Evidence-based practices (EBP) incorporate analyzed results from research to inform clinical practice. It is imperative for nurses to use EBP in practice to improve patient outcomes. However, with increasing demand to reduce healthcare costs while improving care delivery, the implementation of evidence-based practices in nursing faces many impediments both at the individual and institutional levels.
EBP enables nurses to provide quality healthcare services at lower costs leading to greater customer satisfaction and personal growth. More so, EBP provides nurses with scientific evidence in clinical practice resulting in better decision-making in service delivery (Jordan et al., 2016). In essence, it allows nurses to stay updated with current medical protocols and documented interventions that align with the patient’s profile enhancing patient care. Moreover, nurses are expected to promote the sanctity of life “With it, we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God” (English Standard Version Bible, 2016, James 3:9). In that case, through EBP, nurses can evaluate new diagnostic tests and treatments to understand their risks and effectiveness better. Moreover, it allows nurses to incorporate the patient’s preferences in the care plan, permitting patients to have a proactive role in care delivery (Clanton, 2020). Therefore, EBP models in nursing guide practice by providing evidence used in making decisions.
Limited skills in searching literature and understanding evidence among new and inexperienced nurses hamper their use of EBP. Furthermore, studies have shown that insufficient time and difficulties in comprehending the statistical analysis challenge the adoption of EBP in healthcare institutions (Jordan et al., 2016). On the other hand, organizational barriers include limited nurse authority, new care procedures, inadequate resources, and a lack of support to implement research (Williams et al., 2015). In that case, developing strategies to overcome these challenges can help nurses improve patient outcomes.
To conclude, EBP is essential in promoting clinical practice and improving patient care, although many individual and organizational challenges affect the implementation of these practices. Nurses have a central role in promoting quality healthcare service delivery to improve patient outcomes. In that way, the goal of EBP is to incorporate problem-solving strategies in clinical practice to enhance the provision of individualized patient care.
References
Clanton, C. (2020). Introduction to evidence-based research. In H. R. Hall & L. A. Roussel (Eds.), Evidence-based practice: An integrative approach to research, administration, and practice (pp. 285-302). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
English Standard Version Bible. (2016). Crossway Bibles.
Jordan, P., Bowers, C., & Morton, D. (2016). Barriers to implementing evidence-based practice in a private intensive care unit in the Eastern Cape. Southern African Journal of Critical Care, 32(2), 50-54.
Williams, B., Perillo, S., & Brown, T. (2015). What are the factors of organisational culture in health care settings that act as barriers to the implementation of evidence-based practice? A scoping review. Nurse Education Today, 35(2), 34-41.