1. Practice guidelines include the following except:
A. the rate at which patients experience wound infections, duration of a defined episode of care, and medication administration error rate
B. a tool used to describe care of a typical patient
C. evidence-based nursing practice
D. a formal process that incorporates scientific evidence

2. Benchmarking can be defined as:
A. a conscientious, explicit and judicious use of theory – derived research based information in making decisions about nursing care delivery
B. a descriptive tool or standardized specification for care of a typical patient
C. a continuous process of measuring products services and practices against customers or recognized leaders
D. a measure of the number of patients who will die following admission to a hospital for care

3. Evidenced-based nursing practice can be defined as:
A. a conscientious, explicit and judicious use of theory – derived research based information in making decisions about nursing care delivery
B. a descriptive tool or standardized specification for care of a typical patient
C. a continuous process of measuring products services and practices against customers or recognized leaders
D. a measure of the number of patients who will die following admission to a hospital for care

Answers to Study Questions

1. A. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations has provided a definition of practice guidelines. These guidelines are descriptive tools or a standardized specification for care of what is classified as typical. A formal process is used including scientific evidence and expert opinion to develop the guidelines.

2. C. The best way to remember benchmarking is to equate it with making a comparison. Often competitors and best practices are used as models to compare through measurable differences as it relates to practice, service, or products.

3. A. Evidence-based nursing practice focuses upon individual needs and patient preferences derived from nursing concepts, theories, and research.