COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM "BURNS AND
GROVE'S THE PRACTICE OF NURSING RESEARCH, 9TH
EDITION" BY JENNIFER GRAY COVERING KEY CONCEPTS
FROM ALL 29 CHAPTERS.
UNIT ONE: Introduction to Nursing Research (Questions 1-15)
1. A nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree wants to
participate in research activities. Which role is most appropriate for this nurse's
education level?
a) Developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines
b) Designing and leading independent research studies
c) Reading and critically appraising existing studies
d) Evaluating organizational research outcomes
Answer: c) Reading and critically appraising existing studies
Rationale: BSN-prepared nurses have knowledge of the research process and
skills in reading and critically appraising studies. They use best research evidence
in practice with guidance and assist with problem identification and data
collection. Developing guidelines typically requires MSN or DNP preparation,
designing studies requires PhD preparation, and evaluating organizational
outcomes is often a DNP-level role .
2. A researcher implements a program to provide companion dogs to
hospitalized older adults to determine the effect on their orientation levels. This
study primarily aims to achieve which outcome of research?
,a) Description
b) Control
c) Explanation
d) Prediction
Answer: b) Control
Rationale: Control is the ability to manipulate a situation to produce a desired
outcome. In this study, the researcher manipulates the environment by
introducing companion dogs to influence orientation levels. Description involves
observing phenomena, explanation clarifies relationships among variables, and
prediction estimates the probability of specific outcomes .
3. A researcher wants to determine whether children with autism hospitalized
in a pediatric ward require more nursing care hours than average children when
parents are not present. Which type of research outcome does this represent?
a) Control
b) Description
c) Explanation
d) Prediction
Answer: d) Prediction
Rationale: The researcher is estimating the probability of a specific outcome
(increased care hours) in a given situation (absence of parents/caregivers).
Prediction involves forecasting the likelihood of an event based on identified
variables .
4. Which type of reasoning is being used when a nurse systematically breaks
down the components of a clinical situation, examines each carefully, and
analyzes the relationships among parts to solve a problem?
a) Abstract reasoning
b) Concrete thinking
,c) Logical reasoning
d) Dialectical reasoning
Answer: c) Logical reasoning
Rationale: Logical reasoning dissects components of a situation, examines
each carefully, and analyzes relationships among parts. Abstract reasoning
focuses on idea development without specific application. Concrete thinking is
limited to tangible, observable events. Dialectical reasoning considers situations
holistically .
5. An experienced emergency department nurse develops a protocol for
managing agitated patients based on years of clinical observations and pattern
recognition. This knowledge source is best described as:
a) Intuition
b) Authority
c) Tradition
d) Trial and error
Answer: a) Intuition
Rationale: Intuition results from recognizing patterns in a way that allows
rapid conclusions based on deeply incorporated, often tacit knowledge. It
represents legitimate knowledge developed through clinical experience and
pattern recognition over time .
6. Which paradigm of nursing research focuses on understanding the meaning of
human experiences through subjective data collection?
a) Positivist paradigm
b) Post-positivist paradigm
c) Constructivist paradigm
d) Critical paradigm
Answer: c) Constructivist paradigm
, Rationale: The constructivist paradigm (also associated with qualitative
research) focuses on understanding the meaning of human experiences from the
perspective of those living them. It emphasizes subjective data, context, and
multiple realities .
7. A researcher conducts a study measuring blood pressure, heart rate, and
cortisol levels before and after a stress-reduction intervention. This study
exemplifies which paradigm?
a) Constructivist
b) Positivist
c) Critical social theory
d) Phenomenological
Answer: b) Positivist
Rationale: The positivist paradigm emphasizes objective measurement,
quantification, control, prediction, and testing of relationships among variables.
Measuring physiological parameters before and after an intervention reflects the
positivist approach to research .
8. Which statement accurately describes evidence-based practice (EBP)?
a) EBP replaces clinical judgment with standardized protocols
b) EBP integrates best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
preferences
c) EBP relies exclusively on randomized controlled trials
d) EBP eliminates the need for nursing research
Answer: b) EBP integrates best research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice is the conscientious integration of best
research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values and preferences in
making clinical decisions. It does not replace clinical judgment but enhances it .
GROVE'S THE PRACTICE OF NURSING RESEARCH, 9TH
EDITION" BY JENNIFER GRAY COVERING KEY CONCEPTS
FROM ALL 29 CHAPTERS.
UNIT ONE: Introduction to Nursing Research (Questions 1-15)
1. A nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree wants to
participate in research activities. Which role is most appropriate for this nurse's
education level?
a) Developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines
b) Designing and leading independent research studies
c) Reading and critically appraising existing studies
d) Evaluating organizational research outcomes
Answer: c) Reading and critically appraising existing studies
Rationale: BSN-prepared nurses have knowledge of the research process and
skills in reading and critically appraising studies. They use best research evidence
in practice with guidance and assist with problem identification and data
collection. Developing guidelines typically requires MSN or DNP preparation,
designing studies requires PhD preparation, and evaluating organizational
outcomes is often a DNP-level role .
2. A researcher implements a program to provide companion dogs to
hospitalized older adults to determine the effect on their orientation levels. This
study primarily aims to achieve which outcome of research?
,a) Description
b) Control
c) Explanation
d) Prediction
Answer: b) Control
Rationale: Control is the ability to manipulate a situation to produce a desired
outcome. In this study, the researcher manipulates the environment by
introducing companion dogs to influence orientation levels. Description involves
observing phenomena, explanation clarifies relationships among variables, and
prediction estimates the probability of specific outcomes .
3. A researcher wants to determine whether children with autism hospitalized
in a pediatric ward require more nursing care hours than average children when
parents are not present. Which type of research outcome does this represent?
a) Control
b) Description
c) Explanation
d) Prediction
Answer: d) Prediction
Rationale: The researcher is estimating the probability of a specific outcome
(increased care hours) in a given situation (absence of parents/caregivers).
Prediction involves forecasting the likelihood of an event based on identified
variables .
4. Which type of reasoning is being used when a nurse systematically breaks
down the components of a clinical situation, examines each carefully, and
analyzes the relationships among parts to solve a problem?
a) Abstract reasoning
b) Concrete thinking
,c) Logical reasoning
d) Dialectical reasoning
Answer: c) Logical reasoning
Rationale: Logical reasoning dissects components of a situation, examines
each carefully, and analyzes relationships among parts. Abstract reasoning
focuses on idea development without specific application. Concrete thinking is
limited to tangible, observable events. Dialectical reasoning considers situations
holistically .
5. An experienced emergency department nurse develops a protocol for
managing agitated patients based on years of clinical observations and pattern
recognition. This knowledge source is best described as:
a) Intuition
b) Authority
c) Tradition
d) Trial and error
Answer: a) Intuition
Rationale: Intuition results from recognizing patterns in a way that allows
rapid conclusions based on deeply incorporated, often tacit knowledge. It
represents legitimate knowledge developed through clinical experience and
pattern recognition over time .
6. Which paradigm of nursing research focuses on understanding the meaning of
human experiences through subjective data collection?
a) Positivist paradigm
b) Post-positivist paradigm
c) Constructivist paradigm
d) Critical paradigm
Answer: c) Constructivist paradigm
, Rationale: The constructivist paradigm (also associated with qualitative
research) focuses on understanding the meaning of human experiences from the
perspective of those living them. It emphasizes subjective data, context, and
multiple realities .
7. A researcher conducts a study measuring blood pressure, heart rate, and
cortisol levels before and after a stress-reduction intervention. This study
exemplifies which paradigm?
a) Constructivist
b) Positivist
c) Critical social theory
d) Phenomenological
Answer: b) Positivist
Rationale: The positivist paradigm emphasizes objective measurement,
quantification, control, prediction, and testing of relationships among variables.
Measuring physiological parameters before and after an intervention reflects the
positivist approach to research .
8. Which statement accurately describes evidence-based practice (EBP)?
a) EBP replaces clinical judgment with standardized protocols
b) EBP integrates best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
preferences
c) EBP relies exclusively on randomized controlled trials
d) EBP eliminates the need for nursing research
Answer: b) EBP integrates best research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice is the conscientious integration of best
research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values and preferences in
making clinical decisions. It does not replace clinical judgment but enhances it .
