Evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing is a process of using the best available research evidence to make decisions about patient care. It is a systematic approach to nursing that integrates clinical expertise, patient preferences, and the best available research evidence to provide the highest quality care possible.
EBP is important in nursing because it helps nurses to provide safe and effective care, improve patient outcomes, stay up-to-date on the latest research, and enhance their critical thinking skills. It also helps to build trust with patients and their families.
Benefits of Using EBP in Nursing
There are many benefits to using EBP in nursing, including:
- Improved patient outcomes: EBP has been shown to improve patient outcomes in a variety of areas, such as reducing mortality rates, improving quality of life, and reducing healthcare costs.
- Safer care: EBP helps nurses to identify and avoid best practices that may be harmful to patients.
- More efficient care: EBP can help nurses to provide care more efficiently and effectively by eliminating unnecessary interventions and focusing on the most effective interventions.
- Increased patient satisfaction: Patients are more satisfied with care when they know that their nurses are using the best available evidence to make decisions about their care.
- Improved professional development: EBP helps nurses to stay up-to-date on the latest research and to develop their critical thinking skills.
How to Write an Evidence-Based Practice Paper in Nursing
Writing an evidence-based practice paper in nursing is a systematic process that involves the following steps:
- Ask a clinical question: The first step is to identify a clinical question that you are interested in answering. This question should be specific, answerable, relevant, and time-bound.
- Search for the best evidence: Once you have identified a clinical question, you need to search for the best available evidence to answer it. This involves searching in a variety of databases, such as PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library.
- Appraise the evidence: Once you have found some evidence, you need to appraise it to determine its quality and relevance to your clinical practice. You should consider the study design, sample size, methodology, and results of the study.
- Integrate the evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences: Once you have appraised the evidence, you need to integrate it with your own clinical expertise and the values and preferences of your patient. This involves making a decision about the best course of action for your patient.
- Implement the change: Once you have made a decision about the best course of action, you need to implement the change. This may involve developing a new care plan, changing your practice routine, or educating other members of the healthcare team.
- Evaluate the outcome: Once you have implemented the change, you need to evaluate the outcome to determine if it was effective. This may involve collecting data on patient outcomes, satisfaction, or costs.
Steps in the EBP Process
The EBP process can be divided into five steps:
Ask a clinical question.
The first step in the EBP process is to ask a clinical question. This question should be specific, answerable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, a clinical question might be: “What is the most effective way to prevent pressure ulcers in patients who are bedridden?”
Search for the best evidence.
Once you have asked a clinical question, you need to search for the best available evidence to answer it. This involves searching in a variety of databases, such as PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. You can also search in nursing journals and textbooks, and you may want to consult with other experts in your field.
When searching for evidence, it is important to use specific keywords that are related to your clinical question. You should also limit your search to studies that have been published in recent years
Appraise the evidence.
Once you have found some evidence, you need to appraise it to determine its quality and relevance to your clinical practice. You should consider the following factors:
- Study design: The study design should be appropriate for the research question being asked. For example, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment.
- Sample size: The sample size should be large enough to provide statistically significant results.
- Methodology: The methodology should be sound and well-described. The study should be free from bias and the results should be generalizable to your clinical practice.
- Results: The results of the study should be clear and concise. The study should report on the outcomes of interest and the statistical significance of the findings.
If you are unsure about how to appraise evidence, there are a number of resources available to help you. For example, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) has developed a set of critical appraisal tools for different types of research studies.
Integrate the evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences.
Once you have appraised the evidence, you need to integrate it with your own clinical expertise and the values and preferences of your patient. This involves making a decision about the best course of action for your patient.
When making this decision, you should consider the following factors:
- The strength of the evidence: The stronger the evidence, the more likely it is that the intervention will be effective.
- The applicability of the evidence: The evidence should be applicable to your patient’s situation.
- The patient’s preferences: The patient’s values and preferences should be respected.
Implement the change.
Once you have made a decision about the best course of action, you need to implement the change. This may involve developing a new care plan, changing your practice routine, or educating other members of the healthcare team.
When implementing the change, it is important to communicate with your patient and explain the rationale for the change. You should also monitor the patient’s response to the change and make adjustments as needed.
Evaluate the outcome.
Once you have implemented the change, you need to evaluate the outcome to determine if it was effective. This may involve collecting data on patient outcomes, satisfaction, or costs.
If the change was effective, you can continue to use it. If the change was not effective, you may need to try a different approach.
Conclusion
Evidence-based practice is an essential component of nursing care. It helps nurses to provide safe and effective care, improve patient outcomes, and stay up-to-date on the latest research.
The EBP process is a systematic approach to nursing that involves asking a clinical question, searching for the best evidence, appraising the evidence, integrating the evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences, implementing the change, and evaluating the outcome.
By following the EBP process, nurses can ensure that their practice is based on the best available evidence. This leads to improved patient outcomes and higher quality care.
Resources for nurses to learn more about EBP:
- Joanna Briggs Institute: https://jbi.global/
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): https://www.ahrq.gov/
- Cochrane Library: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/
- National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR): https://www.ninr.nih.gov/
- American Nurses Association (ANA): https://www.nursingworld.org/
FAQs:
Q. What is the difference between evidence-based practice and research?
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the process of using the best available research evidence to make decisions about patient care. Research is the process of collecting and analyzing data to answer questions about the world around us.
EBP is different from research in several ways. First, EBP is focused on applying research findings to clinical practice. Second, EBP is a collaborative process that involves nurses, patients, and other healthcare professionals. Third, EBP is an ongoing process that requires nurses to stay up-to-date on the latest research evidence.
Q. How can I find evidence to support my practice?
There are a number of ways to find evidence to support your practice. You can search in databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. You can also search in nursing journals and textbooks, and you may want to consult with other experts in your field.
When searching for evidence, it is important to use specific keywords that are related to your clinical question. You should also limit your search to studies that have been published in recent years.
Q. How do I appraise the evidence?
Once you have found some evidence, you need to appraise it to determine its quality and relevance to your clinical practice. You should consider the following factors:
- Study design: The study design should be appropriate for the research question being asked.
- Sample size: The sample size should be large enough to provide statistically significant results.
- Methodology: The methodology should be sound and well-described. The study should be free from bias and the results should be generalizable to your clinical practice.
- Results: The results of the study should be clear and concise. The study should report on the outcomes of interest and the statistical significance of the findings.
If you are unsure about how to appraise evidence, there are a number of resources available to help you. For example, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) has developed a set of critical appraisal tools for different types of research studies.
Q. How do I integrate the evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences?
Once you have appraised the evidence, you need to integrate it with your own clinical expertise and the values and preferences of your patient. This involves making a decision about the best course of action for your patient.
When making this decision, you should consider the following factors:
- The strength of the evidence: The stronger the evidence, the more likely it is that the intervention will be effective.
- The applicability of the evidence: The evidence should be applicable to your patient’s situation.
- The patient’s preferences: The patient’s values and preferences should be respected.
Q. How do I implement change in my clinical practice?
Once you have made a decision about the best course of action, you need to implement the change. This may involve developing a new care plan, changing your practice routine, or educating other members of the healthcare team.
When implementing the change, it is important to communicate with your patient and explain the rationale for the change. You should also monitor the patient’s response to the change and make adjustments as needed.
Q. How do I evaluate the outcome of a change?
Once you have implemented the change, you need to evaluate the outcome to determine if it was effective. This may involve collecting data on patient outcomes, satisfaction, or costs.
If the change was effective, you can continue to use it. If the change was not effective, you may need to try a different approach.
