Nursing entails data collection and caregiving. Getting a positive outcome in nursing requires applying evidence-based practice (EBP). Therefore, EBP inclusion in nursing gives nurses a scientific study to make more reasonable decisions. EBP ensures that nurses are updated with the modern clinical protocols needed during patient care. It also enhances research evaluation by the nurses, giving them more understanding of the diagnostic treatments or tests’ effectiveness or risks associated with it. As a nurse, one is only required to be cognizant of the research supporting the specific interventions (Black, 2017). However, EBP needs more than just being aware of what the study depicts. EBP plays a significant role in influencing nursing roles in the organization I am working in. Being a nurse, trying new methods in care delivery has been of great benefit to patients.
Staff nurses play critical roles in enhancing evidence-based practice within the organization. One of the roles is engaging themselves in the EBP committees. Within the committee, there are various projects nurses participate in to incorporate the best research immediately, along with medical experience and patient preference, into medical practice to ensure that nurses make informed decisions on patient care. Participating in the study and eventually practicing it is important since effective and efficient innovation must accompany productive implementation and empower the context to attain positive outcomes (Chien, 2019). One of the examples where nurses implement EBP studies within my organization is the research targeting prevention of patient falls. A few years ago, our organization developed an EBP study on falls. The conclusion was to implement a chair or bed alarm technology to closely monitor patients at risk of falls. Today it has become a protocol to always place all patients at risk of falls on these alarms to avoid falls. In addition, it has been proven to reduce injuries when falls occur as patients do not experience falls more frequently. Therefore, EBP is widely acknowledged as the key to advancing patient outcomes and quality care in our hospital.
Bedside nurses also collaborate and communicate with other health professionals in ensuring EBP is put into practice. This is because their work description is to administer patients’ medications, monitor the related side effects, assess, implement, evaluate nursing care plans by collaborating with other health providers. For instance, in an organization, they can collaborate in ensuring that the precise intravenous catheter size is used in patients. In addition, they acknowledge the advantages of applying a smaller gauge catheter to enhance patient comfortability and put it into practice.
My nursing staff colleagues value EBP and are always involved and open to it. Educators play a key role in fostering new practices by educating colleagues through services, training, and modules in our organization. Moreover, teamwork in EBP has been significant as staff colleagues have strong cooperation and communication in their caregiving process (Barnes‐Daly et al., 2018). When they participate and incorporate new practices as a team, their relationship is strengthened. Therefore, bedside nurses must comprehend EBP and integrate it into their routine care.
References
Barnes‐Daly, M. A., Pun, B. T., Harmon, L. A., Byrum, D. G., Kumar, V. K., Devlin, J. W., Stollings, J. L., Puntillo, K. A., Engel, H. J., Posa, P. J., Barr, J., Schweickert, W. D., Esbrook, C. L., Hargett, K. D., Carson, S. S., Aldrich, J. M., Ely, E. W., & Balas, M. C. (2018). Improving health care for critically ill patients using an evidence‐based collaborative approach to ABCDEF bundle dissemination and implementation. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 15(3), 206- 216. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12290
Black, B. (2019). Professional nursing: Concepts & challenges. Saunders.
CHIEN, L. (2019). Evidence-based practice and nursing research. Journal of Nursing Research, 27(4), e29. https://doi.org/10.1097/jnr.0000000000000346
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