The Practice of Nursing Exam Prep 2025–2026 | 240+ Verified Practice Questions with Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales | Complete Nursing Test Bank, Study Guide & Application Review for NCLEX and Nursing School Exams

The Practice of Nursing Exam Prep 2025–2026 |
240+ Verified Practice Questions with Correct
Answers & Detailed Rationales | Complete Nursing
Test Bank, Study Guide & Application Review for
NCLEX and Nursing School Exams

Question 1
Case: A nurse is designing a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a new pain
management protocol. What is the first step in the research process?
A) Data collection
B) Identifying the research problem (Correct Option)
C) Reviewing literature
D) Analyzing data
Rationale: Identifying the research problem is the first step in the research process,
guiding the entire study.


Question 2
Case: A nurse wants to conduct qualitative research on patient experiences. Which
method would be most appropriate?
A) Interviews (Correct Option)
B) Surveys
C) Experimental design
D) Observational studies
Rationale: Interviews are a common qualitative research method that allows for in-
depth exploration of patient experiences.


Question 3
Case: A nursing team wants to implement evidence-based practice. What is the best
first step?
A) Reviewing current literature (Correct Option)
B) Implementing changes immediately
C) Conducting a pilot study
D) Evaluating patient outcomes
Rationale: Reviewing current literature helps identify evidence-based practices that
can inform the team's implementation strategy.


Question 4
Case: A nurse is conducting a study on the effects of sleep deprivation on patient
recovery. What type of research design is best suited for this study?

,A) Qualitative
B) Experimental (Correct Option)
C) Descriptive
D) Correlational
Rationale: An experimental design allows the researcher to manipulate variables and
observe outcomes, making it suitable for cause-and-effect studies.


Question 5
Case: In a research study, a nurse is measuring the impact of a new educational
program on diabetes management. What is the dependent variable?
A) The educational program
B) Patient management of diabetes (Correct Option)
C) The nurse's training
D) The duration of the program
Rationale: The dependent variable is the outcome being measured, which in this case
is the patient's management of diabetes.


Question 6
Case: A nurse is reviewing a research article. What is the purpose of the literature
review section?
A) To summarize the findings
B) To provide context and background for the study (Correct Option)
C) To present the methodology
D) To discuss the implications
Rationale: The literature review provides context and background, helping to justify the
research problem and methodology.


Question 7
Case: A nurse is evaluating the reliability of a new assessment tool. What is a key
aspect to consider?
A) Consistency of results (Correct Option)
B) The number of items in the tool
C) The ease of use
D) The cost of implementation
Rationale: Reliability refers to the consistency of results obtained from a measurement
tool, which is crucial for its validity.

,Question 8
Case: A nurse is conducting a study using a convenience sample. What is a potential
limitation of this sampling method?
A) High cost
B) Limited generalizability (Correct Option)
C) Difficulty in data collection
D) Complexity of analysis
Rationale: Convenience sampling may not represent the larger population, limiting the
generalizability of the study findings.


Question 9
Case: A nurse researcher is using a mixed-methods approach. What does this involve?
A) Combining qualitative and quantitative methods (Correct Option)
B) Using only survey data
C) Focusing solely on interviews
D) Conducting observational studies
Rationale: A mixed-methods approach combines both qualitative and quantitative
research methods to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a research
problem.


Question 10
Case: A nurse is analyzing data from a study on patient satisfaction. What statistical
method would be appropriate for comparing satisfaction scores between two groups?
A) T-test (Correct Option)
B) ANOVA
C) Chi-square test
D) Correlation
Rationale: A t-test is used to compare the means of two groups to determine if there is
a significant difference between them.


Question 11
Case: A nurse is conducting a study on the effects of a new wound care protocol. What
ethical consideration is critical?
A) Informed consent (Correct Option)
B) Sample size
C) Statistical analysis
D) Literature review
Rationale: Informed consent ensures that participants understand the study's purpose,
procedures, and any potential risks before agreeing to participate.

, Question 12
Case: In a randomized controlled trial, what is the primary purpose of randomization?
A) To increase sample size
B) To eliminate bias (Correct Option)
C) To ensure equal groups
D) To simplify data analysis
Rationale: Randomization helps eliminate bias by ensuring that participants are
assigned to groups in a way that is not influenced by any external factors.


Question 13
Case: A nurse is evaluating the impact of a new intervention on patient outcomes. What
type of study design is best suited for this purpose?
A) Qualitative
B) Descriptive
C) Quasi-experimental (Correct Option)
D) Case study
Rationale: Quasi-experimental designs allow researchers to assess the impact of an
intervention without full randomization.


Question 14
Case: A nurse is reviewing a research article that uses a cross-sectional design. What
does this imply?
A) Data is collected over time
B) Data is collected at one point in time (Correct Option)
C) Participants are followed over a long period
D) The study includes multiple phases
Rationale: Cross-sectional studies collect data at a single point in time, providing a
snapshot of a population.


Question 15
Case: A nurse is assessing the validity of a research instrument. What is a key aspect to
consider?
A) Does it measure what it intends to measure? (Correct Option)
B) The cost of the instrument
C) The number of items in the instrument
D) The ease of administration