Foundations of Nursing Research, 7e (Nieswiadomy)
Chapter 1 Development of Nursing Research
1) What is the best reason that scholars consider Florence Nightingale to be the first nurse
researcher?
M
A) She changed nursing by basing her practice on her research findings.
B) She identified a body of knowledge unique to nursing.
C) She collected data in a systematic fashion.
ED
D) She communicated the data collected to other nurses.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Florence Nightingale used the research process as an entity and did not merely
use some aspects of the research process. She used this systematic approach and its resultant
findings to change nursing practice.
B) Only in recent years have nurses concentrated on establishing a unique body of nursing
C
knowledge. This has occurred in the years since Nightingale.
C) Although Nightingale did begin systematically making and recording data, it was her
admonishment that all nurses do the same that began to change nursing.
O
D) Whereas Nightingale used observations to influence practice in her sphere of control, it is
unclear how widely she was able to disseminate the information.
N
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment Client
Need Sub: Management of Care
N
Nurs./Integ. Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: LO 05. Summarize the development of nursing research and future
priorities.
O
2) Research is important to the nursing profession for many reasons. What is the ultimate goal of
nursing research?
IS
A) Document the cost-effectiveness of nursing care.
B) Ensure credibility of the nursing profession.
C) Promote evidence-based practice in nursing.
D) Provide accountability for the nursing profession.
SE
Answer: C
Explanation: A) Whereas cost-effective nursing care is important, it is not as important as
providing optimum care. Many would argue that cost-effectiveness is a part of optimum care. B)
Whereas nursing research will help to establish credibility of the nursing profession, this result
is not as important as providing optimum care to the client.
U
C) The major reason for conducting research is to foster optimum care for clients. Evidence-
based practice is nurses making clinical decisions based on the best research evidence, the
nurse's clinical expertise, and the health preferences of the client.
R
D) Whereas nursing research does provide rationale for nursing actions, thereby promoting
accountability, this is not as important as providing optimal care to the client.
Cognitive Level: Applying
, Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment Client
Need Sub: Management of Care
Nurs./Integ. Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: LO 02. Describe four goals for conducting nursing research.
3) The National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) establishes research priorities. Which
M
option reflects a study that meets the current mission of the NINR?
A) The effect of nurse-led community education on the prevalence of heart disease
B) The number of students entering nursing programs
ED
C) The efficacy of a specific medication therapy for congestive heart failure
D) The job satisfaction level of currently employed nurses
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Promoting health and preventing disease is an area of research emphasis for the
NINR. Evaluating the effects of nurse-led community education about health matches this area
of emphasis.
C
B) Nursing workforce numbers is not an area of the NINR's current research emphasis. The
areas are promoting health and preventing disease and disability, managing symptoms, and
improving palliative and end-of-life care.
O
C) Research into medication efficacy is not an area of the NINR's current research emphasis.
The areas are promoting health and preventing disease and disability, managing symptoms, and
improving palliative and end-of-life care.
N
D) Job satisfaction among nurses is not an area of the NINR's current research emphasis.
The areas are promoting health and preventing disease and disability, managing symptoms, and
N
improving palliative and end-of-life care.
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment Client
O
Need Sub: Management of Care
Nurs./Integ. Concepts: Nursing Process: Assessment
Learning Outcome: LO 05. Summarize the development of nursing research and future
IS
priorities.
4) Nurses involved in research assume different roles, based on their level of education. Which
best describes the role of the BSN-prepared nurse in research?
SE
A) Collaborates with other nurses to design research studies
B) Critiques research studies and applies research to clinical practice
C) Develops policy based on nursing research findings
D) Assumes the role of primary investigator in an independent research study
Answer: B
U
Explanation: A) This is the role of the master's-prepared nurse.
B) BSN-prepared nurses should read research critically and determine if results are ready to be
used in practice.
R
C) This is the role of the nurse who holds a practice-focused doctorate.
D) This is the role of the nurse who holds a research-focused doctorate.
Cognitive Level: Applying
, Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment Client
Need Sub: Management of Care
Nurs./Integ. Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: LO 04. Describe the various roles of nurses in research.
5) Which option reflects the "authority" approach to knowledge development?
M
A) The nurses on the unit have used a variety of approaches to a client care problem, trying to
find one that is effective.
B) A nurse approaches a client care situation in a specific manner because "that is what seems to
ED
be the best thing to do."
C) When asked why client care is organized in the current manner, the nurse manager states,
"We've always done it that way."
D) When faced with a question regarding provision of nursing care, the nurse consults a nursing
textbook for instruction.
Answer: D
C
Explanation: A) A series of attempts to solve a problem until a solution is reached is called trial
and error.
B) This approach is the use of nursing intuition.
O
C) This statement reflects the use of "tradition" in the use of nursing knowledge.
D) This nurse is gaining nursing knowledge by using an authority source, the nursing textbook.
Cognitive Level: Applying
N
Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment Client
Need Sub: Management of Care
N
Nurs./Integ. Concepts: Nursing Process: Evaluation
Learning Outcome: LO 05. Summarize the development of nursing research and future
priorities.
O
6) The nurse researcher is conducting a study to help a nursing unit solve the problem of
increased postprocedure infections in clients who have undergone transurethral prostatectomy.
IS
Which type of nursing research is this researcher conducting?
A) Basic research
B) Applied research
C) Quantitative research
SE
D) Qualitative research
Answer: B
Explanation: A) Basic research is conducted to develop, test, and refine theories and generate
new knowledge.
B) Applied research is directed toward generating knowledge that can be used in seeking
U
solutions to current clinical problems, whereas basic research is conducted to generate new
knowledge.
C) Quantitative research is concerned with objectivity, tight controls over the research
R
situation, and the ability to generalize findings. There is not enough information in this question
to determine if this is a quantitative study.
, D) Qualitative research is concerned with the subjective meaning of experience to
individuals. There is not enough information in this question to determine if this is a qualitative
research study.
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment Client
M
Need Sub: Management of Care
Nurs./Integ. Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: LO 02. Describe four goals for conducting nursing research.
ED
7) What is generally considered the most valid means of developing the knowledge base of
nursing?
A) Scientific research
B) Evidence-based practice
C) Qualitative research
D) Outcomes research
C
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Through scientific research, nurses can determine what they do, how they do it,
and what distinguishes them from other groups in healthcare. These are attributes of a
O
profession's unique body of knowledge.
B) Evidence-based practice involves the use of research findings but does not entail the
broader perspective of a body of nursing knowledge.
N
C) Qualitative research is concerned with the subjective meaning of an experience to an
individual and is a type of research approach. Whereas qualitative research may be used to
N
develop nursing knowledge, this is not a complete answer to this question.
D) Outcomes research is concerned with measurable outcomes of interventions and the cost-
effectiveness of care. Whereas outcomes research may be used to develop nursing knowledge,
O
this is not a complete answer to this question.
Cognitive Level: Understanding
Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment Client
IS
Need Sub: Management of Care
Nurs./Integ. Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: LO 01. Identify the importance of research to nursing.
SE
8) For which role in a research study is special research preparation necessary?
A) Identifier of researchable problems
B) Evaluator of research findings
C) Patient advocate during studies
D) Principal investigator for study
U
Answer: D
Explanation: A) All nurses, regardless of educational preparation, should be alert for issues that
could be researchable problems. This vigilance strengthens the profession.
R
B) All nurses, regardless of educational preparation, should be able to evaluate a research study
and determine if the findings of the study are applicable to their individual practice. C) All
nurses, regardless of educational preparation, should act as patient advocates.
