Discussion: Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
As a nurse, it is essential to utilize evidence-based practices in providing quality patient care. In this discussion, you will evaluate your recent clinical experience to determine the extent to which the care you provided was based on evidence and research findings, and you will formulate a question based on the PICOT model. Additionally, you will identify barriers that may hinder the implementation of evidence-based practices in your clinical environment and provide strategies to overcome them.
When evaluating the use of EBP in a recent clinical experience, it is important to consider which aspects of the care delivered were based on evidence. In my recent clinical experience, I cared for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and I provided care based on evidence and research findings. I used an incentive spirometer to help the patient maintain adequate oxygen saturation levels, provided education on smoking cessation, and administered albuterol via a nebulizer to relieve the patient’s breathing difficulty. These interventions are supported by evidence and have been shown to improve patient outcomes.
My background questions and PICOT question about COPD are as follows:
Background questions:
- What are the risk factors for developing COPD?
- What are the most effective smoking cessation strategies for patients with COPD?
- How can patient education improve outcomes in patients with COPD?
PICOT question: In patients with COPD, how does smoking cessation education, compared to standard care, affect the rate of exacerbations, hospitalizations, and mortality over a 6-month period?
In my organization, policies, procedures, and culture can either hinder or support the adoption of evidence-based practices. For instance, some staff may be resistant to change and may prefer to continue using familiar practices rather than adopting new evidence-based practices. Additionally, the lack of resources, time, and funding can hinder the implementation of EBP.
One barrier to implementing evidence-based practice that is evident in my organization is the lack of time and resources for staff to access and review research findings. To overcome this barrier, I will propose the following strategies:
- Develop a multidisciplinary team that includes staff, researchers, and other stakeholders to review and implement evidence-based practices.
- Establish a protocol for staff to access research findings quickly and easily.
- Provide education and training to staff on how to search for, evaluate, and apply research findings in their practice.
In conclusion, the use of evidence-based practice is essential in providing quality patient care. By formulating a PICOT question and identifying barriers to implementing EBP, nurses can improve patient outcomes and promote best practices in their clinical environment.
Course Project: Part 1—Identifying a Researchable Problem
In the first component of the course project, you will identify a nursing issue or problem and formulate a PICOT question to address the problem. You will also develop a list of keywords that could be used when conducting a literature search to investigate current research pertaining to the question.
The nursing issue or problem that I have identified is the high rate of medication errors in my clinical environment. The significance of this problem is that medication errors can lead to adverse events, patient harm, and increased healthcare costs.
The five questions that I have generated to address this problem are:
- What are the causes of medication errors in the clinical environment?
- What interventions have been implemented to reduce medication errors?
- How can technology be used to prevent medication errors?
- What is the impact of medication errors on patient outcomes and healthcare costs?
- How can staff education and training reduce medication errors?
After analyzing the feasibility of these questions, the most appropriate question is “What interventions have been implemented to reduce medication errors?” This question is feasible because it is specific, measurable, and has a clear focus.