Question 1

What is the ultimate goal of expanding nursing knowledge through nursing research?

Accepted Answer

The ultimate goal of expanding nursing knowledge through nursing research is to learn improved ways to promote and maintain health. By conducting research, nurses can gain a better understanding of health conditions, effective treatments, and innovative techniques to improve the overall health and well-being of patients. This can lead to improved patient outcomes and a better quality of life for individuals and communities.

Question 2

One step in implementing evidence-based practice is to ask a question about a clinical area of interest or an intervention. The most common method is the PICO format. Which of the following accurately defines the letters in the PICO acronym?

Accepted Answer

P = population refers to the group of patients or individuals being studied 
I = intervention refers to the treatment or intervention being evaluated 
C = comparison refers to the alternative treatments or interventions being considered 
O = outcome refers to the desired or measured outcome of the intervention or treatment.

Question 3

During the first half of the 20th century, a change in the structure of society resulted in changed roles for women and, in turn, for nursing. What was one of these changes?

Accepted Answer

The first half of the 20th century saw significant advancements in the field of nursing, including the development and publication of nursing research, which contributed to the profession's growth and the improvement of patient care.

Question 4

There are four concepts common in all nursing theories. Which one of the four concepts is the focus of nursing?

Accepted Answer

The focus of nursing is the person or patient receiving care. This means that all nursing theories prioritize the patient's needs and well-being above all other factors, including the environment, health, and the nursing process itself.

Question 5

The practice of changing patients' bedclothes each day in acute care settings is an example of what type of knowledge?

Accepted Answer

The practice of changing patients' bedclothes each day in acute care settings is an example of traditional knowledge. This type of knowledge is based on customs and practices that have been passed down through generations, often without being questioned or scientifically tested.

Question 6

An obstetrical nurse wishes to identify whether clients' perceptions of a high level of support from their partner is associated with a decreased length of the second stage of labor. Which type of quantitative research is most appropriate for this research question?

Accepted Answer

Correlational research is most appropriate for this research question because it aims to determine if there is a relationship between two variables (in this case, the level of support from a partner and the length of the second stage of labor) without manipulating any variables.

Question 7

A student nurse learns how to give injections from the nurse manager. This is an example of the acquisition of what type of knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Authoritative knowledge is acquired from an expert or authority figure, such as a nurse manager teaching a student nurse how to give injections.

Question 8

A staff development nurse is asking a group of new staff nurses to read and be prepared to discuss a qualitative study that focuses on nursing events of the past. This is done in an attempt to increase understanding of the nursing profession today. What method of qualitative research is used in this article?

Accepted Answer

The article focuses on nursing events of the past, indicating that it utilizes a historical method of qualitative research. Phenomenology would focus on the lived experiences of individuals, grounded theory would aim to develop a new theory based on data analysis, and ethnography would require observing and documenting a specific culture or community.

Question 9

A nurse researcher is studying perceptions of vocational rehabilitation for clients after a spinal cord injury. What type of research method will be used to study the perceptions of this group of individuals?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research is best suited for studying perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of individuals. It involves collecting data through methods like interviews, focus groups, and observations. In this case, the nurse researcher is studying perceptions of vocational rehabilitation for clients after a spinal cord injury, which involves understanding how individuals experience and interpret the rehabilitation process. Qualitative research is well-suited to explore these subjective and complex perceptions.

Question 10

In understanding the historical influences on nursing knowledge, nursing as a profession struggled for years to establish its own identify and to receive recognition for its contributions to health care. Why?

Accepted Answer

The early conceptual and theoretical foundation of nursing practice was borrowed from medicine, psychology, and other related disciplines, causing nursing to struggle to establish its own identify as a distinct profession. It took many years for nursing leaders to develop unique nursing theories that identified and validated nursing practice as its own discipline in its own right.

Question 11

Why are the developmental theories important to nursing practice?

Accepted Answer

Developmental theories provide nurses with knowledge of the predictable patterns of growth and development that clients go through. This understanding can assist nurses in identifying potential issues or delays and addressing them appropriately.

Question 12

Which of the following theories emphasizes the relationships between the whole and the parts, and describes how parts function and behave?

Accepted Answer

The theory that emphasizes the relationships between the whole and the parts and describes how parts function and behave is General systems theory. This theory views systems as a whole and examines the ways in which all parts of the system work together to create an outcome. Nursing theory, Adaptation theory, and Developmental theory are all important theories in nursing, but they do not specifically address the relationships between the whole and the parts of a system.

Question 13

A client undergoing chemotherapy for a brain tumor believes that having a good attitude will help in the healing process. This is an example of what type of knowledge?

Accepted Answer

This relates to philosophical knowledge as it pertains to a belief or mindset, rather than scientific knowledge or a process.

Question 14

Nurse researchers have predicted that a newly created mentorship program will result in decreased absenteeism, increased retention, and decreased attrition among a hospital's nursing staff. Which of the following does this predicted relationship represent?

Accepted Answer

The predicted relationship between the mentorship program and its effects on absenteeism, retention, and attrition is a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction about the relationship between two variables.

Question 15

Before developing a procedure, a nurse reviews all current research-based literature on insertion of a nasogastric tube. What type of nursing will be practiced based on this review?

Accepted Answer

By reviewing current research-based literature on insertion of a nasogastric tube, the nurse is practicing evidence-based nursing, where clinical decisions are informed by the most current and best available evidence.

Question 16

Which of the following accurately describes Florence Nightingale's influence on nursing knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Florence Nightingale is known for differentiating between health nursing and illness nursing, emphasizing the importance of preventive care and the environment in patient health.

Question 17

A staff nurse asks a student, "Why in the world are you studying nursing theory?" How would the student best respond?

Accepted Answer

Nursing theory helps distinguish the profession of nursing from the field of medicine by providing a unique framework and perspective on care. This understanding is crucial for defining the scope and approach of nursing as distinct from medical practice, emphasizing the holistic and patient-centered nature of nursing care.

Question 18

After reviewing several research articles, the clinical nurse specialist on a medical surgical unit rewrites the procedure on assessing placement of a nasogastric tube. What source of nursing knowledge did the nurse use in this situation?

Accepted Answer

The nurse used scientific knowledge by reviewing research articles to update the procedure.

Question 19

What was significant about the promotion of the National Center for Nursing Research to the current National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)?

Accepted Answer

The promotion of the National Center for Nursing Research to the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) was significant because it gained equal status with all the other National Institutes of Health. This change demonstrated the recognition of nursing research as a significant discipline in the healthcare field.

Question 20

Which of the following is a responsibility of an institutional review board (IRB)?

Accepted Answer

Institutional review boards (IRBs) are responsible for evaluating the potential risks involved in a study and determining the appropriate measures to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects. This includes ensuring that informed consent is properly obtained, but also goes beyond that to assess whether the study design, procedures, and safeguards are appropriate and adequate for protecting participants. Checking written accuracy of research proposals is not the primary responsibility of an IRB, and securing funding for institutional research is typically the responsibility of the researchers and their institutions.

Quiz 2: Theory, Research, and Evidence-Based Practice