Question

Discuss how evidence-based practice is applied in your practice setting and describe the desired patient outcome achieved through this approach.

Answer 1

Role of Evidence-Based Practice(EBP) in Nursing

The idea of Evidence-based practice (EBP) was introduced in the 1970s by Dr Archie Cochrane. EBP is the application of researched knowledge. It integrates nursing research, theories and practice.

The nursing practice and nursing education have undergone revolutionary changes throughout the times. Evidence-based practice has emerged as the gold standard of care in nursing.

The EBP has improved over time to now incorporates the best research evidence, clinical expertise, the patient's individual values and circumstances, and the practice area of a health professional.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a patient-centred approach and lays its foundation on independent scientific research by nurses, clinical expertise and patient experiences. The healthcare providers who utilize EBP must consider the recent healthcare research while determining the course of care and treatment. Altogether the practice must be based on the evidence of its efficiency. Nursing was recognized as and an applied science in the 1960s and thereafter the and research efforts intensified.

The accumulation of research has led to increasing knowledge levels but the gap between the ideal healthcare environment and real experience was more. The growing amount of scientific background and research was not being transferred and applied consistently to clinical practice, thereby making the knowledge inefficient. Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2001 recommended implementing EBP to reduce the gap between the knowledge and practice and thereby increase the practice standards.

Present nursing education programs emphasize critical thinking skills and encourage students to consider the patient’s clinical, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as relevant scientific research in practice. They often encourage nursing researches instead of traditional skill training and implementation.

The components or Steps

The patient: Start with the patient. The question occurs while caring for the patient.

The question: Formulate a well organized clinical question from the care setting

Acquire the evidence: Collect the evidence by appropriate resource and from a research

Evaluate the evidence: Assess the validity and feasibility of the evidence.

Implementation: of the practices formulated from the EBP

Self-evaluation: Evaluate the effectiveness of the practice and re-plan if necessary

Benefits of Evidence-Based Practice

The ultimate goal is to provide standardized and improved care across the healthcare system.

Other patient and nurse benefits:

More improved patient outcomes

Cost efficiency

Better nursing skills

Increased efficiency of Patient Care

Critical Thinking (CT) is vital in developing evidence-based nursing practice and its implementation. CT is the ability to think using knowledge and skills on behalf of a patient. The ideal critical thinker must be inquisitive, prudent in making judgments, knowledgeable, willing to change and review. The ability of CT makes a basis for EBP. Instead of blindly following the protocol the CT prepares the nurse a contributor to it. The development of CT in nursing can prepare nurses with the necessary skills and dispositions to support EBP like, habits of mind, attitudes, and traits.The critical thinking process will enhance the nurses' ability to find the clinical indicators, assess their significance, discuss areas for improvement and work efficiently in complex healthcare settings. CT and reduce the research-practice gap and confirm the nursing care is based on evidence.

The validity of any profession or applied science is on its ability to generate and apply theory. Nurses must make their unique contribution to healthcare in order to leave the subordinate role of physicians. The nursing theories developed by experts, intended to guide the practice and act as foundation curricula and research, thereby supports the development of professional knowledge. In the present situation, the use of multidisciplinary services and the doctrine of evidence-based practice in collaboration with the art and science of nursing is more relevant.

Nurse educators and practitioners should incorporate the nursing theoretical base in evidence-based practice.