Chapter 1: Integrating Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Quality Improvement Processes practice questions and completed answers graded A+

Nursing research is significant to the profession of nursing because it promotes what? a. More specifically defined nursing practice responsibilities b. Decreased liability within the practice of nursing c. Generation of a specialized body of nursing knowledge for use in nursing practice d. Expansion of the scope of nursing practice into areas formerly reserved for other disciplines C Nursing research generates a specialized scientific knowledge base that empowers the nursing profession to anticipate and meet constantly shifting challenges of health care delivery to multiple populations. It provides a foundation for evidence-based nursing care and quality improvement activities. 2. Which aspect of the scientific investigation of nursing practice is also a fundamental concept of American Nurses Association (ANA)'s Code for Nurses? a. Professional accountability b. Standards of care c. Legal scope of practice d. Advanced practice nursing activities A Scientific investigation promotes accountability, a hallmark of the nursing profession and a fundamental concept of the ANA's Code for Nurses. 00:14 01:27 3. Nurses who do not conduct research need to understand the nursing research process for which of these reasons? a. To identify potential subjects for clinical research studies b. To assist as accurate data collectors in clinical research studies c. To teach patients and their families about the usefulness of consenting to participate in research d. To be able to evaluate nursing research reports for relevance to their own clinical practice D Nurses need to understand the research process in order to critically read research reports and determine if nursing practice should incorporate the research findings as valid evidence. 4. Which of these actions demonstrates the role of a knowledgeable consumer of nursing research? a. Designing a nursing research study b. Analyzing data to determine a study's outcomes c. Evaluating the credibility of research findings d. Implementing an intervention found to be effective in one clinical case study C A consumer of nursing research needs to understand the research process to determine the merit and relevance of evidence presented in research studies. 5. Members of the nursing staff are to participate in a unit-based clinical research study. Which research-related actions would be expected of a nurse with a baccalaureate nursing degree? a. Using critical appraisal skills to understand and assess the steps of the research process b. Providing expert nursing consultation about the way in which clinical services are delivered c. Developing research methods to monitor and evaluate the quality of nursing practice in the clinical setting d. Providing leadership in the application of scientific knowledge to nursing practice A A baccalaureate-prepared nurse should be able to use skills of critical appraisal to both understand and appraise the steps of the research process. 6. Which statement describes the role of the nurse in research? a. Nurses must be prepared at the baccalaureate or higher level of education to have any role in nursing research. b. Nurses with master's or higher levels of education are solely responsible for applying research to clinical practice. c. The research role of nurses prepared at both baccalaureate and master's levels of education includes critical appraisal skills. d. Regardless of the nursing education level, only the nurse with the most comprehensive understanding of statistical methods should interpret research findings. C To use research in evidence-based practice, the nurse must not necessarily be able to conduct research but should be able to understand and appraise the steps of the research process to read the research literature critically and use it to inform clinical decisions. 7. What is the primary value of evidence-based nursing practice? a. Implementing the most cost-effective nursing practices when providing patient care b. Incorporating research findings with clinical expertise when individualizing patient care c. Separating nursing research as unique from the research of other disciplines d. Developing new nursing theories to promote the growth of nursing science B Evidence-based practice allows the nurse to systematically integrate the best available research evidence with individual clinical expertise, as well as the patient's values and preferences, when making clinical decisions. 8. A novice nurse researcher is comparing the processes used in nursing research and in evidence-based practice. What differences, if any, exist between the two processes? a. As scientific processes, they are fundamentally the same and should result in parallel outcomes. b. Both processes involve testing a question with an appropriate design and specific methodology. c. In a research study the question is tested with an appropriate design and specific methodology, whereas in evidence-based practice the question is used to search the research literature to find answers. d. In evidence-based practice, qualitative studies are critically appraised to answer a clinical question, whereas in nursing research, quantitative studies are reviewed to provide a foundation for the study. C Nursing research includes developing a design for a study, whether quantitative or qualitative, reviewing the literature, and carrying out a specific methodology to find answers to a question. In contrast, evidence-based practice includes a review of completed research studies to identify answers to a clinical question. 9. A nurse is analyzing a research article. Where in the article is the nurse likely to find the research question and study purpose? a. Introduction b. Data analysis c. Findings d. Data collection A The research question and study purpose is generally found early in the report: in the abstract, the introduction, or at the end of the literature review or conceptual framework section. 10. The nurse researcher is conducting a research study using subjects who will be interviewed regarding their experience with postpartum depression. For which of these reasons would the researcher select a qualitative, rather than a quantitative, research design? a. Quantitative research is usually conducted in natural settings using data that are words rather than numbers. b. Qualitative research seeks to explain cause-and-effect relationships between variables. c. Quantitative research typically uses a convenience sample, seeking to answer a clinical question about a human experience. d. Qualitative research collects data from a small number of subjects, allowing for in-depth study of a phenomenon. D Qualitative research typically collects data from a small number of subjects, thus allowing for in-depth study of a phenomenon while using a subjective approach. 11. The nurse is analyzing a research article. To determine if an integrative review was performed as part of the study, the nurse must understand that this type of review is what? a. A summary of research studies on a focused topic that used a specific statistical methodology b. A synthesis of the research and theoretical literature on a specific area without a statistical analysis c. A synthesis of qualitative articles on a focused topic using a specific qualitative methodology d. A summary of articles in an attempt to develop a clinical practice statement or clinical guidelines B An integrative review is a synthesis of research or theoretical literature on a specific area that follows specific steps of literature integration without statistical analysis. 12. When assessing the strength of a body of evidence used in a research study for consistency, the nurse should determine what? a. Extent to which the study's design, implementation, and analysis minimize bias b. Number of studies that have evaluated the research question, including overall sample size across studies c. Degree to which studies with similar and different designs investigated the same research questions and report similar findings d. Significance of the findings based on the statistical methods used for data analysis C Consistency is the degree to which studies that had similar and different designs (but investigate the same research question) reported similar findings. 13. The nurse is analyzing a qualitative research article. In which section of the article is the nurse likely to find a summary of legal-ethical issues considered in the study? a. Data collection or procedures b. Findings or results c. Discussion or implications d. Abstract or introduction A Legal-ethical issues are typically discussed in the article's data collection or procedures section, usually when discussing the sample. 14. The nurse is analyzing a qualitative research article. In which section of the article should the nurse expect to find a discussion of the research findings? a. Procedures b. Methods c. Sample d. Results D The discussion of the findings will be located in the results or discussion section. 15. The nurse is using the critical reading process to analyze a research article. The nurse identifies the main theme of the article and states it in two sentences, using the nurse's own words. The nurse is using a strategy to promote which type of understanding? a. Preliminary b. Comprehensive c. Analysis d. Synthesis B Strategies for comprehensive understanding include restating the main idea or theme of the article in one's own words. 16. The nurse is using the critical reading process to analyze a research article. The nurse is using a list of criteria to determine how well the researcher performed each step of the research process. The nurse is using a strategy to promote which type of understanding? a. Preliminary b. Comprehensive c. Analysis d. Synthesis C Strategies for analysis understanding include using criteria to critique the steps of the research process used in the study. 17. Which of the following is a critical step for the quality improvement process in health care settings? a. Outlining general long-range goals b. Identifying current successful practices c. Testing practice changes slowly and tentatively d. Adopting a practice change as a new standard of care D The goal of quality improvement activities is to bring about changes in practice that will make a positive difference in patient care. Therefore, adopting a practice change is a critical step in the process. 1. Which statement(s) describe the actions of the baccalaureate nurse graduate as a participant in the nursing research process? (Select all that apply.) a. Administering care at the bedside according to a research protocol b. Providing leadership by helping others apply scientific knowledge to practice c. Sharing with nursing colleagues research findings that are pertinent to practice d. Designing and conducting nursing research studies e. Functioning as a primary investigator for a research study A,C Following a research protocol at the bedside is an activity consistent with the practice of a nurse prepared at the baccalaureate level. Sharing research evidence with colleagues is an activity consistent with the practice of a nurse prepared at the baccalaureate level. Which aspects of the nursing research process are common to nurses at all educational levels? (Select all that apply.) a. Disseminating research findings in research reports b. Maintaining the protection of patients who are subjects in a study c. Using one's expertise to develop theoretical explanations for findings d. Knowing the relationship between research and nursing practice e. Being a member of a collaborative team that applies research to practice B,D,E All nurses are responsible for protecting the rights of patients. All nurses should be aware that research is related to practice. All nurses can be a part of a clinical team that applies research to practice. For the baccalaureate nursing student, education in nursing research has which outcomes? (Select all that apply.) a. Mastering the development of research protocols b. Gaining basic understanding of the research process c. Learning how research is related to clinical nursing practice d. Developing skill as a primary investigator in research e. Becoming a knowledgeable consumer of nursing research B,C,E The student should gain an initial understanding of the importance of research in nursing practice. The student should learn how research is related to clinical nursing practice. The student should learn skills in the critical analysis of research to assist in decisions about applying research findings in nursing practice. Developing nurse researchers at a younger age is a priority for the future in the nursing profession for which reasons? (Select all that apply.) a. Enhancing the discipline's scientific development b. Increasing the longevity of research careers c. Receiving more research funding for professional organizations d. Promoting mentoring opportunities for novice researchers e. Increasing nursing's role in pharmaceutical research A,B,D Developing young researchers increases the number of researchers contributing to the science of the discipline. Introducing nurses to research at a younger age allows them sufficient time to develop in-depth research programs in their careers. Introducing nurses to research at a younger age allows them time and opportunity to be mentored by experienced researchers, as well as to learn to become mentors themselves.