Free CNE Scholarship Practice Questions with Answers

The Scholarship of Discovery focuses on the pursuit of new knowledge through original research. Key activities include conducting primary empirical studies (qualitative or quantitative), publishing original findings in peer-reviewed journals, and securing external research grants. Distractor Alert: Synthesizing existing research is Integration, while applying known research to clinical problems is Application/Practice. NLN Tip: Look for keywords like original, primary, or new knowledge to identify Discovery. In 2026, the NLN emphasizes that Discovery must contribute to the body of nursing science or theory.

While Teaching focuses on pedagogical methods to help students learn, Integration focuses on the substance of the connections between genomic science and community health. It is the act of bridging the gap between disciplines to create a more cohesive understanding. Exam Tip: If the focus is on the connection of ideas across fields, it is Integration; if the focus is on the effectiveness of how students learn those ideas, it is the Scholarship of Teaching.

The best example is an educator using their clinical expertise to develop a new evidence-based protocol for a community clinic and then evaluating its impact on patient outcomes. This demonstrates the application of specialized knowledge to solve a societal problem. Distractors to avoid: Publishing an original research study (Discovery), writing a textbook chapter that synthesizes multiple fields (Integration), or teaching a standard undergraduate course (Teaching). Application is about problem-solving and clinical/professional utility.

Making the work public, peer-reviewed, and available for use/critique by others. Shulman argues that for teaching to be scholarship, it must be: 1) Public, 2) Subject to critical review and evaluation by members of one's community, and 3) Accessible for others to build upon. Key Exam Tip: A teaching portfolio is a tool for documenting scholarship, but the act of dissemination (journals, conferences, digital repositories) is what fulfills the scholarly requirement. Without going public, it remains scholarly teaching.

JIT means the educator **does not** need full IRB approval at the time of initial application. However, if the grant is highly ranked and being considered for funding, the funder will request IRB approval documentation just in time before the award is finalized. Strategy: Never wait until the last minute; start the IRB process early, as delays in approval can lead to delays in fund disbursement or even loss of the award.