Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses
A 28-year-old male presents with recurrent furunculosis (skin boils) for past 8 months;
these episodes have been treated with drainage and several courses of antibiotics but
keep recurring. He asks if recurrences can be prevented. To convert this to an
answerable question, use the P I C O method as follows
Question: In patients with recurrent furunculosis, do prophylactic antibiotics, compared
to no treatment, reduce the recurrence rate?' - Ans - • P: Patients with recurrent
furunculosis
• I: prophylactic antibiotics.
• C: No treatment
• O: Reduction in recurrence of furunculosis
A nurse researcher finds four useful resources. What is an appropriate next action?
o Decide whether the four resources provide a strong enough base for the topic.
o Review the resources in the articles.
o Talk to the librarian.
o Expand the topic. - Ans - • ANSWER: B
• RATIONALE: Review references in the resources. Although a few articles may be
comprehensive, it is not likely. Before talking to the librarian, review the references in
the resources. They often lead to another path of resources. And if all else fails, you
may need to expand your topic.
A set of interrelated concepts that provide a systematic view of a phenomenon is:
o Theory
o Construct
o Operational definition
o Model - Ans - Answer: A
Rationale:
• Theory: Set of interrelated concepts that provides a systematic view of a phenomenon.
Construct: Complex concept; constructs usually comprise more than one concept and
are built or "constructed" to fit a purpose.
• Operational definition: Specifies how the concept will be measured.
• Model: A graphic or symbolic representation of a phenomenon.
Analysis Understanding: - Ans - Understand parts, critique soundness.
Application of Theory in Qualitative Research - Ans - o Grounded theory
o Findings grouped into "themes"
o Framework or theory usually found at the end of the manuscript in the discussion
section
, Application to Research and Evidence-Based Practice - Ans - o Provides parameters for
the research and enables the researcher to weave the facts together
o Identify whether Intent is to (1) generate a theory, (2) use the theory as the framework
that guides the study, or (3) test a theory
Boolean Operators - Ans - Boolean operators define the relationships between words or
groups of words in a literature search.
Boolean operators dictate the relationship between words and concepts:
• "AND" requires both concepts to be located within the results that are returned.
• "OR" allows the grouping together of like terms or synonyms.
• "NOT" eliminates terms from the search.
CINAHL - Ans - is great for nursing research
Clinical Decision Making - Ans - Nurses are using best available evidence, combined
with their clinical judgment and patient preferences to influence the nature and direction
of health care delivery, and document outcomes related to the quality and cost
effectiveness of patient care.
Cochrane - Ans - for systematic reviews - in search for Evidence based practice.
Comprehensive understanding - Ans - Understand research purpose/intent, clarify
unfamiliar terms/concepts.
Consumer - Ans - Answer a clinical question or solve a problem to improve patient
outcomes
Critical reading requires four stages of understanding. What is the last stage?
o Analysis
o Preliminary (skimming)
o Synthesis
o Comprehensive - Ans - Answer: C
Rationale: Critical reading requires four stages of understanding: preliminary
(skimming), comprehensive, analysis, and synthesis.
Dependent variable: DV (Y) - Ans - Often referred to as consequence.
Observed & assumed to vary with change.
Not manipulated.
• The presumed effect/result
• Changes in response to IV
• Response variable
• Outcome variable
• Being observed or measured
directional research hypothesis - Ans - A directional research hypothesis predicts the
expected direction of the relationship between X and Y.
A 28-year-old male presents with recurrent furunculosis (skin boils) for past 8 months;
these episodes have been treated with drainage and several courses of antibiotics but
keep recurring. He asks if recurrences can be prevented. To convert this to an
answerable question, use the P I C O method as follows
Question: In patients with recurrent furunculosis, do prophylactic antibiotics, compared
to no treatment, reduce the recurrence rate?' - Ans - • P: Patients with recurrent
furunculosis
• I: prophylactic antibiotics.
• C: No treatment
• O: Reduction in recurrence of furunculosis
A nurse researcher finds four useful resources. What is an appropriate next action?
o Decide whether the four resources provide a strong enough base for the topic.
o Review the resources in the articles.
o Talk to the librarian.
o Expand the topic. - Ans - • ANSWER: B
• RATIONALE: Review references in the resources. Although a few articles may be
comprehensive, it is not likely. Before talking to the librarian, review the references in
the resources. They often lead to another path of resources. And if all else fails, you
may need to expand your topic.
A set of interrelated concepts that provide a systematic view of a phenomenon is:
o Theory
o Construct
o Operational definition
o Model - Ans - Answer: A
Rationale:
• Theory: Set of interrelated concepts that provides a systematic view of a phenomenon.
Construct: Complex concept; constructs usually comprise more than one concept and
are built or "constructed" to fit a purpose.
• Operational definition: Specifies how the concept will be measured.
• Model: A graphic or symbolic representation of a phenomenon.
Analysis Understanding: - Ans - Understand parts, critique soundness.
Application of Theory in Qualitative Research - Ans - o Grounded theory
o Findings grouped into "themes"
o Framework or theory usually found at the end of the manuscript in the discussion
section
, Application to Research and Evidence-Based Practice - Ans - o Provides parameters for
the research and enables the researcher to weave the facts together
o Identify whether Intent is to (1) generate a theory, (2) use the theory as the framework
that guides the study, or (3) test a theory
Boolean Operators - Ans - Boolean operators define the relationships between words or
groups of words in a literature search.
Boolean operators dictate the relationship between words and concepts:
• "AND" requires both concepts to be located within the results that are returned.
• "OR" allows the grouping together of like terms or synonyms.
• "NOT" eliminates terms from the search.
CINAHL - Ans - is great for nursing research
Clinical Decision Making - Ans - Nurses are using best available evidence, combined
with their clinical judgment and patient preferences to influence the nature and direction
of health care delivery, and document outcomes related to the quality and cost
effectiveness of patient care.
Cochrane - Ans - for systematic reviews - in search for Evidence based practice.
Comprehensive understanding - Ans - Understand research purpose/intent, clarify
unfamiliar terms/concepts.
Consumer - Ans - Answer a clinical question or solve a problem to improve patient
outcomes
Critical reading requires four stages of understanding. What is the last stage?
o Analysis
o Preliminary (skimming)
o Synthesis
o Comprehensive - Ans - Answer: C
Rationale: Critical reading requires four stages of understanding: preliminary
(skimming), comprehensive, analysis, and synthesis.
Dependent variable: DV (Y) - Ans - Often referred to as consequence.
Observed & assumed to vary with change.
Not manipulated.
• The presumed effect/result
• Changes in response to IV
• Response variable
• Outcome variable
• Being observed or measured
directional research hypothesis - Ans - A directional research hypothesis predicts the
expected direction of the relationship between X and Y.
