NSGD 3006: Nursing Research &
Evidence-Informed Practice
Study Guide (2026/2027 Syllabus)
Unit 1: Foundations of Nursing Research & Evidence-Informed Practice
1. What is the definition of Evidence-Informed Practice (EIP) in the 2026/2027
syllabus context?
ANSWER ✓ EIP is a problem-solving approach to clinical practice that integrates the
best evidence from systematic research, patient preferences and values, the clinical
expertise of the nurse, and the specific context of the care setting (including available
resources).
2. How does Evidence-Informed Practice differ from Evidence-Based Practice
(EBP)?
ANSWER ✓ While often used interchangeably, EIP places a stronger emphasis on
the context of care and the patient’s unique circumstances than traditional EBP. It
acknowledges that clinical decisions must be informed by evidence but are not dictated
solely by it, considering organizational feasibility and clinical judgment equally.
3. What are the five steps of the EIP process (the "5 A's")?
ANSWER ✓ 1. Ask: Formulate a clinical question. 2. Acquire: Search for the best
evidence. 3. Appraise: Critically evaluate the evidence for validity and applicability.
4. Apply: Integrate evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences.
5. Assess: Evaluate the outcome of the application.
4. What is the primary purpose of nursing research?
ANSWER ✓ The primary purpose is to generate new knowledge or validate existing
knowledge that informs nursing practice, education, administration, and health policy to
improve patient outcomes and the quality of care.
5. According to the 2026/2027 syllabus, what is the role of the "Clinical Nurse
Leader" in research?
ANSWER ✓ The Clinical Nurse Leader is expected to be an active consumer of research,
facilitating the translation of evidence into practice at the unit level, mentoring staff in
,question formulation, and participating in quality improvement initiatives based on
research findings.
Unit 2: Research Ethics & Indigenous Ways of Knowing
6. What are the three core principles of the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS 2)
for ethical research involving human participants?
ANSWER ✓ 1. Respect for Persons: Acknowledging autonomy and protecting those
with diminished autonomy. 2. Concern for Welfare: Ensuring participants are not
exposed to unnecessary risks and maximizing benefits. 3. Justice: Ensuring the burdens
and benefits of research are distributed fairly.
7. What is "free, prior, and informed consent" (FPIC) in the context of Indigenous
health research?
ANSWER ✓ FPIC is a specific right recognized in the TCPS 2 (Chapter 9) that
acknowledges Indigenous Peoples’ right to give or withhold consent to research
affecting their communities. It requires that consent be sought before research begins, is
based on full disclosure of risks/benefits, and is given without coercion.
8. What is the role of a Research Ethics Board (REB)?
ANSWER ✓ An REB is an independent body composed of scientific and non-scientific
members that reviews research protocols to ensure they meet ethical standards,
protecting the rights, safety, and well-being of human participants before the research
begins.
9. What constitutes a "vulnerable population" in research?
ANSWER ✓ Groups that have diminished autonomy or are at increased risk of coercion
or harm due to their circumstances. Examples include children, pregnant women,
prisoners, individuals with cognitive impairments, and populations facing socioeconomic
disadvantage.
10. How does the principle of "Two-Eyed Seeing" (Etuaptmumk) apply to nursing
research?
ANSWER ✓ It refers to learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous
knowledge and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western
knowledge (scientific research), using both eyes together for the benefit of all.
, Unit 3: Formulating Research Questions & The PICOT Framework
11. What does the acronym PICOT stand for?
ANSWER ✓ P - Population/Patient Problem, I - Intervention/Exposure, C -
Comparison, O - Outcome, T - Time (or Type of study).
12. Write a PICOT question for a therapy/intervention scenario.
ANSWER ✓ In adult patients with type 2 diabetes (P), does the use of a continuous
glucose monitor (I) compared to standard finger-stick testing (C) result in lower HbA1c
levels (O) over a 6-month period (T)?
13. Write a PICOT question for a prognosis scenario.
ANSWER ✓ In elderly patients post-hip fracture (P), does the presence of delirium
in the immediate post-operative period (I) compared to no delirium (C) predict a
decline in functional mobility (O) within one year of discharge (T)?
14. What is the difference between a "background" question and a "foreground"
question?
ANSWER ✓ Background questions ask for general knowledge about a condition (e.g.,
"What is heart failure?"). Foreground questions ask for specific knowledge about
managing a patient (e.g., PICOT questions) to inform clinical decisions.
15. What is a "feasibility" consideration when developing a research question?
ANSWER ✓ Feasibility assesses whether the study is practically possible, considering
factors like time, budget, access to participants, the researcher’s expertise, and ethical
constraints.
Unit 4: Literature Reviews & Searching Databases
16. What is the difference between a "narrative" literature review and a
"systematic" review?
ANSWER ✓ A narrative review is a broad, qualitative summary of literature that may
be subjective. A systematic review uses a rigorous, pre-defined methodology to
identify, appraise, and synthesize all available evidence on a specific question,
minimizing bias.
17. What are MeSH terms (Medical Subject Headings)?
ANSWER ✓ MeSH terms are a standardized vocabulary thesaurus used by databases
Evidence-Informed Practice
Study Guide (2026/2027 Syllabus)
Unit 1: Foundations of Nursing Research & Evidence-Informed Practice
1. What is the definition of Evidence-Informed Practice (EIP) in the 2026/2027
syllabus context?
ANSWER ✓ EIP is a problem-solving approach to clinical practice that integrates the
best evidence from systematic research, patient preferences and values, the clinical
expertise of the nurse, and the specific context of the care setting (including available
resources).
2. How does Evidence-Informed Practice differ from Evidence-Based Practice
(EBP)?
ANSWER ✓ While often used interchangeably, EIP places a stronger emphasis on
the context of care and the patient’s unique circumstances than traditional EBP. It
acknowledges that clinical decisions must be informed by evidence but are not dictated
solely by it, considering organizational feasibility and clinical judgment equally.
3. What are the five steps of the EIP process (the "5 A's")?
ANSWER ✓ 1. Ask: Formulate a clinical question. 2. Acquire: Search for the best
evidence. 3. Appraise: Critically evaluate the evidence for validity and applicability.
4. Apply: Integrate evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences.
5. Assess: Evaluate the outcome of the application.
4. What is the primary purpose of nursing research?
ANSWER ✓ The primary purpose is to generate new knowledge or validate existing
knowledge that informs nursing practice, education, administration, and health policy to
improve patient outcomes and the quality of care.
5. According to the 2026/2027 syllabus, what is the role of the "Clinical Nurse
Leader" in research?
ANSWER ✓ The Clinical Nurse Leader is expected to be an active consumer of research,
facilitating the translation of evidence into practice at the unit level, mentoring staff in
,question formulation, and participating in quality improvement initiatives based on
research findings.
Unit 2: Research Ethics & Indigenous Ways of Knowing
6. What are the three core principles of the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS 2)
for ethical research involving human participants?
ANSWER ✓ 1. Respect for Persons: Acknowledging autonomy and protecting those
with diminished autonomy. 2. Concern for Welfare: Ensuring participants are not
exposed to unnecessary risks and maximizing benefits. 3. Justice: Ensuring the burdens
and benefits of research are distributed fairly.
7. What is "free, prior, and informed consent" (FPIC) in the context of Indigenous
health research?
ANSWER ✓ FPIC is a specific right recognized in the TCPS 2 (Chapter 9) that
acknowledges Indigenous Peoples’ right to give or withhold consent to research
affecting their communities. It requires that consent be sought before research begins, is
based on full disclosure of risks/benefits, and is given without coercion.
8. What is the role of a Research Ethics Board (REB)?
ANSWER ✓ An REB is an independent body composed of scientific and non-scientific
members that reviews research protocols to ensure they meet ethical standards,
protecting the rights, safety, and well-being of human participants before the research
begins.
9. What constitutes a "vulnerable population" in research?
ANSWER ✓ Groups that have diminished autonomy or are at increased risk of coercion
or harm due to their circumstances. Examples include children, pregnant women,
prisoners, individuals with cognitive impairments, and populations facing socioeconomic
disadvantage.
10. How does the principle of "Two-Eyed Seeing" (Etuaptmumk) apply to nursing
research?
ANSWER ✓ It refers to learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous
knowledge and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western
knowledge (scientific research), using both eyes together for the benefit of all.
, Unit 3: Formulating Research Questions & The PICOT Framework
11. What does the acronym PICOT stand for?
ANSWER ✓ P - Population/Patient Problem, I - Intervention/Exposure, C -
Comparison, O - Outcome, T - Time (or Type of study).
12. Write a PICOT question for a therapy/intervention scenario.
ANSWER ✓ In adult patients with type 2 diabetes (P), does the use of a continuous
glucose monitor (I) compared to standard finger-stick testing (C) result in lower HbA1c
levels (O) over a 6-month period (T)?
13. Write a PICOT question for a prognosis scenario.
ANSWER ✓ In elderly patients post-hip fracture (P), does the presence of delirium
in the immediate post-operative period (I) compared to no delirium (C) predict a
decline in functional mobility (O) within one year of discharge (T)?
14. What is the difference between a "background" question and a "foreground"
question?
ANSWER ✓ Background questions ask for general knowledge about a condition (e.g.,
"What is heart failure?"). Foreground questions ask for specific knowledge about
managing a patient (e.g., PICOT questions) to inform clinical decisions.
15. What is a "feasibility" consideration when developing a research question?
ANSWER ✓ Feasibility assesses whether the study is practically possible, considering
factors like time, budget, access to participants, the researcher’s expertise, and ethical
constraints.
Unit 4: Literature Reviews & Searching Databases
16. What is the difference between a "narrative" literature review and a
"systematic" review?
ANSWER ✓ A narrative review is a broad, qualitative summary of literature that may
be subjective. A systematic review uses a rigorous, pre-defined methodology to
identify, appraise, and synthesize all available evidence on a specific question,
minimizing bias.
17. What are MeSH terms (Medical Subject Headings)?
ANSWER ✓ MeSH terms are a standardized vocabulary thesaurus used by databases
