Preview Extract
Chapter 8
1. A nurse asks a patient about things that he has done at home to relieve the arthritis pain in
his shoulders. Which of the following is this nurse most likely using?
1. Applied research
2. Critical thinking
3. Basic research
4. Discharge planning
Answer: Applied research
Rationale:
Applied research focuses on finding solutions to existing problems. Practicing nurses are
most apt to be involved in applied research. Basic research is undertaken to extend the
knowledge base in a discipline or to formulate or refine a theory. Critical thinking is a process
to determine the best interventions when planning care. Discharge planning is an activity,
started upon admission, to determine the patient’s needs once discharged from a health care
facility.
2. The nurse is providing care to a patient. Which of the following interventions could be
considered applied research?
1. Trying different skin preparations to find the one that will hold the ostomy device the best.
2. Measuring the patient’s blood pressure for orthostatic hypotension changes.
3. Assisting the patient to ambulate.
4. Measuring the patient’s intake and output.
Answer: Trying different skin preparations to find the one that will hold the ostomy device
the best.
Rationale:
Applied research focuses on finding solutions to existing problems. The intervention where
the nurse tries different skin preparations to find the one that will hold the ostomy device the
best is an example of an intervention that can be considered applied research. The other
interventions would be provided according to the patient’s needs and would not necessarily
help to find a solution to an existing problem.
3. The nurse measures the blood pressure and pulse every hour for a patient who has agreed
to participate in a research study on the effectiveness of a new blood pressure medication.
Which of the following would this activity be considered?
1. Basic research
2. Applied research
3. Routine nursing care
4. Outcome measurement
Answer: Basic research
Rationale:
Basic research is done to extend the knowledge base in a discipline or to formulate or refine a
theory. The patient is taking an experimental medication for blood pressure. There is no
previous data from which to gauge the effectiveness of the medication. The nurse’s
intervention of measuring blood pressure and pulse every hour is an example of basic
research. Applied research focuses on finding solutions to existing problems. There is not
enough information to determine if the patient has been on other blood pressure medications
or if the current investigational medication has been previously studied. Measuring a patient’s
blood pressure and pulse every hour is not considered routine nursing care. Outcome
measurement is done after the implementation of a nursing intervention. The nurse is not
conducting an intervention but rather is assessing the effectiveness of an experimental
medication.
4. A nurse is assisting a health care provider with a quantitative research study. Which of the
following will the nurse most likely do in this study?
1. Conduct a pilot study.
2. Clarify the topic area.
3. Identify themes and categories.
4. Identify a study site.
Answer: Conduct a pilot study.
Rationale:
Quantitative research has five distinct phases; phase 2 includes conducting a pilot study, if
possible. The other choices are steps within a qualitative research design.
5. The nurse is currently working within the second phase of a qualitative research study.
Which of the following activities will the nurse conduct during this phase?
Select all that apply.
1. Develop a sampling plan.
2. Collect data.
3. Identify themes and categories.
4. Conduct a literature review.
5. Identify a study site.
6. Conduct a pilot study.
Answer: 1. Develop a sampling plan.
2. Collect data.
3. Identify themes and categories.
Rationale:
Develop a sampling plan. This action is within phase 2 of a qualitative research study. Collect
data. This action is within phase 2 of a qualitative research study. Identify themes and
categories. This action is within phase 2 of a qualitative research study. Conduct a literature
review. Conducting a literature review is within phase 1 of a qualitative research study and
phase 1 of a quantitative research study. Identify a study site. Identifying a study site is within
phase 1 of a qualitative research study. Conduct a pilot study. Conducting a pilot study is
within phase 2 of a quantitative research study.
6. A group of nurses are studying the effects of protein ingestion on wound healing. After
several weeks, the study question was changed to include measuring the degree of wound
healing according to different types of protein ingested. This change in the study question
would be included in which of the following phases of a research study?
1. Qualitative research phase 1
2. Qualitative research phase 2
3. Quantitative research phase 1
4. Quantitative research phase 3
Answer: Qualitative research phase 1
Rationale:
In phase 1 of a qualitative research study, the study begins with a broad research question that
may be further refined after the study is under way, which is what the nurses did in the study
of protein ingestion and wound healing. Phase 2 of a qualitative research study does not
include the revision of the research question. The revision of the research question after the
study begins is not a part of any phase within a quantitative research study.
7. A nurse is designing a study to determine the different perceptions of illness and
hospitalization within a group of Hispanic patients. This nurse is most likely conducting
which type of qualitative research?
1. Ethnography
2. Phenomenology
3. Grounded theory
4. Experimental
Answer: Ethnography
Rationale:
Ethnography focuses on the culture of a group of people, with an effort to understand the
worldview of those under study. Phenomenology describes the meaning of a lived experience
through the perspective of the participant. Grounded theory refers to the idea that conclusion
of a qualitative study should be grounded in the data, that is, based on direct and careful
observations of everyday life within the group. An experimental research design is a type of
quantitative research and is used to determine the effects of an intervention. Experimental
research most often occurs in a laboratory setting, and is used to determine the effects of an
intervention or of the manipulation of an independent variable.
8. The nurse is analyzing data collected during a phenomenological research study. Which of
the following would be an example of this data?
1. Waiting to have a procedure done is more stressful than the actual procedure
2. Blood pressure 150/90 after ambulating 10 feet
3. Ten mothers in the same housing community desire a centrally located day care facility
4. Urine output 100 cc after ingesting 240 cc of water
Answer: Waiting to have a procedure done is more stressful than the actual procedure
Rationale:
Phenomenology describes the meaning of a lived experience through the perspective of the
participant. The phrase “waiting to have a procedure done is more stressful than the actual
procedure” exemplifies the meaning of a lived experience through the perspective of the
participant. Blood pressure 150/90 and urine output of 100 cc are examples of objective data
that could be collected during a quantitative research study. Ten mothers desiring a local day
care facility is an example of ethnography, which focuses on the culture of a group of people
with an effort to understand the worldview of those being studied.
9. A qualitative research study has concluded and the nurse researcher is currently watching
the study participants to make sure that the findings from the research can be seen in the
routine lives of those who were studied. The nurse is conducting which type of research?
1. Grounded theory
2. Experimental
3. Ethnography
4. Phenomenology
Answer: Grounded theory
Rationale:
Grounded theory refers to the idea that conclusions of a qualitative study are grounded in data
and based on direct and careful observations of everyday life within the group studied. By
observing the study participants, the nurse is following a grounded theory research design.
Experimental is a type of quantitative research. Ethnography focuses on the culture of a
group. Phenomenology describes the meaning of a lived experience through the perspective
of the participant.
10. A nurse is having difficulty understanding why a particular nursing intervention is not
successful in helping a patient achieve his health care goals. Which of the following should
the nurse do first?
1. Identify the problem.
2. Conduct a literature review.
3. Design the sampling plan.
4. Conduct a pilot study.
Answer: Identify the problem.
Rationale:
The first step in any research process is to identify a researchable problem. A researchable
problem is a situation in need of a solution, alteration, or improvement. It is an area of
concern for a particular population that requires investigation and it is derived from a topical
area. Conducting a literature review, designing a sampling plan, and conducting a pilot study
would all be done after the problem has been identified.
11. The nurse, working with patients in an orthopedic surgical unit, wants to study the impact
of assistive devices with progressive ambulation. Which of the following would be an
example of a research problem for this study?
1. Do post-hip-replacement patients ambulate faster with the use of one crutch or two?
2. Will post-hip-replacement patients recover from surgery faster if discharged within 1
week?
3. How does learning postsurgical exercises before the hip replacement impact recovery
time?
4. Will post-hip-replacement-surgery patients be discharged using a cane for ambulation?
Answer: Do post-hip-replacement patients ambulate faster with the use of one crutch or two?
Rationale:
The research problem is a small, specific piece of a phenomenon to be studied. The nurse
desires to study the impact of assistive devices with progressive ambulation. The question
that best supports the nurse’s quest would be if post-hip-replacement patients ambulate faster
with the use of one crutch or two. The other questions do not necessarily address the impact
of assistive devices with progressive ambulation.
12. Even though the nurses in a patient care area have been asked to collect data while
conducting patient care, several nurses will do the data collection only if time is available.
Which of the following research problem criteria does the inconsistent collection of data
exemplify?
1. Feasible to address
2. Significance to nursing
3. Researchable
4. Of interest to the researcher
Answer: Feasible to address
Rationale:
Feasible to address means there is time to complete the research and cooperation of others.
The nurses in the care area will collect the data only if there is time. The inconsistent data
collection is not directly related to whether the research has significance to nursing, is
researchable, or is of interest to the researcher.
13. A nurse is going to determine the best design to use for a research project. Which of the
following should the nurse do to assist with this decision?
1. Write an overview of the conceptual framework.
2. Collect data.
3. Do a review of the literature.
4. Identify themes and categories.
Answer: Write an overview of the conceptual framework.
Rationale:
The third major step in the research process is selecting the type of research that will answer
the question and the concomitant research design. It is helpful to begin the design section by
writing an overview in which the theoretical or conceptual framework is stated if one is used.
Data collection is done after the research design is identified. A review of the literature will
help with research problem identification. Identifying themes and categories is done when
analyzing the data.
14. The nurse designing a research study has identified the population to be studied. The next
step the nurse should undertake is to:
1. Specify eligibility criteria.
2. Specify the sampling plan.
3. Recruit the sample.
4. Determine statistical significance.
Answer: Specify eligibility criteria.
Rationale:
When determining the sample size within a research design, the first step is to identify the
population. The second step is to specify the eligibility criteria. The third step is to specify the
sampling plan. The last step is to recruit the sample. Determining statistical significance is
done during the analysis of study data.
15. The design of a research study included a random sample size of 100 patients. At the end
of the study, the sample size decreased to 75 patients. Which of the following should the
nurse do with this change in sample size?
1. Document why the patients left the study.
2. Determine that the study is invalid and plan a different research design.
3. Plan another study using quota sampling.
4. Run the study again with purposive sampling.
Answer: Document why the patients left the study.
Rationale:
Regardless of the sampling strategy used, it is essential to keep a careful record of the
sampling decisions and identify how many people began the study, how many completed the
study, and why subjects left the study before completing it. The nurse should not determine
that the study was invalid nor plan another study using quota sampling or purposive
sampling.
16. While planning care for a patient, the nurse reviews the most current research in addition
to studying other sources in effort to apply the best interventions. This nurse is practicing:
1. Evidenced-based practice.
2. Critical thinking.
3. Research utilization.
4. Qualitative research.
Answer: Evidence-based practice.
Rationale:
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a broad concept and relies on more than research to support
and improve practice. It extends beyond research utilization and involves making clinical
decisions based on the best possible evidence. Critical thinking is a process used for decision
making or problem solving. Research utilization is the purposeful application of research
findings to the clinical setting to improve patient care by using the findings from a disciplined
study or set of studies in a practical, or real-world, application. Qualitative research is a type
of research design.
17. A patient has not responded to a long-standing intervention by producing a desired
outcome. Which of the following should the nurse do if implementing evidence-based
practice?
1. Find research, quality improvement study outcomes, and information from experts to
change the intervention.
2. Apply the intervention again.
3. Find a research study about the intervention and apply the study’s finding.
4. Evaluate what went wrong with the intervention.
Answer: Find research, quality improvement study outcomes, and information from experts
to change the intervention.
Rationale:
Evidence-based practice stresses the use of research findings, quality improvement data, and
consensus of experts to substantiate practice. The nurse should find research, quality
improvement study outcomes, and information from experts to change the intervention. The
nurse should not apply the intervention again. The nurse has already evaluated what went
wrong with the intervention. Finding a research study about the intervention and applying the
study’s finding would be research utilization and not evidence-based practice.
18. The nurses have been instructed on the use of an evidence-based practice method to
monitor patients; however, several nurses continue to conduct patient monitoring using the
previous method. Which of the following can be done to increase the use of the evidencebased practice method?
1. Review the evidence-based material again with those nurses who are not using the new
method.
2. Assign the nurses not using the new method to participate in gathering data for a research
study.
3. Ask the nurse manager to review the performance expectations.
4. Determine that either method would be appropriate for the nurses to use.
Answer: Review the evidence-based material again with those nurses who are not using the
new method.
Rationale:
Strategies to promote the use of evidence-based practice include continuing education and
inservice programs to teach the nurses about the practice. The material should be reviewed
again with those nurses who are not using the new method. The nurses should not be assigned
to participate in data gathering for a research study, nor should the nurse manager be asked to
counsel the nurses on performance expectations. Determining that either method would be
appropriate to use would not be in support of the evidence-based practice approach and
should not be used.
19. A patient refuses to participate in a research study for an experimental medication. The
nurse accepts this patient’s decision as exercising which of the following ethical principles?
1. Respect for persons
2. Beneficence
3. Justice
4. Informed consent
Answer: Respect for persons
Rationale:
Inherent in the principle of respect for persons are the concepts of autonomy, dignity,
uniqueness, freedom, and choice. This principle forms the foundation of the participants’
rights to informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality, and involves respecting people’s
autonomy or right to choose freely for themselves. In regard to ethical research, the principle
of beneficence means the duty to promote or do good in addition to doing no harm. The
principle of justice means that people are treated fairly. The patient refused to participate,
which is a part of the ethical principle of respect for persons.
20. A patient tells the nurse that he will participate in a research study about HIV medications
but does not want anyone to know of his participation. Which of the following ethical
principles should the nurse use to address this patient’s concern?
1. Respect for persons
2. Beneficence
3. Nonmalfeasance
4. Justice
Answer: Respect for persons
Rationale:
Inherent in the ethical principle of respect for persons are the concepts of autonomy, dignity,
and freedom. This principle forms the foundation of the participants’ rights to informed
consent, privacy, and confidentiality. The nurse should use the principle of respect for persons
to address this patient’s concerns. Beneficence is the duty to promote good. Nonmalfeasance
is included within the ethical principle of beneficence. Justice requires that people be treated
fairly.
21. A patient with severe hypertension, identified to receive an investigative medication that
has shown a dramatic decrease in blood pressure, has been told that his participation in the
study is no longer needed. The patient is upset because he wanted to try the medication to
control the blood pressure. Which of the following should the nurse do to support this
patient?
1. Talk with the researchers about the patient’s right to receive the investigational medication.
2. Explain to the patient that investigational medications hardly ever produce the desired
results.
3. Tell the patient that he can participate some other time.
4. Help the patient understand that his participation “wasn’t meant to be.”
Answer: Talk with the researchers about the patient’s right to receive the investigational
medication.
Rationale:
The principle of justice requires that people be treated fairly. This includes the patient’s right
to receive research treatments. The nurse should talk with the researchers about the patient’s
right to receive the medication. The nurse should not minimize the patient’s participation by
stating that investigational medications hardly ever produce the desired results or make a
false promise of participating sometime in the future. Stating that his participation “wasn’t
meant to be” is dismissive of the impact of the change for the client.
22. A nurse wants to study outpatient medical records to determine a specific pattern of care.
Which part of HIPAA should this nurse consult to guide her actions?
1. Accessing data
2. Creating data
3. Disclosing data
4. Destroying data
Answer: Accessing data
Rationale:
It is the covered organization’s obligation not to disclose information improperly when a
researcher seeks data that includes private health information. A covered organization is one
that “transmits information in an electronic form, and includes health plans, health care
clearing houses, and health care agencies.” All covered entities are required to comply with
the privacy rule. Researchers will be expected to work closely with clinical agencies used as
research sites to ensure that both sides meet HIPAA obligations. Creating data can be done
through the course of conducting research. Disclosing data is sharing information about
patients’ personal health information. The HIPAA law does not provide information on the
destroying of data.
23. A researcher plans to share the results of a research study after removing all study
subjects’ names, addresses, and dates of birth. The nurse realizes that the researcher has done
which of the following with the patients’ personal health information?
1. Deidentified the information
2. Reviewed the information prior to conducting the research
3. Received authorization
4. Created data
Answer: Deidentified the information
Rationale:
Deidentification means that all information that acts as an identifier has been removed. After
it has been removed, the information can be freely shared because it is no longer considered
personal health information. Identifiers include name, address, and date of birth. Reviewing
the information prior to conducting the research means the researchers assessed the feasibility
of projects by examining information in patient medical records. Received authorization
means the researcher has a signed authorization from a patient to be able to access personal
health information. Created data means that the researcher created additional personal health
information and will need authorization to disclose the contents.
24. While conducting a research study, the researcher creates a table of new health
information data. Which of the following should the researcher do with this new data?
1. Gain permission from the patients to use the data, and discuss who will receive it.
2. Ask the patients’ health care providers if the information is valid.
3. Validate the data with laboratory results in the patients’ medical records.
4. Ask the patients’ nurses if the data appears to be correct and then document it was
validated.
Answer: Gain permission from the patients to use the data, and discuss who will receive it.
Rationale:
The HIPAA privacy regulation impacts nursing research in three ways: data access, data
creation, and data disclosure. Within data creation, any protected health information obtained
is covered by HIPAA and the research is bound by HIPAA regulations. The researcher needs
to obtain permission from the patient to use the data, including who is going to receive it. The
researcher should not discuss the data with the patients’ health care providers or nurses. The
researcher should also not review the patients’ medical records without with patients’
permission to do so.
25. A nurse is implementing stage 2 of a critique of a quantitative research study. In this
stage, the nurse will:
1. Focus on the conduct of the research.
2. Review the purpose of the research.
3. Study the findings.
4. Summarize the quality of the study.
Answer: Focus on the conduct of the research.
Rationale:
Stage 2 focuses on the conduct of the research. This refers to studying the manner in which
the research was conducted and includes determining if the methodology was applied
correctly. Stage 1 focuses on the review of the purpose of the research. In stage 3, the
findings are studied. Stage 4 includes a summary of the quality of the study.
26. While critiquing a quantitative research study, the nurse is curious about the sample size.
Which of the following would be an appropriate question about the size of the sample for the
study?
1. Is the sample size appropriate to meet the assumptions of the statistical test?
2. Are the rights of the research participants protected?
3. Were ethical issues handled appropriately?
4. What are the strengths of the study?
Answer: Is the sample size appropriate to meet the assumptions of the statistical test?
Rationale:
When critiquing the sample of a research study, an appropriate question to ask about the size
of the sample would be if the sample size was appropriate to meet the assumptions of the
statistical tests. Questions about the participants’ rights and ethical issues would be
appropriate if critiquing the human rights of conducting the research. The strengths of the
study would be an appropriate question if critiquing the overall quality of the study.
27. The nurse, critiquing a quantitative research study, is particularly interested in information
obtained in stage 3 of the critique. This information would most likely include:
1. How the findings of the study advance nursing knowledge.
2. The major strengths of the study.
3. Whether the study can be replicated.
4. How ethical issues were handled.
Answer: How the findings of the study advance nursing knowledge.
Rationale:
Stage 3 of a quantitative research critique focuses on the findings, discussion, implications,
and conclusions. Within implications and conclusions, the issue of how the findings of the
study advance nursing knowledge should be addressed. The major strengths of the study and
whether the study can be replicated are critiqued in the fourth stage of the process. How
ethical issues were handled is critiqued in stage 2 of the process.
Test Bank for Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing
Loretta A Donnelly-Moreno, Brigitte Moseley
9781975172237, 9781975172268
