Smith 6e
Chapter 1, pg 1
Chapter 1: Nursing Theory and the Discipline of Nursing
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. What is the purpose of a theory?
A. To explain experience
B. To describe relationships
C. To suggest outcomes
D. All of the above
ANS: D
2. Members of a community of scholars share a commitment to all of the following except:
A. Values
B. Knowledge
C. Geographic location
D. Processes
ANS: C
3. Which two structures are essential to any discipline and are inherent in nursing theories?
A. Paradigm and metaparadigm
B. Syntactical and conceptual
C. Middle and grand
D. Language and symbol
ANS: B
, Smith 6e
Chapter 1, pg 2
4. Which of the following is considered part of the heritage of literature?
A. Interprofessional teams
B. Nursing theories
C. Hospital procedures
D. Think tanks
ANS: B
5. What is a common criticism of nursing theory regarding its origins?
A. It is overly focused on practical application.
B. It does not incorporate technological advancements.
C. It predominantly reflects the perspectives of white European theorists.
D. It is too abstract and difficult for students to understand.
ANS: C
6. Which statement about nursing theories is true?
A. They are discovered in nature.
B. They serve as exact representations of reality.
C. They are invented by humans.
D. They cannot be modified.
ANS: C
7. A paradigm is best defined as a:
, Smith 6e
Chapter 1, pg 3
A. Standardized procedure for patient care
B. Person’s individual values and beliefs
C. Scientific model used for conducting experiments in nursing research
D. Framework composed of assumptions about the nature of the phenomena of concern to the
discipline
ANS: D
8. The dependence of nursing theory development on human imagination is an attribute of
nursing as a(n):
A. Occupation
B. Discipline
C. Vocation
D. Profession
ANS: B
9. The primary purpose of nursing theory is to:
A. Structure nursing knowledge
B. Demonstrate creativity in nursing
C. Guide the thinking about, being, and doing of nursing
D. Organize nursing curricula
ANS: C
, Smith 6e
Chapter 1, pg 4
10. The first nursing theorist who identified the importance of theory in nursing was:
A. Virginia Henderson
B. Hildegard Peplau
C. Lydia Hall
D. Florence Nightingale
ANS: D
11. The most abstract level of knowledge is the:
A. Paradigm
B. Metaparadigm
C. Theory
D. Concept
ANS: B
12. Which term refers to statements of enduring values or beliefs?
A. Practice traditions
B. Philosophies
C. Grand theories
D. Practice theories
ANS: B
13. Theories that include specific concepts, are broad enough to be useful in complex situations,
and can be empirically tested are called:
Chapter 1, pg 1
Chapter 1: Nursing Theory and the Discipline of Nursing
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. What is the purpose of a theory?
A. To explain experience
B. To describe relationships
C. To suggest outcomes
D. All of the above
ANS: D
2. Members of a community of scholars share a commitment to all of the following except:
A. Values
B. Knowledge
C. Geographic location
D. Processes
ANS: C
3. Which two structures are essential to any discipline and are inherent in nursing theories?
A. Paradigm and metaparadigm
B. Syntactical and conceptual
C. Middle and grand
D. Language and symbol
ANS: B
, Smith 6e
Chapter 1, pg 2
4. Which of the following is considered part of the heritage of literature?
A. Interprofessional teams
B. Nursing theories
C. Hospital procedures
D. Think tanks
ANS: B
5. What is a common criticism of nursing theory regarding its origins?
A. It is overly focused on practical application.
B. It does not incorporate technological advancements.
C. It predominantly reflects the perspectives of white European theorists.
D. It is too abstract and difficult for students to understand.
ANS: C
6. Which statement about nursing theories is true?
A. They are discovered in nature.
B. They serve as exact representations of reality.
C. They are invented by humans.
D. They cannot be modified.
ANS: C
7. A paradigm is best defined as a:
, Smith 6e
Chapter 1, pg 3
A. Standardized procedure for patient care
B. Person’s individual values and beliefs
C. Scientific model used for conducting experiments in nursing research
D. Framework composed of assumptions about the nature of the phenomena of concern to the
discipline
ANS: D
8. The dependence of nursing theory development on human imagination is an attribute of
nursing as a(n):
A. Occupation
B. Discipline
C. Vocation
D. Profession
ANS: B
9. The primary purpose of nursing theory is to:
A. Structure nursing knowledge
B. Demonstrate creativity in nursing
C. Guide the thinking about, being, and doing of nursing
D. Organize nursing curricula
ANS: C
, Smith 6e
Chapter 1, pg 4
10. The first nursing theorist who identified the importance of theory in nursing was:
A. Virginia Henderson
B. Hildegard Peplau
C. Lydia Hall
D. Florence Nightingale
ANS: D
11. The most abstract level of knowledge is the:
A. Paradigm
B. Metaparadigm
C. Theory
D. Concept
ANS: B
12. Which term refers to statements of enduring values or beliefs?
A. Practice traditions
B. Philosophies
C. Grand theories
D. Practice theories
ANS: B
13. Theories that include specific concepts, are broad enough to be useful in complex situations,
and can be empirically tested are called:
