NUR 4165 – Nursing Research &
Evidence-Based Practice Final Exam |
2025/2026 Verified Questions with Detailed
Research Rationales
Question 1: Study Design - Quantitative Basics
A nurse researcher is designing a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a new wound care protocol in
reducing infection rates in surgical patients. Which study design is most appropriate for establishing
causality?
A. Descriptive correlational design.
B. Quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design.
C. Cross-sectional survey.
D. Phenomenological qualitative design.
B. Quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design.
Detailed Research Rationale: Quasi-experimental designs allow for manipulation of an independent
variable (e.g., wound care protocol) while measuring outcomes (e.g., infection rates) before and after,
providing stronger evidence for causality than descriptive designs. In clinical practice, this supports
nurses in adopting protocols that demonstrate measurable reductions in hospital-acquired infections,
aligning with AHRQ 2025 guidelines for quality improvement in surgical care.
Question 2: Study Design - Qualitative Exploration
A nurse is exploring the lived experiences of family caregivers for patients with dementia. Which
qualitative design best fits this inquiry?
A. Grounded theory.
B. Experimental randomized controlled trial.
C. Case-control study.
D. Cohort prospective study.
,A. Grounded theory.
Detailed Research Rationale: Grounded theory focuses on developing theories from data on social
processes, ideal for understanding caregiver experiences without preconceived hypotheses. Clinically, this
informs nursing interventions like support groups, enhancing family-centered care as per ANA 2025
standards for holistic dementia management.
Question 3: Study Design - Longitudinal vs. Cross-Sectional
To assess changes in pain management satisfaction among chemotherapy patients over a 6-month period,
which design is optimal?
A. Cross-sectional.
B. Retrospective cohort.
C. Longitudinal prospective.
D. Meta-analysis.
C. Longitudinal prospective.
Detailed Research Rationale: Longitudinal designs track the same subjects over time, capturing
temporal changes in variables like satisfaction. In nursing practice, this evidence guides ongoing pain
assessments and adjustments, reducing opioid misuse per JBI 2025 oncology EBP recommendations.
Question 4: Sampling - Probability Basics
In a study testing a fall prevention program in community-dwelling elders, which probability sampling
method ensures generalizability?
A. Convenience sampling.
B. Simple random sampling.
C. Purposive sampling.
D. Snowball sampling.
B. Simple random sampling.
Detailed Research Rationale: Simple random sampling gives each population member an equal chance
of selection, minimizing bias and enhancing external validity. Nurses can apply this to scale effective fall
programs across diverse elderly populations, supporting CDC 2025 fall prevention initiatives.
,Question 5: Sampling - Non-Probability
A researcher studying rare pediatric oncology nurses' burnout uses referrals from colleagues. This is an
example of?
A. Stratified random sampling.
B. Snowball sampling.
C. Systematic sampling.
D. Cluster sampling.
B. Snowball sampling.
Detailed Research Rationale: Snowball sampling leverages networks to access hard-to-reach groups,
suitable for qualitative depth in rare populations. Clinically, findings inform targeted wellness programs,
addressing nurse retention as emphasized in ANA 2025 workforce guidelines.
Question 6: Study Design - RCT Gold Standard
For evaluating a nurse-led diabetes education intervention's impact on A1c levels, the strongest design is?
A. Observational cohort.
B. Randomized controlled trial (RCT).
C. Case study.
D. Delphi method.
B. Randomized controlled trial (RCT).
Detailed Research Rationale: RCTs minimize bias through randomization and blinding, providing Level
I evidence for efficacy. In practice, this validates education protocols for better glycemic control, per
ADA 2025 EBP for nursing in diabetes care.
Question 7: Sampling - Sample Size Determination
A nurse researcher calculates a sample size of 200 for a hypertension screening study to detect a 10%
prevalence difference. This uses?
A. Power analysis.
B. Saturation sampling.
C. Quota sampling.
, D. Volunteer bias adjustment.
A. Power analysis.
Detailed Research Rationale: Power analysis ensures adequate sample size to detect true effects (e.g.,
80% power, alpha 0.05), preventing Type II errors. Nurses use this to justify resource allocation for
screenings, aligning with AHRQ 2025 population health strategies.
Question 8: Study Design - Mixed Methods
To evaluate both statistical outcomes and patient narratives in a palliative care program, which design
integrates quantitative and qualitative approaches?
A. Sequential explanatory.
B. Purely quantitative.
C. Ethnographic.
D. Survey-only.
A. Sequential explanatory.
Detailed Research Rationale: Sequential explanatory mixed methods use quantitative data first,
followed by qualitative to explain results, enriching comprehensive insights. This supports holistic
palliative nursing, per JBI 2025 mixed-methods EBP frameworks.
Question 9: Sampling - Bias Mitigation
In a study on vaccine hesitancy among new mothers, using only social media recruitment risks?
A. Selection bias.
B. Response bias.
C. Recall bias.
D. Confounding bias.
A. Selection bias.
Detailed Research Rationale: Social media limits to tech-savvy groups, skewing representation. Nurses
mitigate this in practice by diverse recruitment for equitable vaccination campaigns, as per CDC 2025
maternal health guidelines.
Evidence-Based Practice Final Exam |
2025/2026 Verified Questions with Detailed
Research Rationales
Question 1: Study Design - Quantitative Basics
A nurse researcher is designing a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a new wound care protocol in
reducing infection rates in surgical patients. Which study design is most appropriate for establishing
causality?
A. Descriptive correlational design.
B. Quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design.
C. Cross-sectional survey.
D. Phenomenological qualitative design.
B. Quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design.
Detailed Research Rationale: Quasi-experimental designs allow for manipulation of an independent
variable (e.g., wound care protocol) while measuring outcomes (e.g., infection rates) before and after,
providing stronger evidence for causality than descriptive designs. In clinical practice, this supports
nurses in adopting protocols that demonstrate measurable reductions in hospital-acquired infections,
aligning with AHRQ 2025 guidelines for quality improvement in surgical care.
Question 2: Study Design - Qualitative Exploration
A nurse is exploring the lived experiences of family caregivers for patients with dementia. Which
qualitative design best fits this inquiry?
A. Grounded theory.
B. Experimental randomized controlled trial.
C. Case-control study.
D. Cohort prospective study.
,A. Grounded theory.
Detailed Research Rationale: Grounded theory focuses on developing theories from data on social
processes, ideal for understanding caregiver experiences without preconceived hypotheses. Clinically, this
informs nursing interventions like support groups, enhancing family-centered care as per ANA 2025
standards for holistic dementia management.
Question 3: Study Design - Longitudinal vs. Cross-Sectional
To assess changes in pain management satisfaction among chemotherapy patients over a 6-month period,
which design is optimal?
A. Cross-sectional.
B. Retrospective cohort.
C. Longitudinal prospective.
D. Meta-analysis.
C. Longitudinal prospective.
Detailed Research Rationale: Longitudinal designs track the same subjects over time, capturing
temporal changes in variables like satisfaction. In nursing practice, this evidence guides ongoing pain
assessments and adjustments, reducing opioid misuse per JBI 2025 oncology EBP recommendations.
Question 4: Sampling - Probability Basics
In a study testing a fall prevention program in community-dwelling elders, which probability sampling
method ensures generalizability?
A. Convenience sampling.
B. Simple random sampling.
C. Purposive sampling.
D. Snowball sampling.
B. Simple random sampling.
Detailed Research Rationale: Simple random sampling gives each population member an equal chance
of selection, minimizing bias and enhancing external validity. Nurses can apply this to scale effective fall
programs across diverse elderly populations, supporting CDC 2025 fall prevention initiatives.
,Question 5: Sampling - Non-Probability
A researcher studying rare pediatric oncology nurses' burnout uses referrals from colleagues. This is an
example of?
A. Stratified random sampling.
B. Snowball sampling.
C. Systematic sampling.
D. Cluster sampling.
B. Snowball sampling.
Detailed Research Rationale: Snowball sampling leverages networks to access hard-to-reach groups,
suitable for qualitative depth in rare populations. Clinically, findings inform targeted wellness programs,
addressing nurse retention as emphasized in ANA 2025 workforce guidelines.
Question 6: Study Design - RCT Gold Standard
For evaluating a nurse-led diabetes education intervention's impact on A1c levels, the strongest design is?
A. Observational cohort.
B. Randomized controlled trial (RCT).
C. Case study.
D. Delphi method.
B. Randomized controlled trial (RCT).
Detailed Research Rationale: RCTs minimize bias through randomization and blinding, providing Level
I evidence for efficacy. In practice, this validates education protocols for better glycemic control, per
ADA 2025 EBP for nursing in diabetes care.
Question 7: Sampling - Sample Size Determination
A nurse researcher calculates a sample size of 200 for a hypertension screening study to detect a 10%
prevalence difference. This uses?
A. Power analysis.
B. Saturation sampling.
C. Quota sampling.
, D. Volunteer bias adjustment.
A. Power analysis.
Detailed Research Rationale: Power analysis ensures adequate sample size to detect true effects (e.g.,
80% power, alpha 0.05), preventing Type II errors. Nurses use this to justify resource allocation for
screenings, aligning with AHRQ 2025 population health strategies.
Question 8: Study Design - Mixed Methods
To evaluate both statistical outcomes and patient narratives in a palliative care program, which design
integrates quantitative and qualitative approaches?
A. Sequential explanatory.
B. Purely quantitative.
C. Ethnographic.
D. Survey-only.
A. Sequential explanatory.
Detailed Research Rationale: Sequential explanatory mixed methods use quantitative data first,
followed by qualitative to explain results, enriching comprehensive insights. This supports holistic
palliative nursing, per JBI 2025 mixed-methods EBP frameworks.
Question 9: Sampling - Bias Mitigation
In a study on vaccine hesitancy among new mothers, using only social media recruitment risks?
A. Selection bias.
B. Response bias.
C. Recall bias.
D. Confounding bias.
A. Selection bias.
Detailed Research Rationale: Social media limits to tech-savvy groups, skewing representation. Nurses
mitigate this in practice by diverse recruitment for equitable vaccination campaigns, as per CDC 2025
maternal health guidelines.
