NSGD 2216 Critical Inquiry & Evidence-
Informed Practice Comprehensive
Examination, 2026/2027 – Nursing Research
and Evidence-Based Practice Exam Package
SECTION 1: EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE AND NURSING
RESEARCH (Questions 1-15)
Q1. In the context of NSGD 2216, which of the following best
describes the relationship between nursing research and evidence-
informed practice?
A) Nursing research provides the only source of evidence for practice
B) Nursing research plays a crucial role in evidence-informed practice by
providing the evidence base that informs clinical decisions and enhances
patient outcomes
C) Evidence-informed practice relies solely on clinical experience rather than
research
D) Evidence-informed practice is a theoretical concept with no practical
application
Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing research provides the evidence base that informs clinical
decisions and enhances patient outcomes . Evidence-informed practice
integrates research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences,
but research is a critical component. It does not rely solely on clinical
experience (C) nor is it purely theoretical (D).
Q2. Which of the following best describes a key outcome of NSGD
2216?
A) Development of beginning skills in critically appraising research and its
application to clinical practice
B) Mastery of advanced diagnostic tools and technologies
C) Developing expertise in major qualitative and quantitative research
methodologies
,D) Specialization in a particular field of nursing through in-depth research
projects
Answer: A
Rationale: The course focuses on developing beginning skills in critically
appraising research and applying it to clinical practice . It does not aim for
mastery of methodologies (C) or specialization (D), though it provides
foundational knowledge.
Q3. The major purposes of nursing research include:
A) Only describing nursing phenomena
B) Describing, explaining, predicting, and controlling phenomena in nursing
practice
C) Only predicting patient outcomes
D) Only explaining disease processes
Answer: B
Rationale: The major purposes of nursing research are to describe, explain,
predict, and control phenomena in nursing practice . These purposes help
build the evidence base for nursing interventions and improve patient
outcomes.
Q4. Which group would be best served by clinical nursing research?
A) Nursing administrators
B) Practicing nurses
C) Nurses' clients (patients)
D) Healthcare policymakers
Answer: C
Rationale: Ultimately, the clients (patients) are the primary beneficiaries of
clinical nursing research . While other groups benefit indirectly, improved
patient outcomes are the ultimate goal.
Q5. 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 based on evidence
Answer: A
Rationale: A consumer of nursing research reads research reports for
relevant findings and may apply them to practice . Participating in research
generation (B) is the role of a producer, not a consumer.
Q6. The history of nursing research shows that in the early 1900s,
most nursing studies focused on:
A) Client satisfaction
B) Clinical problems
C) Health promotion
D) Nursing education
Answer: D
Rationale: In the early 1900s, most nursing studies focused on nursing
education . This later shifted to clinical problems and health promotion as the
profession evolved .
Q7. Evidence-informed practice (EIP) is best defined as:
A) Following clinical guidelines without question
B) The integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient values and preferences
C) Relying solely on randomized controlled trials
D) Using only quantitative research findings
Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-informed practice integrates best research evidence
with clinical expertise and patient values and preferences . It is broader than
evidence-based practice and acknowledges that evidence is one of multiple
factors informing clinical decisions .
, Q8. A nurse who questions whether a hospital policy on bed baths is
based on current evidence is exhibiting:
A) Routine practice
B) Critical inquiry
C) Hierarchical decision-making
D) Task-oriented nursing
Answer: B
Rationale: Questioning existing practices is central to critical inquiry . It
involves actively questioning, analyzing, and evaluating knowledge rather
than accepting it passively .
Q9. What is the theory-practice gap?
A) The difference between theoretical knowledge and clinical application in
nursing
B) The gap between nursing education and licensing exams
C) The difference between qualitative and quantitative research
D) The gap between nurse and physician knowledge
Answer: A
Rationale: The theory-practice gap refers to the disconnect between
theoretical knowledge taught in academic settings and its application in
clinical practice . Research can help bridge this gap by providing evidence to
guide practice .
Q10. 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
Answer: B
Rationale: Priorities for nursing research include promotion of excellence in
nursing science . The others, while potentially relevant, do not represent the
highest-priority areas.
Informed Practice Comprehensive
Examination, 2026/2027 – Nursing Research
and Evidence-Based Practice Exam Package
SECTION 1: EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE AND NURSING
RESEARCH (Questions 1-15)
Q1. In the context of NSGD 2216, which of the following best
describes the relationship between nursing research and evidence-
informed practice?
A) Nursing research provides the only source of evidence for practice
B) Nursing research plays a crucial role in evidence-informed practice by
providing the evidence base that informs clinical decisions and enhances
patient outcomes
C) Evidence-informed practice relies solely on clinical experience rather than
research
D) Evidence-informed practice is a theoretical concept with no practical
application
Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing research provides the evidence base that informs clinical
decisions and enhances patient outcomes . Evidence-informed practice
integrates research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences,
but research is a critical component. It does not rely solely on clinical
experience (C) nor is it purely theoretical (D).
Q2. Which of the following best describes a key outcome of NSGD
2216?
A) Development of beginning skills in critically appraising research and its
application to clinical practice
B) Mastery of advanced diagnostic tools and technologies
C) Developing expertise in major qualitative and quantitative research
methodologies
,D) Specialization in a particular field of nursing through in-depth research
projects
Answer: A
Rationale: The course focuses on developing beginning skills in critically
appraising research and applying it to clinical practice . It does not aim for
mastery of methodologies (C) or specialization (D), though it provides
foundational knowledge.
Q3. The major purposes of nursing research include:
A) Only describing nursing phenomena
B) Describing, explaining, predicting, and controlling phenomena in nursing
practice
C) Only predicting patient outcomes
D) Only explaining disease processes
Answer: B
Rationale: The major purposes of nursing research are to describe, explain,
predict, and control phenomena in nursing practice . These purposes help
build the evidence base for nursing interventions and improve patient
outcomes.
Q4. Which group would be best served by clinical nursing research?
A) Nursing administrators
B) Practicing nurses
C) Nurses' clients (patients)
D) Healthcare policymakers
Answer: C
Rationale: Ultimately, the clients (patients) are the primary beneficiaries of
clinical nursing research . While other groups benefit indirectly, improved
patient outcomes are the ultimate goal.
Q5. 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 based on evidence
Answer: A
Rationale: A consumer of nursing research reads research reports for
relevant findings and may apply them to practice . Participating in research
generation (B) is the role of a producer, not a consumer.
Q6. The history of nursing research shows that in the early 1900s,
most nursing studies focused on:
A) Client satisfaction
B) Clinical problems
C) Health promotion
D) Nursing education
Answer: D
Rationale: In the early 1900s, most nursing studies focused on nursing
education . This later shifted to clinical problems and health promotion as the
profession evolved .
Q7. Evidence-informed practice (EIP) is best defined as:
A) Following clinical guidelines without question
B) The integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient values and preferences
C) Relying solely on randomized controlled trials
D) Using only quantitative research findings
Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-informed practice integrates best research evidence
with clinical expertise and patient values and preferences . It is broader than
evidence-based practice and acknowledges that evidence is one of multiple
factors informing clinical decisions .
, Q8. A nurse who questions whether a hospital policy on bed baths is
based on current evidence is exhibiting:
A) Routine practice
B) Critical inquiry
C) Hierarchical decision-making
D) Task-oriented nursing
Answer: B
Rationale: Questioning existing practices is central to critical inquiry . It
involves actively questioning, analyzing, and evaluating knowledge rather
than accepting it passively .
Q9. What is the theory-practice gap?
A) The difference between theoretical knowledge and clinical application in
nursing
B) The gap between nursing education and licensing exams
C) The difference between qualitative and quantitative research
D) The gap between nurse and physician knowledge
Answer: A
Rationale: The theory-practice gap refers to the disconnect between
theoretical knowledge taught in academic settings and its application in
clinical practice . Research can help bridge this gap by providing evidence to
guide practice .
Q10. 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
Answer: B
Rationale: Priorities for nursing research include promotion of excellence in
nursing science . The others, while potentially relevant, do not represent the
highest-priority areas.
