NU 560 Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice Week 1 Discussion

NU 560 Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice

Week 1

DQ1 Healthcare is changing rapidly and ideas and methods
that had value in the past need to be re-evaluated as we move towards
healthcare reform, integrate evidence-based practice and/or best practices and
work towards achieving positive patient outcomes and educate nurses who will be
prepared to practice in this ever changing
health care environment. Recall a situation when you were asked to
perform a specific intervention and/or practice idea based on authority or
tradition. Describe the the intervention or practice. Based on your knowledge
of evidence-based practice, does this practice still hold value now? Use an Evidence-Based Guideline or nursing
specialty organization Standard of Practice to support your answer.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) refers to an approach to providing qualitative patient care relying on a scientific basis using the best existing evidence for decision-making (Li et al., 2019). EBP refers to an approach in healthcare where clinical decisions and interventions are based on the best available evidence, combined with clinical expertise and patient preferences (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2023). It involves integrating research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values to guide delivering high-quality and effective care. EBP aims to improve patient outcomes by ensuring healthcare practices are grounded in sound scientific evidence.

Nursing practice problems are specific to nursing care and interventions, while medical practice problems pertain to medical diagnoses, treatments, and interventions. Nursing practice problems typically address issues related to patient care, nursing interventions, patient education, nursing assessments, and the overall nursing process. Medical practice problems, on the other hand, revolve around medical conditions, treatments, medications, and diagnostic procedures.

If a patient has a history of high blood pressure:

One Example of a nursing practice problem might be Inadequate patient education on lifestyle modifications for hypertensive individuals. This nursing practice problem highlights the need for nurses to assess patients’ knowledge and understanding of lifestyle modifications, provide tailored education, and develop effective strategies to support patients in adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviors.

An example of a medical practice problem might be prescribing specific medication to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients. This problem focuses on evaluating the efficacy of medication in treating hypertension.

The PICOT model allows nurses to actively engage in evidence-based practice, enhancing the quality of care and advancing the nursing profession as a whole. This model is frequently used as a tool for structuring clinical research questions in connection with evidence syntheses (Eriksen & Frandsen, 2018, p 421). Ensuring that the PICOT (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time) question is based on a nursing practice problem is essential for several reasons. The PICOT question can address specific nursing interventions that have a direct impact on patient outcomes. It helps nurses to identify and address issues specific to their practice, fostering professional growth and promoting the delivery of high-quality care. We also can address nursing interventions that have a direct impact on patient outcomes. By ensuring that the PICOT question is based on a nursing practice problem, nurses can contribute to the advancement of nursing knowledge and practice, promote evidence-based care, and improve patient outcomes.

References

Eriksen, M. B., & Frandsen, T. F. (2018). The impact of patient, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) as a search strategy tool on literature search quality: A systematic review. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 106(4), 420–431. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2018.345

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2023). Evidence-Based Practice. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/nursing/center-nursing-inquiry/nursing-inquiry/evidence-based-practice.html#:~:text=EBP%20is%20a%20process%20used,et%20al.%2C%202022

Li, S., Cao, M., & Zhu, X. (2019). Evidence-based practice: Knowledge, attitudes, implementation, facilitators, and barriers among community nurses-systematic review. Medicine, 98(39), e17209. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000017209

DQ 2 According to the American Association of Colleges of
Nursing the Masters prepared nurse ” Recognizes that the master’s-prepared
nurse applies research outcomes within the practice setting, resolves practice
problems, works as a change agent, and disseminates results.” Many
research ideas emerge from practice and/or the educational environment.
Formulating a well-built research question is challenging. Asking the right
question facilitates the search process when conducting a review of the
literature. Read the article “Asking the clinical question: A key step in
evidence-based practice found in the supplemental activities folder and review
the slide presentation included in this unit. After reading the article and reviewing
the slide presentation use the PICOT framework and practice creating a PICOT
question. Create a PICOT question for a
quantitative study and a PICOT question for a qualitative study that relate to
your area of interest. Obtain an Evidence-Based Guideline (EBG), Standard of
Practice, or Best practice in nursing education that pertains to your
question. In responding to your
colleagues’ postings offer alternative questions and rationales for your
suggestions.