Evidence-Based Practice
In the contemporary medical world, evidence-based practice (EBP) is a mainstay practice for many health care personnel. EBP is a problem-solving technique utilizes proven strategies to resolve a clinical problem at hand. An understanding of this subject is thus of the utmost interest given a need to orient the hospital practices to proven strategies. In an attempt to explain this process, a significant amount of evidence is available to illustrate the vitality of this issue. An example befitting of such evidence is the qualitative research action article by Friesen-Storms, Moser, van der Loo, Beurskens, and Bours, (2015). In this peer-reviewed article, the focus was to describe the EBP implementation in a clinical setting.
Firstly, a look at the key deductions of this peer-reviewed article is of the essence. The researchers utilized a participatory action research approach in implementing the process. It allowed them to tailor the EBP discharge protocol in accordance to the suitability of the setting. In this design, five phases are of the essence, namely, observation, reflection, planning, acting and summative evaluation. The researchers then identified the barriers and facilitators of EBP as well as strategies to correct them. The barriers to EBP implementation noteworthy are a negative attitude towards EBP, little motivation, knowledge, and skills to implement EBP as well as heavy workload. Consequently, the strategies proposed and adopted for this study included but not limited to the creation of a positive outlook on EBP, provision of incentives for nurses practicing the same and frequently exchanging information concerning EBP. Additionally, the study proposed sustainability strategies such as allowing a nurse to take over the lead role in the sessions that cultivated EBP in this work setting. Lastly, of interest are the challenges met while carrying out the study. For instance, the process was time-consuming and complicated to implement as an EBP (Friesen-Storms, Moser, van der Loo, Beurskens, & Bours, 2015).
Having that in mind, identification of the steps taken by nursing to develop and implement EBP is also noteworthy. First and most importantly, nursing has attempted to integrate EBP through a change in the resistant to change organizational culture. Transformational nursing leaders are instrumental in cultivating a change-oriented corporate culture. Moreover, another crucial step is through determination of hindrances to EBP institutionalization. In this approach, nurses try to develop strategies that will ensure significant challenges sustained by EBP are non-existent. Determination of the barriers by nurses is the grounds on which nurses can modify their education strategies to suit their setting (Gallagher-Ford, Fineout-Overholt, Melnyk, & Stillwell, 2011). Besides, the introduction of mentors that champion the EBP movement within the health care setting is another profitable way that nursing has contributed in developing and implementing EBP. Mentors help promote the EBP culture as they ensure newly recruited nurses are receive orientation concerning this practice. Lastly, education of the nurses on issues surrounding EBP is also a critical addition in the implementation process. Gallagher-Ford, Fineout-Overholt, Melnyk, and Stillwell, (2011) are of the opinion that the nursing profession has effectively contributed to this process through regularly updating its nursing staff on EBP methodologies. Evidently, with such instances, it is indispensable the fact that nursing is a valuable tool in the development and implementation of EBP.
Finally, illustrating the application of EBP in a clinical practice setting is invaluable in forging a further understanding of this concept. A case in point of its utilization is in the pain management in pediatrics admitted in the emergency department (ED). Pain in pediatrics is a common sign that most children will present with when in the ED. Without an adequate pain assessment, effective pain management is never a possibility. However, anchoring practice on proven strategies will optimize the elimination of this challenge in the ED. Pain assessment is one strategy that nurses can institute in their daily practice as a means to effectively manage pain. As an EBP implementation strategy in the clinical setting, the pain assessment must take a consideration of various strategies (Habich, & Letizia, 2015). From the existing evidence, the effective pain assessment involves a pain assessment frequency that begins in triage. Also, reassessing for pain after an hour of nursing intervention should be considered to ascertain the effectiveness of the nursing action. That notwithstanding a standardized pain scale is also another means that one can ensure pain effectively managed in this age group. Utilization of age-specific pain scale is of the essence in eliminating pain. Examples of such pain scales include but not limited to Wong-Baker Faces, N-PASS, and visual analogs scale. Last but not the least, an adequate pain assessment must characterize the pain and afterward documented. The pain characteristics will enable one to have a clue of the strategies that a nurse can employ in managing the pain. On the other hand, the documentation will assist one to assess for pain in following areas after triaging (Habich, & Letizia, 2015). Clearly, with such strategies in place the nurse is on course to eliminate this challenge in the ED.
In conclusion, the EBP is a matter that requires primary address if quality health care is a priority area. Central to this attention, is the growing need to create awareness of EBP and emphasizing strategies that will push for implementation of this subject. Through such measures, the institutionalization of EBP will ultimately become inevitable. Consequently, there will be a change in fortune of the health care outcomes and quality of care offered. However, failure to do so can only warrant usual ways of handling medical issues, which may be ineffective in resolving some health care problems.
References
Friesen-Storms, J. H., Moser, A., Loo, S., Beurskens, A. J., & Bours, G. J. (2015). Systematic implementation of evidence-based practice in a clinical nursing setting: a participatory action research project. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 24(1/2), 57-68. doi:10.1111/jocn.12697
Gallagher-Ford, L., Fineout-Overholt, E., Melnyk, B., & Stillwell, S. (2011). Evidence-Based Practice, Step by Step: Implementing an Evidence-Based Practice Change. AJN, American Journal Of Nursing, 111(3), 54-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/10.1097/01.naj.0000395243.14347.7e
Habich, M., & Letizia, M. (2015). Pediatric Pain Assessment In the Emergency Department: A Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Protocol. Pediatric Nursing, 41(4), 198-202.
