The healthcare field is undergoing continuous change and development, and the quest for better patient outcomes has led to various processes that strive to enhance the standard of care. The research process, Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), and the nursing process are all distinct yet interrelated processes. The main aim is to improve healthy patient outcomes and the level of care given. Understanding the similarities and differences between these processes is essential for healthcare professionals as they work to offer the highest standard of care to those under their care.
It is crucial in the healthcare industry to provide a solid foundation for developing new treatments and interventions. Hajizadeh et al. (2021) mention that the research process involves a range of activities, including the selection of a research question, the design of the study, the collection of data, and the analysis of results. The study design, methods, and data analysis are essential as they help ensure the findings’ validity and reliability (Hajizadeh et al., 2021). It is rigorous, systematic and requires careful planning and execution. The research process results in the production of fresh insights that can be used to inform clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.
Source reliability is one of the key driving factors that indicate the credibility of the information. EBP is a systematic, data-driven method for problem-solving in healthcare, relying on the most current and reliable evidence to inform clinical decisions instead of intuition or personal experience (Cascini et al., 2021). EBP involves a continuous cycle of clinical questions, evidence searching, evaluation, and implementation, drawing from various sources, such as research, clinical guidelines, and expert opinions, to improve patient outcomes (Mathieson et al., 2018). This integration of different sources of evidence helps to ensure that the best available evidence is used to inform clinical decision-making, leading to improved patient outcomes.
It is vital to provide quality care for all patients. The nursing process is a comprehensive and iterative approach to patient care encompassing various stages of patient assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation (Juanamasta et al., 2021). The nursing process is designed to be flexible and adjust to patients’ evolving requirements (Dunleavy et al., 2021). It is achieved by incorporating the best evidence into clinical decision-making.
The research process, EBP, and the nursing process all share a common goal of improving patient outcomes and the quality of care. All three processes involve a systematic approach to problem-solving and decision-making. The research process provides the foundation for EBP and nursing, informing the use of the best available evidence to make clinical decisions. Additionally, all three processes continuously evolve and require healthcare professionals to continuously adapt and adjust their approaches to provide patients with the highest standard of care.
One of the differences between the research process, EBP, and the nursing process is their focus. The research process is focused on generating new knowledge and understanding the underlying causes of health problems. EBP, on the other hand, is focused on incorporating the most current and relevant information to make informed medical decisions. The nursing process is focused on providing patient-centered care and improving patient outcomes.
Another difference between the processes is in the scope of the methodology. The research process is typically a larger, more comprehensive process that involves extensive data collection and analysis. EBP is focused on using the best available evidence to inform a specific clinical decision. The nursing process is focused on the care of a single patient and is a cyclical process repeated throughout the patient’s care.
In conclusion, despite being distinct, the research process, EBP, and the nursing process are all interrelated and complement each other towards a common goal of enhancing patient health outcomes and the quality of care provided. The research process is the foundation for EBP and provides the data and evidence that inform the nursing process. When these processes are integrated and work together, they can drive meaningful changes in patient outcomes and promote the delivery of high-quality care. These processes are integral to a more significant effort to ensure that patients receive the best possible care and improve health outcomes.
References
Cascini, F., Santaroni, F., Lanzetti, R., Failla, G., Gentili, A., & Ricciardi, W. (2021). Developing a Data-Driven Approach in Order to Improve the Safety and Quality of Patient Care. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. Web.
Dunleavy, L., Preston, N., Bajwah, S., Bradshaw, A., Cripps, R., Fraser, L. K., Maddocks, M., Hocaoglu, M., Murtagh, F. E., Oluyase, A. O., Sleeman, K. E., Higginson, I. J., & Walshe, C. (2021). ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’: Specialist palliative care service innovation and practice change in response to COVID-19. Results from a multinational survey (CovPall). Palliative Medicine, 35(5), 814–829. Web.
Hajizadeh, A., Zamanzadeh, V., Kakemam, E., Bahreini, R., & Khodayari-Zarnaq, R. (2021). Factors influencing nurses participation in the health policy-making process: a systematic review. BMC Nursing, 20(1). Web.
Juanamasta, I. G., Aungsuroch, Y., & Gunawan, J. (2021). A Concept Analysis of Quality Nursing Care. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 51(4), 430. Web.
Mathieson, A., Grande, G., & Luker, K. (2018). Strategies, facilitators and barriers to implementation of evidence-based practice in community nursing: a systematic mixed-studies review and qualitative synthesis. Primary Health Care Research &Amp; Development, 20. Web.