Evidence Based Practice : An Imperative And Integral Part Of The Clinical Setting Upon Healthcare Professionals

Evidence-Base practice (EBP) is defined as: “based on problem identified from the practitioner’s area of practice; a combining of best evidence and professional expertise and an integration of this into current practice; about ensuring patients receive quality care, being part of quality improvement processes; about collaboration and requiring a team approach” (French, 1999). Scott and Mcsherry (2008) supported the French’s assertion, proposing the key elements of EBP are that it is a theory-driven process, which involves the use, evaluation and application of research; identification of best evidence; evaluation of care; problem solving; decision-making; clinical expertise; and requires patient involvement. Evidence-based practice is made of evidence, clinical expertise, patient preference, the context of care (Barker, 2013). In brief, evidence-based practice is the parameter in the nursing practice that it requires that the nurses gather and use clinical evidence to make decision for the patients so that in the nursing process they can deliver the quality of care for the patients (Ellis, 2013). In the other words, in the nursing practice all the nursing procedures performed by the clinical evidence supported.

Evidence based practice is an integral part of nursing care. According to the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, evidence based practice is defined as, “the conscientious use of current best evidence in making decisions about patient care.” (AMSN) The use of evidence based practice has drastically improved patient outcomes, increased quality and safety of healthcare, and reduced costs for facilities. (Melnyk, 2016) In this paper I will provide the history of evidence based practice, how it has already been incorporated and impacted healthcare, and why it is important to nursing and healthcare as a whole.

Many individuals do not like the idea of change, but as health care professionals we know that change is a part of our profession. Evidence-based practice is present and the future of health care practice and needs to be fully supported by every health care team member. The gap between understanding EBP and applying it needs to be a thing of the

Evidence-based practice is the practice of making clinical decisions based off the best available research evidence coupled with the nurse’s own expertise, while also taking into account, the patient’s assessments and own personal preferences. This use of research has proven effective at providing better outcomes and lower healthcare costs, yet there are several barriers, such as time, education, and support, which prevent nurses from consistently using evidence-based practice (AJN, 2012). The top three barriers to the use of evidence-based practice are lack of time, education, and support in implementing new practices and using them consistently.

Researchers investigate the nurses’ clinical practices about utilization of EBP to direct their practices. But despite the enriched source of literature, nurses’ knowledge of Evidence Based Practice

Itroduction: Evidence-based practice is an approach to medicine that uses scientific evidence to determine the best practice (Beyea & Slattery, 2006). As nurses perform their daily tasks they must continually ask themselves, “What is the evidence for this intervention?”. Nurses are well positioned to question current nursing practices and use evidence to make care more effective. In order to improve patients’ outcomes it is the responsibility of the nurse to transition evidence-based practice into the norm, through application of daily practice (Flynn Makic, Rauen, Watson & Will Poteet, 2014). Continual evaluation of current practice must be performed to ensure the use of evidence-based practice opposed to practice based upon tradition. The implementation of evidence-based practice standardizes healthcare practices and diminishes groundless variations within care. These variations lead to the production of uncertain health outcomes (Stevens, 2013).

Evidence based practice, “involves integrating the best available research evidence with professional expertise while also taking account of patient preferences the patients state setting and circumstance and health care resources” (Gerrish, K. Lathlean, J, 2015). As the health care profession constantly changes, then it is vital that all evidence based practice is kept up to date with current information and research, relating to nursing practice. Always assuring that the patients need are taken into consideration (Sackett et al, 1996).

Evidence-based practice is a formulation of ideas, research and conclusions to formulate the best possible health care choice (Hood, 2014). In health care the process of utilizing current information begins with a question can something be done better, can the patients benefit as a result and is it cost effective, EBP seeks new information to replace old or outdated information. When there are doubts if something can be done better a research team collects data on the subject using unbiased information they analyze the data, design interventions that are based on the new evidence and makes their final recommendations on their findings (Hood,

However, there are some barriers to EBP. One barrier is lack of time, lack of resources, and the difficulty in understanding statistical analysis. Another barrier for nurses is the lack of time in being able to implement these new practices and the lack of authority the nurses have to be able to change the patient care procedures. “Implementation of EBP places additional demands on nurses to apply credible evidence to individual client situations through searching related evidence, using clinical judgments, and considering client values and system resources” (Majid, 2011). In order to make EBP successful it has to be adopted by nurses and other health care professionals.

Today, we are continually striving to improve the quality of care that we deliver and the best method in applying relevant research into clinical practice are through evidence based practice (EBP). We have now come to a time in our careers to shift our direction on how to employ evidence based practice techniques when managing our patient's health care needs. Facilitation is a method that has been investigated as a way to help clinicians accomplish the implementation of evidence into practice. As clinicians, we are encouraged to think outside the box and utilize critical thinking skills as well as express our role as nurses as part of the health care team.

According to Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper & Bucher (2014), “Evidence-based practice is a problem-solving approach to clinical decision making. It involves the use of the best available evidence in combination with clinical expertise and patient preferences and values to achieve desired patient outcomes.” Using evidence based practice in nursing is extremely important, because evidence-based practice is the result of others trying a practice one way but needing to change some of the guidelines to make the practice safer and over all better for patients.

Evidence based practice and practice based evidence are a big part of a treatment process. These two can provide appropriate treatment that is needed to make advances in health care practices. Having enough evidence helps people determine whether to do something or not. To provide the best possible treatment for each patient you have to take information and see what will work best for each of your patients. Some will work and some will not work. Methodological issues can arise with in any type of research and some are more controversial than others. In the article “Practice Based Evidence: Back to the Future” (2011) the point of view was that research comes from evidence and that

In medicine today it is becoming essential to remain on the journey to best possible practice, which “involves implementing available evidence into practice” (Dogherty, et al., 2013, p. 129). Dogherty, et al. (2013) researched the facilitation of evidence based practice by selecting 20 nurses “to attend an interactive knowledge translation symposium to examine what has worked and what has not in implementing evidence in practice.” Results from the study showed both many positive and negative facilitation experiences. “Successful implementation (of evidence based practice) is associated with focus on a priority issue, relevant and easy to use evidence, development of strategic partnerships and a multidisciplinary project team including

Evidence based practice has a great impact on health care system, nursing practice, teaching, and science. The necessity for evidence based quality enhancement and healthcare alteration underscores the requirement for redesigning and implementing care that is effectual, secure and competent (Stevens, K., Ma., 2013). The movement of evidence based practice commenced with the identification of the problems faced in healthcare system. The unacceptable gap between what we know and what we do in the patients care(Kohn, L. T., Corrigan, J. M., & Donaldson, M. S. 2001). The main intend of evidence based practice in health care is to provide the resources by which the most latest relevant evidence from research and studies can be judiciously

Evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing means making decisions about patient care on the basis of best, current, standardized practice and guidelines. According to an article, written by Dr. Kathleen Stevens, the development of evidence-based practice (EBP) is fueled by the increasing public and professional demand for accountability in safety and quality improvement in health care (Stevens, 2013). The author also mentioned in her article that the intended effect of EBP is to standardize healthcare practices to science and best evidence and to reduce illogical variation in care,