Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the core concepts, steps, and terminology of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in nursing.

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

A problem-solving approach to clinical practice that combines the deliberate and systematic use of best evidence in combination with a clinician's expertise, patient preferences and values, and available health care resources in making decisions about patient care.

Spirit of Inquiry

A persistent, questioning mindset in nursing that prompts clinicians to question current practices, believe in the value of EBP, and continuously seek knowledge to improve patient care.

PICOT Format

A standard structured framework used to ask clinical questions, standing for Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time.

Population (PICOT)

The element of a PICOT question describing a group of people experiencing the same phenomenon or sharing the same medical diagnosis, gender, or age range.

Intervention (PICOT)

The element of a PICOT question describing a planned action or treatment aimed at solving a clinical problem.

Comparison (PICOT)

The element of a PICOT question describing the current practice, accepted way of doing things, or alternative intervention being compared.

Outcome (PICOT)

The element of a PICOT question describing the specific result or effect that is being measured or evaluated.

Time (PICOT)

An optional element of a PICOT question specifying the timeframe required to achieve the desired outcome.

Hierarchy of Evidence

A system ranking research evidence strength from Level I (systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs) down to Level VII (opinions of authorities or reports of expert committees).

Level I Evidence

The strongest level of evidence in nursing research, consisting of systematic reviews, meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines based on systematic reviews.

Level VII Evidence

The lowest level of evidence in the evidence hierarchy, consisting of the opinion of authorities and/or reports of expert committees.

Critical Appraisal

The process of evaluating gathered evidence to determine its value, feasibility, usefulness, and level for making a clinical practice change.

Pilot Study

A small-scale preliminary implementation of a practice change used to test feasibility before launching large-scale organizational changes.

Quantitative Research

A precise, systematic, and objective examination of specific concepts focusing on numerical data, statistical analysis, and controls to eliminate bias (e.g., experimental, nonexperimental, survey, evaluation).

Qualitative Research

A research approach that uses inductive reasoning to discover behavioral characteristics or phenomena and build theories or generalizations from specific observations or interviews.

Performance Improvement (PI)

A formal approach for analyzing healthcare-related processes to improve local work workflows, operational efficiency, and patient outcomes.

Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA)

A performance improvement model used to test, observe, analyze, and implement changes in healthcare processes.

Research (vs. EBP and PI)

A systematic inquiry designed to answer questions, solve problems, and contribute to the generalizable knowledge base of nursing, which may or may not directly improve patient care.

American Psychological Association (APA) Format

The citation and document formatting style most commonly used in social sciences for research papers, in-text citations, reference pages, and presentations.

Elements of an Evidence-Based Article

The standard structural components of a peer-reviewed research article: Abstract, Introduction, Background, Purpose, Methods/Design, Analysis, Results, and Clinical Implications.