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WGU D115 OA & Pre-OA Exam Question
Bank 2025
Q1. What is the primary role of a nurse in evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A. To conduct independent research
B. To memorize all clinical guidelines
✅ C. To integrate best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values
D. To write scholarly journals
Rationale: EBP involves combining scientific evidence, professional expertise, and patient
preferences to improve care.
Q2. Which of the following best defines patient-centered care?
A. The nurse makes all decisions for the patient
✅ B. Care that respects and responds to individual patient preferences, needs, and values
C. Care based only on evidence
D. Prioritizing physician preferences
Rationale: Patient-centered care ensures that patient preferences guide all clinical decisions.
Q3. Which element is part of the PICO(T) format for developing clinical
questions?
✅ A. Population
B. Consent
, C. Opportunity
D. Relevance
Rationale: PICO(T) = Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, (Time) — a framework
for clinical questions.
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Q4. In nursing research, a Level I source of evidence is:
A. Expert opinion
✅ B. Systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
C. Case reports
D. Cohort studies
Rationale: Systematic reviews of RCTs provide the highest level of clinical evidence.
Q5. Which organization developed the Magnet Recognition Program?
✅ A. American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
B. American Hospital Association
C. CDC
D. Joint Commission
Rationale: ANCC awards Magnet status to hospitals for excellence in nursing.
Q6. The best method to assess pain in a non-verbal patient is:
A. Ask a family member
✅ B. Use a behavioral pain scale like FLACC
C. Assume pain is mild
D. Use adult verbal scale
Rationale: Tools like FLACC assess pain based on facial expressions and activity in non-verbal
patients.
Q7. Which of the following is considered a primary prevention strategy?
A. Chemotherapy
✅ B. Immunization
, C. Rehabilitation
D. Pain management
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to stop disease before it starts, like vaccines.
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Q8. Which ethical principle refers to the obligation to do no harm?
✅ A. Nonmaleficence
B. Fidelity
C. Veracity
D. Autonomy
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the principle of not inflicting harm intentionally.
Q9. What is the purpose of QSEN (Quality and Safety Education for Nurses)?
A. Promote job growth
B. Standardize salaries
✅ C. Improve quality and safety in healthcare education and practice
D. Increase hospital profits
Rationale: QSEN ensures nurses are trained in safety, informatics, and quality care.
Q10. Which component is essential in cultural competence?
A. Assuming cultural similarities
B. Enforcing standard care for all
✅ C. Acknowledging and respecting cultural differences
D. Ignoring language barriers
Rationale: Cultural competence involves personalized care that respects cultural diversity.
Q11. What is the first step in the evidence-based practice process?
A. Conducting research
✅ B. Asking a clinical question
C. Applying research findings
D. Evaluating patient outcomes
, Rationale: EBP starts with a clearly formulated clinical question, often using PICO(T).
Q12. What type of study follows a group over time to assess outcomes?
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A. Case-control
✅ B. Cohort study
C. Cross-sectional
D. Meta-analysis
Rationale: Cohort studies follow subjects prospectively to observe outcomes.
Q13. A nurse uses reflective practice to improve clinical judgment. This is an
example of:
A. Scientific reasoning
✅ B. Self-awareness and critical thinking
C. Peer review
D. Research critique
Rationale: Reflective practice helps nurses grow through self-assessment and critical reflection.
Q14. What is the most important action when delegating to unlicensed
personnel?
A. Reassign their duties
✅ B. Ensure the task is within their scope and provide supervision
C. Ask the physician
D. Avoid delegation
Rationale: The RN is responsible for appropriate delegation and supervision.
Q15. An outcome measure in evidence-based care must be:
A. Subjective and emotional
B. Broad and general
✅ C. Measurable and specific
D. Determined by hospital policy
WGU D115 OA & Pre-OA Exam Question
Bank 2025
Q1. What is the primary role of a nurse in evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A. To conduct independent research
B. To memorize all clinical guidelines
✅ C. To integrate best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values
D. To write scholarly journals
Rationale: EBP involves combining scientific evidence, professional expertise, and patient
preferences to improve care.
Q2. Which of the following best defines patient-centered care?
A. The nurse makes all decisions for the patient
✅ B. Care that respects and responds to individual patient preferences, needs, and values
C. Care based only on evidence
D. Prioritizing physician preferences
Rationale: Patient-centered care ensures that patient preferences guide all clinical decisions.
Q3. Which element is part of the PICO(T) format for developing clinical
questions?
✅ A. Population
B. Consent
, C. Opportunity
D. Relevance
Rationale: PICO(T) = Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, (Time) — a framework
for clinical questions.
Page | 2
Q4. In nursing research, a Level I source of evidence is:
A. Expert opinion
✅ B. Systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
C. Case reports
D. Cohort studies
Rationale: Systematic reviews of RCTs provide the highest level of clinical evidence.
Q5. Which organization developed the Magnet Recognition Program?
✅ A. American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
B. American Hospital Association
C. CDC
D. Joint Commission
Rationale: ANCC awards Magnet status to hospitals for excellence in nursing.
Q6. The best method to assess pain in a non-verbal patient is:
A. Ask a family member
✅ B. Use a behavioral pain scale like FLACC
C. Assume pain is mild
D. Use adult verbal scale
Rationale: Tools like FLACC assess pain based on facial expressions and activity in non-verbal
patients.
Q7. Which of the following is considered a primary prevention strategy?
A. Chemotherapy
✅ B. Immunization
, C. Rehabilitation
D. Pain management
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to stop disease before it starts, like vaccines.
Page | 3
Q8. Which ethical principle refers to the obligation to do no harm?
✅ A. Nonmaleficence
B. Fidelity
C. Veracity
D. Autonomy
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the principle of not inflicting harm intentionally.
Q9. What is the purpose of QSEN (Quality and Safety Education for Nurses)?
A. Promote job growth
B. Standardize salaries
✅ C. Improve quality and safety in healthcare education and practice
D. Increase hospital profits
Rationale: QSEN ensures nurses are trained in safety, informatics, and quality care.
Q10. Which component is essential in cultural competence?
A. Assuming cultural similarities
B. Enforcing standard care for all
✅ C. Acknowledging and respecting cultural differences
D. Ignoring language barriers
Rationale: Cultural competence involves personalized care that respects cultural diversity.
Q11. What is the first step in the evidence-based practice process?
A. Conducting research
✅ B. Asking a clinical question
C. Applying research findings
D. Evaluating patient outcomes
, Rationale: EBP starts with a clearly formulated clinical question, often using PICO(T).
Q12. What type of study follows a group over time to assess outcomes?
Page | 4
A. Case-control
✅ B. Cohort study
C. Cross-sectional
D. Meta-analysis
Rationale: Cohort studies follow subjects prospectively to observe outcomes.
Q13. A nurse uses reflective practice to improve clinical judgment. This is an
example of:
A. Scientific reasoning
✅ B. Self-awareness and critical thinking
C. Peer review
D. Research critique
Rationale: Reflective practice helps nurses grow through self-assessment and critical reflection.
Q14. What is the most important action when delegating to unlicensed
personnel?
A. Reassign their duties
✅ B. Ensure the task is within their scope and provide supervision
C. Ask the physician
D. Avoid delegation
Rationale: The RN is responsible for appropriate delegation and supervision.
Q15. An outcome measure in evidence-based care must be:
A. Subjective and emotional
B. Broad and general
✅ C. Measurable and specific
D. Determined by hospital policy
