NSGD 2216 Final Exam – Modules 1-4
Comprehensive 2026 – 300 Questions with
Answers & Rationales
Module 1: Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice & Critical Inquiry
(Questions 1–75)
1. Which group would be best served by clinical nursing research?
A) Nursing administrators
B) Practicing nurses
C) Nurses' clients
D) Healthcare policymakers
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: While all groups benefit from nursing research, the ultimate
beneficiary is the patient (nurses' clients). Clinical nursing research aims to
improve patient outcomes directly. Research utilization by practicing nurses
and administrators ultimately serves the client's wellbeing .
2. In the United States, in what area does research play an important role in
nursing?
A) Chronic illness
B) Credentialing and status
C) Nurses' personalities
D) Nurses' education
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the United States, nursing research has played a significant role
in credentialing and professional status. Nursing research has helped
establish nursing as a distinct academic discipline and profession with its
own body of knowledge .
,3. What is the role of a consumer of nursing research?
A) Read research reports for relevant findings
B) Participate in generating evidence by doing research
C) Participate in a journal club in a practice setting
D) Solve clinical problems and make clinical decisions
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A consumer of nursing research reads and appraises research
reports to stay informed of relevant findings that may impact their clinical
practice. Consumers may also implement evidence-based changes but do not
necessarily conduct original research themselves .
4. What is the role of a producer of nursing research?
A) Read research reports to keep up-to-date on findings
B) Actively design and undertake studies
C) Implement evidence-based guidelines
D) Participate in journal clubs
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Producers of nursing research are nurses who actively design and
undertake studies. They generate new knowledge through systematic
inquiry, while consumers read and apply research findings .
5. What was the concern of most nursing studies in the early 1900s?
A) Client satisfaction
B) Clinical problems
C) Health promotion
D) Nursing education
,✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the early 1900s, most nursing studies focused on nursing
education rather than clinical practice. Early nursing research addressed
questions about how nurses should be trained, curriculum development, and
the professionalization of nursing education .
6. Which topic most closely conforms to the priorities that have been
suggested for future nursing research?
A) Attitudes of nursing students toward smoking
B) Promotion of excellence in nursing science
C) Nursing staff morale and turnover
D) Number of doctorate prepared nurses in various clinical specialties
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Promotion of excellence in nursing science aligns with national
research priorities that emphasize advancing the scientific basis of nursing
practice. Research priorities typically focus on clinical outcomes, quality of
care, patient safety, and health promotion .
7. What is the process of deductive reasoning?
A) Verifying assumptions that are part of our heritage
B) Developing specific predictions from general principles
C) Empirically testing observations that are made known through our senses
D) Forming generalizations from specific observations
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Deductive reasoning moves from general principles to specific
predictions. For example, if all humans need oxygen (general principle), then
this patient will need oxygen (specific prediction). Quantitative research
typically uses deductive reasoning .
, 8. What is the ontological assumption of those espousing a naturalistic
(constructivist) paradigm?
A) Objective reality and that natural phenomena are regular and orderly
B) Phenomena are not haphazard and result from prior causes
C) Reality is multiply constructed and multiply interpreted by humans
D) Reality is not fixed, but is rather a construction of human minds
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The naturalistic (constructivist) paradigm holds that reality is
subjective, multiple, and multiply constructed by individuals. There is no
single objective reality; rather, individuals construct their own realities based
on their experiences and perspectives .
9. What is the epistemological assumption of those espousing a positivist
paradigm?
A) The researcher is objective and independent of those being studied
B) Phenomena are not haphazard, but rather have antecedent causes
C) The researcher instructs those being studied to be objective in providing
information
D) Reality is not fixed, but is rather a construction of human minds
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Positivism's epistemological assumption is that the researcher can
and should be objective, detached, and independent from those being
studied. This allows for unbiased observation and discovery of truth .
10. Which is NOT a characteristic of traditional scientific method?
A) Control over external factors
B) Systematic measurement and observation of natural phenomena
C) Deductive reasoning
D) Emphasis on a holistic view of a phenomenon, studied in a rich context
Comprehensive 2026 – 300 Questions with
Answers & Rationales
Module 1: Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice & Critical Inquiry
(Questions 1–75)
1. Which group would be best served by clinical nursing research?
A) Nursing administrators
B) Practicing nurses
C) Nurses' clients
D) Healthcare policymakers
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: While all groups benefit from nursing research, the ultimate
beneficiary is the patient (nurses' clients). Clinical nursing research aims to
improve patient outcomes directly. Research utilization by practicing nurses
and administrators ultimately serves the client's wellbeing .
2. In the United States, in what area does research play an important role in
nursing?
A) Chronic illness
B) Credentialing and status
C) Nurses' personalities
D) Nurses' education
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the United States, nursing research has played a significant role
in credentialing and professional status. Nursing research has helped
establish nursing as a distinct academic discipline and profession with its
own body of knowledge .
,3. What is the role of a consumer of nursing research?
A) Read research reports for relevant findings
B) Participate in generating evidence by doing research
C) Participate in a journal club in a practice setting
D) Solve clinical problems and make clinical decisions
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A consumer of nursing research reads and appraises research
reports to stay informed of relevant findings that may impact their clinical
practice. Consumers may also implement evidence-based changes but do not
necessarily conduct original research themselves .
4. What is the role of a producer of nursing research?
A) Read research reports to keep up-to-date on findings
B) Actively design and undertake studies
C) Implement evidence-based guidelines
D) Participate in journal clubs
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Producers of nursing research are nurses who actively design and
undertake studies. They generate new knowledge through systematic
inquiry, while consumers read and apply research findings .
5. What was the concern of most nursing studies in the early 1900s?
A) Client satisfaction
B) Clinical problems
C) Health promotion
D) Nursing education
,✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the early 1900s, most nursing studies focused on nursing
education rather than clinical practice. Early nursing research addressed
questions about how nurses should be trained, curriculum development, and
the professionalization of nursing education .
6. Which topic most closely conforms to the priorities that have been
suggested for future nursing research?
A) Attitudes of nursing students toward smoking
B) Promotion of excellence in nursing science
C) Nursing staff morale and turnover
D) Number of doctorate prepared nurses in various clinical specialties
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Promotion of excellence in nursing science aligns with national
research priorities that emphasize advancing the scientific basis of nursing
practice. Research priorities typically focus on clinical outcomes, quality of
care, patient safety, and health promotion .
7. What is the process of deductive reasoning?
A) Verifying assumptions that are part of our heritage
B) Developing specific predictions from general principles
C) Empirically testing observations that are made known through our senses
D) Forming generalizations from specific observations
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Deductive reasoning moves from general principles to specific
predictions. For example, if all humans need oxygen (general principle), then
this patient will need oxygen (specific prediction). Quantitative research
typically uses deductive reasoning .
, 8. What is the ontological assumption of those espousing a naturalistic
(constructivist) paradigm?
A) Objective reality and that natural phenomena are regular and orderly
B) Phenomena are not haphazard and result from prior causes
C) Reality is multiply constructed and multiply interpreted by humans
D) Reality is not fixed, but is rather a construction of human minds
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The naturalistic (constructivist) paradigm holds that reality is
subjective, multiple, and multiply constructed by individuals. There is no
single objective reality; rather, individuals construct their own realities based
on their experiences and perspectives .
9. What is the epistemological assumption of those espousing a positivist
paradigm?
A) The researcher is objective and independent of those being studied
B) Phenomena are not haphazard, but rather have antecedent causes
C) The researcher instructs those being studied to be objective in providing
information
D) Reality is not fixed, but is rather a construction of human minds
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Positivism's epistemological assumption is that the researcher can
and should be objective, detached, and independent from those being
studied. This allows for unbiased observation and discovery of truth .
10. Which is NOT a characteristic of traditional scientific method?
A) Control over external factors
B) Systematic measurement and observation of natural phenomena
C) Deductive reasoning
D) Emphasis on a holistic view of a phenomenon, studied in a rich context
