NURS4025 – Research & Evidence-Based
Decisions Examination Questions & Answers
Question 1
A nurse researcher is designing a study to examine the effect of bedside handoff on
patient satisfaction. The researcher assigns patients on Unit A to receive bedside
handoff and patients on Unit B to receive traditional handoff. Which type of study
design is this?
A) Randomized controlled trial
B) Quasi-experimental design (non-randomized)
C) Cohort study
D) Case-control study
Answer: B) Quasi-experimental design (non-randomized)
Quasi-experimental designs lack random assignment. The researcher assigned by
unit rather than randomizing individual patients, which is a quasi-experimental
approach. This design is common in nursing research when randomization is not
feasible.
Question 2
A systematic review of 10 randomized controlled trials on pressure injury
prevention found that using silicone foam dressings reduced pressure injury
incidence (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.15-0.42, p<0.001). Which level of evidence does
this represent according to the hierarchy?
A) Level I (Systematic review of RCTs)
B) Level II (Single RCT)
C) Level III (Controlled trial without randomization)
D) Level IV (Case-control or cohort study)
Answer: A) Level I (Systematic review of RCTs)
,The highest level of evidence is a systematic review or meta-analysis of multiple
high-quality randomized controlled trials. A single RCT is Level II. The
confidence interval and p-value indicate statistical significance.
Question 3
A nurse is appraising a research article. The study reports a p-value of 0.03 for the
primary outcome. Which interpretation is correct?
A) There is a 3% probability that the null hypothesis is true
B) The probability of observing these results if the null hypothesis is true is 3%,
which is less than the alpha of 0.05, so the result is statistically significant
C) There is a 97% chance the intervention is effective
D) The result is clinically significant
Answer: B) The probability of observing these results if the null hypothesis is
true is 3%, which is less than the alpha of 0.05, so the result is statistically
significant
The p-value is the probability of obtaining the observed results (or more extreme)
if the null hypothesis is true. A p-value <0.05 indicates statistical significance but
does not measure clinical significance or the probability that the null hypothesis is
true.
Question 4
A nurse is implementing evidence-based practice on a medical-surgical unit.
Which step comes first in the EBP process?
A) Critically appraise the evidence
B) Ask a clinical question using PICO format
C) Integrate evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences
D) Evaluate the outcomes of the practice change
Answer: B) Ask a clinical question using PICO format
,The EBP process (often the Iowa or Stetler model) begins with asking a clear,
answerable clinical question. PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison,
Outcome) helps structure the question before searching for evidence.
Question 5
A researcher wants to understand the lived experience of patients with chronic
pain. Which research approach is most appropriate?
A) Quantitative randomized controlled trial
B) Qualitative phenomenological study
C) Retrospective cohort study
D) Cross-sectional survey
Answer: B) Qualitative phenomenological study
Phenomenology is a qualitative research design that explores the lived experience
of individuals regarding a phenomenon. It seeks to understand the meaning and
essence of experiences from the participant's perspective.
Question 6
In a study examining the relationship between nurse-to-patient ratios and falls, the
researcher found a Pearson correlation coefficient (r) of -0.65. Which interpretation
is correct?
A) A strong positive correlation: higher ratios predict more falls
B) A strong negative correlation: higher nurse-to-patient ratios are associated with
fewer falls
C) No correlation
D) A weak positive correlation
Answer: B) A strong negative correlation: higher nurse-to-patient ratios are
associated with fewer falls
The correlation coefficient ranges from -1 to +1. Negative correlation means as one
variable increases, the other decreases. An r of -0.65 is considered strong (absolute
, value 0.65). Higher nurse-to-patient ratios (more nurses per patient) are associated
with fewer falls.
Question 7
A nurse is searching the literature for evidence on the effect of music therapy on
anxiety in preoperative patients. Which database is the most comprehensive source
for nursing and allied health literature?
A) PubMed
B) CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
C) Google Scholar
D) Cochrane Library
Answer: B) CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health
Literature)
CINAHL is the premier database for nursing and allied health research, indexing
thousands of journals, books, dissertations, and conference proceedings. PubMed is
biomedical; Cochrane contains systematic reviews.
Question 8
In a randomized controlled trial, the control group receives an inert substance that
looks like the experimental drug but has no active ingredient. This is called:
A) Active comparator
B) Placebo
C) Standard of care
D) Historical control
Answer: B) Placebo
A placebo is an inert substance or sham procedure that resembles the experimental
intervention. It is used to control for the placebo effect and blinding. An active
comparator is an established treatment.
Decisions Examination Questions & Answers
Question 1
A nurse researcher is designing a study to examine the effect of bedside handoff on
patient satisfaction. The researcher assigns patients on Unit A to receive bedside
handoff and patients on Unit B to receive traditional handoff. Which type of study
design is this?
A) Randomized controlled trial
B) Quasi-experimental design (non-randomized)
C) Cohort study
D) Case-control study
Answer: B) Quasi-experimental design (non-randomized)
Quasi-experimental designs lack random assignment. The researcher assigned by
unit rather than randomizing individual patients, which is a quasi-experimental
approach. This design is common in nursing research when randomization is not
feasible.
Question 2
A systematic review of 10 randomized controlled trials on pressure injury
prevention found that using silicone foam dressings reduced pressure injury
incidence (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.15-0.42, p<0.001). Which level of evidence does
this represent according to the hierarchy?
A) Level I (Systematic review of RCTs)
B) Level II (Single RCT)
C) Level III (Controlled trial without randomization)
D) Level IV (Case-control or cohort study)
Answer: A) Level I (Systematic review of RCTs)
,The highest level of evidence is a systematic review or meta-analysis of multiple
high-quality randomized controlled trials. A single RCT is Level II. The
confidence interval and p-value indicate statistical significance.
Question 3
A nurse is appraising a research article. The study reports a p-value of 0.03 for the
primary outcome. Which interpretation is correct?
A) There is a 3% probability that the null hypothesis is true
B) The probability of observing these results if the null hypothesis is true is 3%,
which is less than the alpha of 0.05, so the result is statistically significant
C) There is a 97% chance the intervention is effective
D) The result is clinically significant
Answer: B) The probability of observing these results if the null hypothesis is
true is 3%, which is less than the alpha of 0.05, so the result is statistically
significant
The p-value is the probability of obtaining the observed results (or more extreme)
if the null hypothesis is true. A p-value <0.05 indicates statistical significance but
does not measure clinical significance or the probability that the null hypothesis is
true.
Question 4
A nurse is implementing evidence-based practice on a medical-surgical unit.
Which step comes first in the EBP process?
A) Critically appraise the evidence
B) Ask a clinical question using PICO format
C) Integrate evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences
D) Evaluate the outcomes of the practice change
Answer: B) Ask a clinical question using PICO format
,The EBP process (often the Iowa or Stetler model) begins with asking a clear,
answerable clinical question. PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison,
Outcome) helps structure the question before searching for evidence.
Question 5
A researcher wants to understand the lived experience of patients with chronic
pain. Which research approach is most appropriate?
A) Quantitative randomized controlled trial
B) Qualitative phenomenological study
C) Retrospective cohort study
D) Cross-sectional survey
Answer: B) Qualitative phenomenological study
Phenomenology is a qualitative research design that explores the lived experience
of individuals regarding a phenomenon. It seeks to understand the meaning and
essence of experiences from the participant's perspective.
Question 6
In a study examining the relationship between nurse-to-patient ratios and falls, the
researcher found a Pearson correlation coefficient (r) of -0.65. Which interpretation
is correct?
A) A strong positive correlation: higher ratios predict more falls
B) A strong negative correlation: higher nurse-to-patient ratios are associated with
fewer falls
C) No correlation
D) A weak positive correlation
Answer: B) A strong negative correlation: higher nurse-to-patient ratios are
associated with fewer falls
The correlation coefficient ranges from -1 to +1. Negative correlation means as one
variable increases, the other decreases. An r of -0.65 is considered strong (absolute
, value 0.65). Higher nurse-to-patient ratios (more nurses per patient) are associated
with fewer falls.
Question 7
A nurse is searching the literature for evidence on the effect of music therapy on
anxiety in preoperative patients. Which database is the most comprehensive source
for nursing and allied health literature?
A) PubMed
B) CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
C) Google Scholar
D) Cochrane Library
Answer: B) CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health
Literature)
CINAHL is the premier database for nursing and allied health research, indexing
thousands of journals, books, dissertations, and conference proceedings. PubMed is
biomedical; Cochrane contains systematic reviews.
Question 8
In a randomized controlled trial, the control group receives an inert substance that
looks like the experimental drug but has no active ingredient. This is called:
A) Active comparator
B) Placebo
C) Standard of care
D) Historical control
Answer: B) Placebo
A placebo is an inert substance or sham procedure that resembles the experimental
intervention. It is used to control for the placebo effect and blinding. An active
comparator is an established treatment.
