Evidence-Based Practice
ANSWERS
Every clinician, including nurses, must be familiar with evidence-based practice and its tenets, also known as “levels of evidence.” EBP, according to nurse.com, directs how much nurses and other clinicians should rely on “a study, report, practice alert, or clinical practice guideline in making decisions about a patient’s care.”
The following are some of the advantages of EBP in nursing:
- Providing nurses with scientific research to help them make informed decisions.
- Inspiring nurses to provide personalized patient care.
- Improving time management in nursing by increasing efficiency.
- directing the integration of new technologies into healthcare practice
- Assisting nurses in determining the best course of action for care delivery.
- Assisting nurses in staying current on new medical protocols for patient care.
- Patients’ chances of recovery are improved because decisions are based on documented interventions that match their patient profiles.
- Nurses can evaluate the research to understand better the risks or effectiveness of treatments or diagnostic tests.
Improving patient outcomes can lead to lower demand for healthcare resources and lower costs.
EBP is a critical component of providing safe, high-quality patient care. Using the EBP approach allows nurses and clinicians to provide the highest-quality, least-expensive patient care possible. Nurses must be current on current practices to care for patients with complex and debilitating conditions. EBP is included in the curriculum of online degree programs, whether you are just beginning your nursing education or are already working in nursing and want to expand your EBP knowledge. Students in RN-to-BSN programs learn about the role of research in nursing practice, including its design, methodologies, process, and ethical principles, through EBP courses. They also learn to apply critical thinking skills to evaluate research studies to apply the findings to their nursing practice and, ultimately, improve our healthcare system.
QUESTION
Evidence-Based Practice
How is evidence-based practice (EBP) used in nursing, and how does the EBP influence Quality Improvement?