Disseminating evidence-based practice findings

Nursing Responsibilities with EBP

Nursing Responsibility with EBP

Nurses have the responsibility of sharing their knowledge with colleagues and the health community to improve practice processes and develop better patient outcomes. When searching current research for finding of evidence-based practice (EBP), documentation plays an important role in how evidence is shared. Nurses can ban together to create groups that share contributions and encourages research efforts.

Proper and adequate documentation shows the validity and reliability of the EBP project. Guidelines have been developed to provide guidance in the documentation of the project (Worral, Fall/Winter 2009-2010). The problem description should clearly state the problem and what the team is set out to accomplish in broad terms. The first step is focusing the clinical question on PICO using external and internal data to support the significance of the problem. This includes the desired outcome in the problem statement in quantitative terms and places the problem in a large context of significance. The evidence search process should include databases searched, keywords used, inclusion criteria or limitations, number of articles initially retrieved, exclusion criteria, number of relevant articles identified, number of relevant articles used, and additional research methods. A synthesis should be done to organize the evidence. A description of the protocol for change, documented in steps showing the methods of implementation, should be done. A description of how the processes are changed, policies, etc., to incorporate the change is then done. The findings, interpretations, and recommendations are then presented. Finally, a description of the effectiveness of the change, how it will be sustained, how clinicians will address results indicating the change, or if it was partially effective or ineffective.

Nurses are well positioned to identify clinical problems and use existing evidence to improve practice and make care more effective (Beyea, 2006). Evidence-based practices enables nurses to provide high quality care based on current evidence. The potential impact includes better patient outcomes, contributions to the science of nursing, keeps practice current and relevant, increases confidence in decision making, and keeps policies and procedures current, supporting JACHO readiness.