Evidence Based Practice Nursing Research Integration

To a large extent, research findings form the basis of evidence-based practice in nursing. My current and previous role in nursing practice happens to be that of supporting individuals by helping improve their health. According to Lasalle University (2018), applying evidence-based practices in nursing would require knowledge in research methods and terms. University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (2020) suggests that application of evidence-based practices allows nurses to work from a patient-centered approach by integrating the best care. My experience in nursing practice and research taught me crucial approaches in the search for credible and reliable sources and application of the latest evidence-based practices in providing individualized and direct patient care. For instance, I was able to determine the most effective practices for bettering patient outcomes. In this essay, I will describe my previous experiences with EBP and explain how my current organization may support evidence-based practice.

To start with, research in nursing helped me uncover the relevant knowledge while dealing with various issues in nursing practice. For instance, I was able to undertake and design studies related to end-of life care, management of illness symptoms, and prevention of disabilities and diseases through research. As a result, I was able to improve health outcomes in patients and contribute to advancement in nursing. According to the University of Carolina Wilmington (2016), use of research in nursing tends to have positive effects on both the patients and healthcare staff.

Healthcare systems tend to be more varied while the needs of patients tend to be more complicated with time (University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2016). Therefore, application of evidence-based practice comes in handy whereby nurses incorporate patient preferences and their own experiences to deal with such complexity. Thus, it would be prudent to note that the use of evidence-based practice in nursing was relevant to my nursing practice on various fronts in this regard. This is more so the case owing to the fact that I was able to implement and evaluate scientifically sound, clinically relevant, and the most current research in my nursing practice. For instance, I used my personal experience, expert opinion (supported by reports, studies, and experience), and evidence from observational studies to acquire credible information before making decisions. From the said evidence-based practice, I was able to contribute to the science of nursing, maximize time and reduce costs, and was also able to provide superior care to patients thus improving their outcomes. University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (2020) suggests that the use of evidence-based research improves outcomes in patients by weighing experiences and preferences of the said patients. The author further suggest that the use of evidence-based practice tends to focus of activities that are beneficial to patients while excluding activities with no known benefits.

It would be prudent to note that EBP saves on time that could have been spent in non-beneficial activities. In addition, EBP decreases variations in patients’ outcomes, reduces costs, improves clinical outcomes, and increases safety among patients (Black et al, 2015). It should also be noted that the use of evidence-based practices in nursing requires the relevant support from organizations. However, I feel that my current organization does not fully support EBP. This is more so the case owing to the barriers related to the deployment of the same. For instance, one of the barriers in my organization related to EBP is failure to facilitate access to the most current research and related educational resources. To a larger extent, EBP requires that nurses use research within healthcare systems to achieve optimal patient outcomes. This is more so the case given the complexity in patients’ needs and varied healthcare systems.