Evidence-based nursing (EBN) is an approach to making quality decisions and providing nursing care based on personal clinical expertise and the most current, relevant research available on the topic. EBN aims to improve the safety, health and well-being of patients by delivering high-quality patient care while reducing healthcare costs and variations in patient outcomes. EBN also focuses on the integration of clinical expertise, including the knowledge, critical reasoning and judgment skills acquired through nursing training and professional experiences.
EBN can be applied to any aspect of nursing practice, such as assessment, diagnosis, intervention, evaluation and education. EBN requires nurses to review and assess the latest research evidence and determine its validity, quality and relevance for their specific patient population. EBN also requires nurses to consider the patient’s values, preferences and expectations when making decisions about their care. EBN is not a rigid or prescriptive method, but rather a flexible and dynamic process that allows nurses to adapt to changing situations and needs.
Some examples of EBN in nursing are:
– Use of oxygen to help with hypoxia and organ failure in patients with COPD
– Management of angina
– Protocols regarding alarm fatigue
– Recognition of a family member’s influence on a patient’s presentation of symptoms
– Noninvasive measurement of blood pressure in children
To implement EBN in nursing, nurses can follow five steps that serve as guidelines for making patient care decisions. These steps are:
1. Ask a clear question about the patient’s issue and determine an ultimate goal, such as improving a procedure to help their specific condition.
2. Acquire the best evidence by searching relevant clinical articles from legitimate sources, such as scholarly databases, journals, websites or libraries.
3. Appraise the resources gathered to determine if the information is valid, of optimal quality compared to the evidence levels, and relevant for the patient.
4. Apply the evidence to clinical practice by making decisions based on your nursing expertise and the new information.
5. Assess outcomes to determine if the treatment was effective and should be considered for other patients.
EBN is a valuable tool for nurses to enhance their professional development, improve their clinical practice experience and provide optimal care for their patients. EBN also benefits patients by ensuring that they receive care that is based on the best available evidence, rather than on tradition, opinion or personal belief.
References:
– What Is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing? | ANA. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2024, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/evidence-based-practice-in-nursing/
– What is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Essay? (With Examples, Benefits, & Challenges). (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2024, from https://www.nursingprocess.org/evidence-based-practice-in-nursing-examples.html
– Evidence-based nursing – Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_nursing
