NPD-BC Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: C

Participants' satisfaction ratings collected right after the class: Satisfaction ratings are Level 1 (reaction).

Post-test scores showing gains in knowledge of lift equipment: Knowledge or skill gains on a test are Level 2 (learning).

Unit observations showing staff now use lift devices in practice: Correct. Level 3 (behavior) measures whether learning has transferred into on-the-job practice.

A decline in staff injury claims over the following fiscal year: Organizational outcomes such as fewer injuries are Level 4 (results).

Kirkpatrick: Level 1 reaction, Level 2 learning, Level 3 behavior (transfer to practice), Level 4 results (organizational outcomes).

Answer: B

Innovators: Innovators are venturesome risk-takers, but peers may see them as outliers, so they influence others less.

Early adopters: Correct. Early adopters are respected, well-integrated opinion leaders whose adoption persuades the majority.

Late majority: The late majority is skeptical and adopts only after most others have, so it is unsuited to championing change.

Laggards: Laggards resist change and adopt last; they are the least likely to persuade colleagues.

Rogers: innovators → early adopters (opinion leaders) → early majority → late majority → laggards; recruit early adopters as champions.

Answer: A

Failure mode and effects analysis: Correct. FMEA is a proactive method that identifies and prioritizes potential failures in a process before harm occurs.

Root cause analysis: RCA is retrospective, examining why an adverse or sentinel event has already happened.

Incident reporting and escalation: Incident reporting captures events or near misses after they occur.

Retrospective chart audit: Chart audits review documentation of past care, not potential failures of a new process.

FMEA = proactive (before harm, rates severity, occurrence and detection); RCA = reactive (after an event, finds system causes).

Answer: C

A quality improvement project that needs no review: QI improves local processes; randomization designed to produce generalizable knowledge goes beyond QI.

An evidence-based practice project applying existing evidence: EBP applies existing evidence; this project is designed to create new knowledge.

Research that requires institutional review board review: Correct. A systematic study designed to produce generalizable knowledge with human participants is research and needs IRB review.

Program evaluation that is exempt from any oversight: Calling it program evaluation does not remove the need for review when the design is research.

Research generates new, generalizable knowledge (IRB); EBP applies best evidence; QI improves local processes. When unsure, consult the IRB.

Answer: D

The prebriefing: Prebriefing builds psychological safety and orients learners, but the deepest reflection happens later.

The scenario run: The scenario provides the experience; most learning comes from reflecting on it afterward.

The equipment setup: Setup supports realism but is not a learning phase for participants.

The debriefing: Correct. Guided reflection in a structured debrief turns the experience into learning and transfer to practice.

Simulation: prebrief (safety, orientation) → scenario (experience) → debrief (reflection, where most learning happens).

Answer: A

Six Sigma: Correct. Six Sigma uses DMAIC and statistics to reduce variation and defects.

Lean: Lean focuses on removing waste and non-value-added steps to improve flow.

PDSA: PDSA uses rapid small tests of change (Plan-Do-Study-Act), not the DMAIC phases.

FMEA: FMEA is a proactive risk analysis tool, not a DMAIC improvement methodology.

Six Sigma = DMAIC and reducing variation; Lean = reducing waste; PDSA = rapid cycle testing.