Test Bank - Chapter 01
Q1: What is the primary goal of nurses engaging in research and research-related activities?
A. To replace clinical judgement with research findings (Correct)
B. To contribute to evidence-based practice that improves patient outcomes
C. To ensure all nursing care strictly follows traditional methods
D. To focus exclusively on theoretical knowledge without practical application
Rationale: Research does not replace clinical judgement; it complements it. Nurses use research evidence alongside clinical expertise and patient preferences to make informed decisions.
Q2: How is nursing research significant to the profession of nursing?
A. Responsibility is more specifically defined. (Correct)
B. Liability within the practice of nursing is decreased.
C. A specialized body of knowledge is generated for use in the delivery of health care.
D. The scope of nursing practice is expanded into areas formerly reserved for other disciplines.
Rationale: Research aids in documenting accountability of nurses, but professional guidelines regarding responsibility already exist.
Q3: Why are scientific investigations focused on nursing practice, valuable?
A. They validate the effectiveness of particular nursing interventions. (Correct)
B. They encourage consumers to question the quality of health care.
C. They limit the theory base for clinical decision-making.
D. They mandate health care reform.
Rationale: Practice-focused research supports the effectiveness of nursing interventions and reinforces quality of nursing care.
Q4: When a change in nursing practice results in decreased cost of care, what additional factor must be considered before general implementation of this change?
A. Ensuring compliance with the change by nurses with diverse educational backgrounds. (Correct)
B. Maintaining or improving the quality of care resulting from the change in practice.
C. Encouraging patients to be active partners in their health care decisions.
D. Disseminating the change beyond the discipline of nursing.
Rationale: Not all nurses are responsible for supervising compliance with new measures.
Q5: Why do nurses who do not conduct research need to understand the nursing research process?
A. To identify potential participants for clinical research studies (Correct)
B. To assist in collecting accurate data for clinical research studies
C. To teach patients and families about the usefulness of participation in research
D. To be able to evaluate nursing research reports for relevance to their own clinical practice
Rationale: Nurses who do not conduct research would not influence participant identification.
Q6: How are nursing theory and nursing research related?
A. Nursing theory and nursing research are independent and have no direct connections. (Correct)
B. Without nursing theory, research conducted by nurses would have little impact on nursing practice.
C. Nursing research determines direction and content of nursing theory.
D. Nursing theory and nursing research both advance the knowledge base of nursing.
Rationale: Theory and research are related to each other.
Q7: Which action demonstrates the role of an intelligent consumer of nursing research?
A. Designing a research study (Correct)
B. Analyzing data to determine outcomes
C. Evaluating the credibility of the research findings
D. Replicating the study in another setting to confirm the findings
Rationale: A consumer applies research to practice. Consumers are not responsible for designing a study.
Q8: When assigning research-related responsibilities to nursing staff, which function is most appropriate for a staff registered nurse?
A. Ensuring the protection of human participants by upholding the ethical research principles. (Correct)
B. Providing expert consultation on the delivery of clinical services.
C. Developing systems to monitor the quality of nursing practice in the clinical setting.
D. Offering scientific leadership by guiding others in applying research findings to nursing practice.
Rationale: All nurses are responsible for protecting human participants in research.
Q9: Which of the following statements regarding the role of the nurse in research is true?
A. Nurses must be prepared at the baccalaureate level to have any role in nursing research. (Correct)
B. Master’s-prepared nurses (those with MSN, MN, or MS degrees) are primarily responsible for using the findings of nursing research in clinical practice.
C. One role of the nurse is to identify issues in clinical practice that are suitable for research.
D. Data analysis is only conducted by a PhD-level nurse.
Rationale: BScN nurses must be able to critically appraise research and use for evidence-informed practice. MSN and PhD nurses are more active members of the research team.
Q10: Which of Florence Nightingale’s actions formed the foundation for modern-day nursing research methods?
A. Establishing the St. Thomas Hospital School of Nursing in England (Correct)
B. Writing the curricula for the nineteenth-century nurse training programs
C. Lobbying the British parliament to enact changes in law for better health care
D. Collecting data systematically on the health status of British soldiers during the Crimean War
Rationale: Establishing a school of nursing is not a form of scientific investigation.
Q11: Which of the following best describes the Tri-Council in Canada?
A. Canada’s three federal research agencies CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC (Correct)
B. The three provincial nursing regulatory bodies that oversee nursing practice
C. A national organization that accredits nursing education programs
D. The three major health ministries responsible for public health policy
Rationale: The Tri-Council in Canada refers to the three federal research funding agencies: CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC, which support health, natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences research.
Q12: What does critical appraisal in nursing research involve?
A. Summarizing research findings without evaluating their quality or applicability. (Correct)
B. Accepting all published research as valid for immediate implementation in practice.
C. Focusing only on theoretical aspects of research without considering clinical relevance.
D. Appraising research evidence using established standards to judge its merit and readiness for clinical use.
Rationale: Summarizing alone does not assess quality.
Q13: Which of the following is the overall value of developing evidence-informed nursing practice?
A. Demonstration of how nursing practices can make a difference in patient outcomes (Correct)
B. Implementation of the most cost-effective nursing practice patterns
C. Separation of nursing research from the research of other disciplines
D. Development of new nursing theories
Rationale: Evidence-informed practice provides a research foundation for nursing interventions.
Q14: How does an international research perspective contribute to the discipline and science of nursing?
A. By unifying the definition of the term health (Correct)
B. By increasing the dissemination potential of research findings
C. By emphasizing the cultural aspects of nursing care
D. By testing innovative and cost-effective patient care delivery models
Rationale: Nursing models can be tested in a variety of settings, which strengthens the credibility of the evidence. Health is a subjective term.
Q15: Which of the following is the identified priority for future nursing research efforts?
A. Improvement in patient quality of life (Correct)
B. Cost containment of health care delivery
C. Reducing health disparities in vulnerable populations
D. Promotion of advanced education in nursing
Rationale: Patient quality of life is a desired outcome but not the identified priority for future nursing research.
Q16: Review the information from four abstracts below and identify which study is an example of outcome-based research.
A. This study used a school-based community sample (N = 920) to examine trajectories of depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and expressed anger in the critical years of emerging adulthood (ages 18 to 25). (Correct)
B. To identify reasons for lower organ donation rates by knowledge and attitudes about brain death, donation, and transplantation and trust in the health care system were examined.
C. An exploratory study was undertaken with a racially diverse group of custodial grandfathers to fill a gap in the literature about the vulnerability for elder abuse, exploitation, and neglect as expressed by older Indigenous, Caucasian, and South Asian custodial grandfathers.
D. A multicentre, international clinical trial was conducted in 3,500 patients with documented coronary heart disease to determine whether a brief education and counselling intervention delivered by a nurse can reduce prehospital delay in the face of symptoms.
Rationale: Exploration of anger in adulthood is not an outcomes research study.
Review Questions - Chapter 01
Q1: Why should the registered nurse engaged in bedside nursing be concerned with research for the delivery of quality nursing care?
A. Research provides nurses with evidence-informed knowledge needed to make sound clinical decisions. (Correct)
B. A single, well-constructed study can significantly influence nursing practice.
C. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations requires all nurses to be consumers of research.
D. Relying on traditional nursing care is no longer appropriate for twenty-first century nursing.
Rationale: Research is the foundation of evidence-informed practice. It provides nurses with scientifically validated information that improves patient outcomes, enhances safety, and supports sound clinical judgement. Options B, C, and D are incorrect: Practice should never change based on just one study. The Joint Commission regulates health care settings, not the practice of nursing. Traditional care methods may still be relevant when supported by evidence. The goal is to integrate research with best practices, not discard tradition entirely.
Q2: To be important to nursing practice, which best supports nursing theory?
A. Educational environment
B. Nursing research (Correct)
C. Patient outcomes
D. Expansive body of science
Rationale: Although nursing research cannot prove or disprove a theory, it can support the theory. Nursing theory arises from clinical practice and has been developed by both practitioners and educators. Because theory cannot be tested directly, patient outcomes cannot directly support theory. Theory is part of an expansive body of science.
Q3: In nursing research, how is the term phenomena best defined?
A. Only events that can be measured quantitatively in a clinical setting
B. Occurrences, situations, or facts that can be perceived by the senses, including experiences like pain or anxiety (Correct)
C. Strictly observable behaviors that exclude subjective experiences
D. Hypotheses developed before data collection begins
Rationale: Phenomena refers to occurrences, situations, or facts that can be perceived by the senses, including experiences like pain or anxiety.
Q4: Which is the best way for a nurse to use research appropriately?
A. Follow the study researcher’s recommendations
B. Read many studies in the same content area and follow the recommendations of the studies with similar findings
C. Explore the strength of the evidence available (Correct)
D. Replicate studies in their own settings to make sure recommendations are contextually appropriate
Rationale: It is important to determine all evidence available and the strength of the evidence before changing practice. Practice decisions should never be made based on one study alone. Studies in the same content area may not represent the best knowledge in the area. Nurses do not need to replicate studies before making practice decisions.
Q5: Why should the average consumer of health care be concerned about nursing research?
A. Research provides evidence that nursing care makes a difference. (Correct)
B. The nursing profession needs to define its place in the health care system.
C. Accrediting agencies must determine how best to use the technology needed to provide nursing care.
D. Nurses must justify the cost of their services for reimbursement purposes.
Rationale: Nursing is accountable to consumers when they can demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of nursing care. Options B and C focus on the nursing profession, not the consumer, and therefore do not answer the question. Nursing research builds knowledge about effective nursing interventions, as well as the cost-effectiveness of nursing care.
Q6: Which of the following is the most effective way nursing research findings are disseminated?
A. Posting results on social media platforms
B. Publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at professional conferences (Correct)
C. Sharing findings only within the research team
D. Including results exclusively in internal hospital reports
Rationale: Peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations are the standard and most widely accepted methods for disseminating nursing research to ensure credibility, scholarly review, and broad professional access.
Q7: Which statement best explains why nursing education was crucial to the advancement of nursing research?
A. It introduced nursing courses in 1918, which immediately led to large-scale research funding.
B. It focused exclusively on clinical skills without incorporating research principles.
C. It slowed the development of nursing research until advanced degrees became available.
D. It provided advanced degrees and research training through master’s and doctoral programs, enabling nurses to conduct independent research. (Correct)
Rationale: The development of master’s programs (1950s–1970s) and doctoral programs (1990s–2000s) was essential for building research capacity and advancing nursing science.
Q8: Why were doctoral programs in nursing significant for research development?
A. They focused solely on clinical skills without research training.
B. They provided nurses with advanced research training and leadership skills. (Correct)
C. They eliminated the need for master’s programs.
D. They restricted nurses from conducting independent research.
Rationale: Doctoral education enabled nurses to lead research projects and contribute to nursing science.
Q9: Why is reading and understanding nursing research important for all nurses, not just those who conduct research?
A. It helps nurses stay informed about evidence-based practices that improve patient care. (Correct)
B. It is only necessary for nurses working in academic or research settings.
C. It ensures nurses can memorize theories without applying them in practice.
D. It is primarily for meeting continuing education requirements, not for clinical decision-making.
Rationale: Reading research enables all nurses to apply the latest evidence-based practices, improve patient outcomes, and maintain high standards of care. It supports critical thinking and informed clinical decision-making.
Q10: Why is it important for all nurses to uphold ethical principles in research even if they are not a part of the research team?
A. Ethical principles only apply to those who design research protocols.
B. Nurses are rarely involved in any aspect of research beyond data collection.
C. Ethics in research is optional for clinical nurses who do not publish findings.
D. Nurses may be involved in recruiting participants, obtaining informed consent, and protecting patient rights during studies. (Correct)
Rationale: All nurses have a responsibility to safeguard patient autonomy, confidentiality, and safety when participating in research activities. Nurses often assist with informed consent, monitor participants, and ensure ethical standards are upheld in practice.
Q11: In the context of nursing research, what does dissemination refer to?
A. Collecting data from participants during a study
B. Developing hypotheses for future research projects
C. Sharing research findings with stakeholders, practitioners, and the broader community (Correct)
D. Limiting research results to the research team only
Rationale: Dissemination refers to the process of communicating research results through publications, presentations, guidelines, and other channels to ensure findings inform practice and policy.
Q12: What is the main difference between evidence-based practice (EBP) and evidence-informed practice (EIP) in nursing?
A. EBP relies solely on research evidence, while EIP integrates research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences. (Correct)
B. EBP ignores patient values, whereas EIP focuses only on patient opinions.
C. EBP and EIP are identical terms with no practical differences.
D. EBP uses outdated evidence, while EIP uses current evidence only.
Rationale: Evidence-informed practice emphasizes contextual decision making, combining research evidence with clinical judgement and patient values. EBP traditionally focuses more on applying the best available research evidence, sometimes perceived as less flexible.
Q13: Which statement best reflects the relationship between research findings and theory-informed nursing practice?
A. Research findings are unrelated to theoretical frameworks in nursing.
B. Research findings may form the foundation of theory-informed practice and guide future research. (Correct)
C. Theoretical frameworks are developed independently of research evidence.
D. Research findings only validate existing theories but do not influence practice.
Rationale: Nursing theories often evolve from empirical evidence, and research findings help refine or develop frameworks that guide practice and future studies.
Q14: What is the most likely consequence if nursing professionals do not engage in research?
A. Nursing practice will remain evidence-informed and continue to evolve.
B. Patient care may remain unchanged, relying on outdated practices and lacking innovation. (Correct)
C. Theoretical frameworks will develop independently without research input.
D. Clinical decision-making will become more accurate over time.
Rationale: Without ongoing research, nursing practice cannot adapt to emerging health challenges, technologies, or patient needs, leading to stagnation and potential harm.
Q15: What is the primary purpose of the Health Services Researcher Pathway for nurses?
A. To train nurses exclusively in bedside clinical care
B. To replace evidence-based practice with theoretical models
C. To focus solely on administrative leadership roles in health care organizations
D. To outline a career trajectory that builds research knowledge, skills, and attitudes for improving quality of care (Correct)
Rationale: The Health Services Researcher Pathway describes progressive stages for nurses—from applying health services research evidence in practice to collaborating with researchers and eventually becoming health services researchers—aimed at fostering a research
culture that enhances care quality.
