Evidence- Based Nursing

What is a Evidence- based practice (EBP)?

A problem-solving approach to clinical practice that combines the deliberate and systematic use of best evidence with a clinician’s expertise, patient preferences and values, and available health care resources in making decisions about patient care. It guides nurses’ clinical judgments in making effective, timely, and appropriate clinical decisions.

Why is it important to nurses? About EBP

• The American Nurses Association’s (ANA) Nursing: Scope and Standards for Practice (2021) states that registered nurses must integrate scholarship, evidence, and research findings into practice.

• Nurses need to understand the scientific reasoning behind health care approaches and apply the most current and relevant scientific evidence.

What are the benefits of EBP?

• Enhances the patient experience and patient satisfaction.

• Decreases cost.

• Empowers clinicians.

• Improves patient outcomes.

• Improves the quality and consistency of health care.

Why is EBP a part of QSEN? Quality and safety education for nurses

competencies, aiming to prepare nurses with knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) to improve health care quality and safety.

Explain the relationship between evidence-based practice and clinical judgment.

EBP guides nurses’ clinical judgments in making effective, timely, and appropriate clinical decisions. Scientific knowledge is an integral part of critical thinking, which guides how nurses interpret information, identify problems, and select interventions.

What is PICOT? Why do nurses use it?

- helps formulate specific foreground questions to efficiently search scientific literature. The more focused the question, the easier it is to find relevant evidence.

• P = Patient population of interest: Identify patients by age, gender, ethnicity, disease, or health problem.

• I = Intervention or area of interest: What intervention is worthwhile (treatment, diagnostic test) or what area of interest influences an outcome (complementary therapy, motivational interviewing)?. For non-intervention focused questions, 'I' can represent an area of interest.

• C = Comparison intervention or area of interest: What is the usual standard of care or current intervention?. A specific comparison is not always required.

• O = Outcome: What result do you wish to achieve or observe? Make the outcome statement nondirectional to avoid limiting search results.

• T = Time: What amount of time is needed for the intervention to achieve the outcome?. A specific time frame is not always required.

How does critical thinking guide a nurse?

guiding how nurse interpret patient information, identify problems, and select interventions. EBP is problem- solving approach that combines the best evidence with a clinician’s expertise, patient preferences, and available resources

What happens when evidence is lacking in a practice change?

- Using nursing resources becomes essential for creating new knowledge. This research provides a scientific basis for nursing effective nursing interventions

What is the correct order of the seven steps of EBP?

Cultivate a spirit of inquiry.

Ask the clinical question in PICOT format.

Search for the most relevant and best evidence.

Critically appraise the evidence you gather.

Integrate the evidence.

Evaluate the outcomes of the practice decision or change.

Communicate the outcomes of the EBP change.

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