly
B. Never updated
C. Based on one person's preference
D. Copied without review
Correct Answer: A. Based on current evidence and reviewed regularly
Rationale: Policies drift out of date. Regular review keeps them aligned with evidence.
5. The Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine) set a goal that by 2020:
A. All nurses would have PhDs
B. Hospitals would stop using research
C. Every unit would conduct trials
D. 90% of clinical decisions would be supported by accurate, timely and up-to-date evidence
Correct Answer: D. 90% of clinical decisions would be supported by accurate, timely and
up-to-date evidence
Rationale: The goal highlighted the need for EBP. It has not been fully achieved.
6. Shared governance supports EBP through:
A. Top-down orders only
B. Councils that give nurses a voice in practice standards based on evidence
C. Eliminating nurse input
D. Avoiding evidence
Correct Answer: B. Councils that give nurses a voice in practice standards based on evidence
Rationale: Practice councils review evidence to change policies. Shared governance is part of
Magnet.
,7. EBP readiness in an organization can be assessed using tools such as:
A. The Braden Scale
B. The Organizational Culture and Readiness for System-wide Integration of EBP (OCRSIEP) scale
C. The Glasgow Coma Scale
D. APGAR
Correct Answer: B. The Organizational Culture and Readiness for System-wide Integration of
EBP (OCRSIEP) scale
Rationale: Assessing readiness identifies needs. The other tools assess patients.
8. EBP supports health equity when nurses:
A. Consider whether evidence applies to diverse populations and address disparities
B. Ignore population differences
C. Use evidence only from one group
D. Avoid data on disparities
Correct Answer: A. Consider whether evidence applies to diverse populations and address
disparities
Rationale: Many studies underrepresent minority groups. Applicability should be considered.
9. Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt's EBP process begins with Step 0, which is:
A. Searching databases
B. Evaluating outcomes
C. Cultivating a spirit of inquiry
D. Disseminating results
Correct Answer: C. Cultivating a spirit of inquiry
Rationale: A questioning culture comes first. Asking a PICOT question is Step 1.
, 10. Evidence-based nursing competencies for practicing registered nurses were developed by:
A. The FDA
B. CMS
C. The Joint Commission only
D. Melnyk and colleagues, including 13 competencies for RNs and 11 more for advanced
practice nurses
Correct Answer: D. Melnyk and colleagues, including 13 competencies for RNs and 11 more
for advanced practice nurses
Rationale: The 24 competencies guide education and evaluation. They were published in 2014.
11. Nurse residency programs support EBP by:
A. Including EBP projects and mentorship for new graduates
B. Avoiding EBP
C. Focusing only on skills
D. Removing support
Correct Answer: A. Including EBP projects and mentorship for new graduates
Rationale: Early exposure builds habits. Projects are often presented at completion.
12. Internal evidence in EBP refers to:
A. Data generated within an organization, such as QI data or outcomes management
B. Published randomized trials
C. International guidelines
D. Textbook content
Correct Answer: A. Data generated within an organization, such as QI data or outcomes
management
Rationale: Internal evidence complements external research. It shows local performance.
(Units 1-7) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Florence Nightingale contributed to the foundations of EBP by:
A. Inventing randomized trials
B. Creating the PICO format
C. Founding the Cochrane Collaboration
D. Collecting and analyzing mortality data to change care practices
Correct Answer: D. Collecting and analyzing mortality data to change care practices
Rationale: Her statistical diagrams showed sanitation reduced deaths. Randomized trials and
Cochrane came later.
2. The AACN Essentials (2021) address EBP primarily in the domain of:
A. Professionalism only
B. Informatics only
C. Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
D. Population Health only
Correct Answer: C. Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline
Rationale: Domain 4 covers generating, synthesizing, translating and applying evidence. EBP
also appears across other domains.
3. A nurse's professional responsibility for EBP is supported by the ANA Scope and Standards
because:
A. EBP is optional
B. Only researchers use evidence
C. Standards call for nurses to integrate evidence and research findings into practice
D. Standards prohibit change
Correct Answer: C. Standards call for nurses to integrate evidence and research findings into
practice
Rationale: The standards include evidence-based practice and research. Nurses are accountable
for current practice.
,4. Clinical practice policies on a unit should be:
A. Based on current evidence and reviewed regularly
B. Never updated
C. Based on one person's preference
D. Copied without review
Correct Answer: A. Based on current evidence and reviewed regularly
Rationale: Policies drift out of date. Regular review keeps them aligned with evidence.
5. The Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine) set a goal that by 2020:
A. All nurses would have PhDs
B. Hospitals would stop using research
C. Every unit would conduct trials
D. 90% of clinical decisions would be supported by accurate, timely and up-to-date evidence
Correct Answer: D. 90% of clinical decisions would be supported by accurate, timely and
up-to-date evidence
Rationale: The goal highlighted the need for EBP. It has not been fully achieved.
6. Shared governance supports EBP through:
A. Top-down orders only
B. Councils that give nurses a voice in practice standards based on evidence
C. Eliminating nurse input
D. Avoiding evidence
Correct Answer: B. Councils that give nurses a voice in practice standards based on evidence
Rationale: Practice councils review evidence to change policies. Shared governance is part of
Magnet.
,7. EBP readiness in an organization can be assessed using tools such as:
A. The Braden Scale
B. The Organizational Culture and Readiness for System-wide Integration of EBP (OCRSIEP) scale
C. The Glasgow Coma Scale
D. APGAR
Correct Answer: B. The Organizational Culture and Readiness for System-wide Integration of
EBP (OCRSIEP) scale
Rationale: Assessing readiness identifies needs. The other tools assess patients.
8. EBP supports health equity when nurses:
A. Consider whether evidence applies to diverse populations and address disparities
B. Ignore population differences
C. Use evidence only from one group
D. Avoid data on disparities
Correct Answer: A. Consider whether evidence applies to diverse populations and address
disparities
Rationale: Many studies underrepresent minority groups. Applicability should be considered.
9. Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt's EBP process begins with Step 0, which is:
A. Searching databases
B. Evaluating outcomes
C. Cultivating a spirit of inquiry
D. Disseminating results
Correct Answer: C. Cultivating a spirit of inquiry
Rationale: A questioning culture comes first. Asking a PICOT question is Step 1.
, 10. Evidence-based nursing competencies for practicing registered nurses were developed by:
A. The FDA
B. CMS
C. The Joint Commission only
D. Melnyk and colleagues, including 13 competencies for RNs and 11 more for advanced
practice nurses
Correct Answer: D. Melnyk and colleagues, including 13 competencies for RNs and 11 more
for advanced practice nurses
Rationale: The 24 competencies guide education and evaluation. They were published in 2014.
11. Nurse residency programs support EBP by:
A. Including EBP projects and mentorship for new graduates
B. Avoiding EBP
C. Focusing only on skills
D. Removing support
Correct Answer: A. Including EBP projects and mentorship for new graduates
Rationale: Early exposure builds habits. Projects are often presented at completion.
12. Internal evidence in EBP refers to:
A. Data generated within an organization, such as QI data or outcomes management
B. Published randomized trials
C. International guidelines
D. Textbook content
Correct Answer: A. Data generated within an organization, such as QI data or outcomes
management
Rationale: Internal evidence complements external research. It shows local performance.
