What is evidence-based practice? Evidence-based practice in nursing is the use of the latest reliable nursing research to inform patient care and clinical decision-making. EBP can improve the quality of care, support patient safety and improve patient outcomes. For nurses, it can support critical thinking while encouraging lifelong learning.
Evidence-based practice in nursing is the foundation of the profession. Developing patient care plans and making nursing decisions based on the latest research and practice standards helps ensure quality care and patient safety. Evidence-based practice (EBP) guides all aspects of nursing practice, and it keeps patients’ best interests at the center of every nursing decision.
You can take part in EBP in nursing at Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU). Our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program enables students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in as few as 15 months. We focus on delivering exceptional student support services and a comprehensive, rigorous curriculum to facilitate your success at NDMU and throughout your nursing career.
Take a closer look at evidence-based practice and get the answers to common questions, such as “What is EBP?” and “What are the core components of EBP?” Consider why evidence-based practice is important and how you can implement it as a practicing clinician.
What Is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing?
In nursing, evidence-based practice is the delivery of quality patient care grounded in the latest nursing research. Essentially, it involves making nursing decisions based on evidence rather than tradition, personal beliefs and values or advice from peers. For new nurses in particular, guidance from peers can still be useful, but only if it’s grounded in sound research and proven evidence.
Examples of EBP in Nursing
There are plenty of ways that nurses integrate evidence-based care, including:
- Fall prevention: Nurses can use the Morse Fall Scale, an evidence-based tool, to evaluate a patient’s risk of falls and develop an appropriate prevention strategy.
- Hand hygiene: Research shows how hygiene practices reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Accordingly, nurses wash their hands thoroughly regularly.
- Movement: Nurses encourage gentle physical movement after surgery, based on research showing a reduction in complications, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
- Oxygen therapy: Research supports using oxygen for patients with COPD.
- Pressure ulcer prevention: Nursing research guides nurses in reducing the risk of pressure ulcers, such as by regularly repositioning patients and maintaining good skin care.
Understanding the Core Components of EBP
What is EBP comprised of? There are three core components of evidence-based practice that nursing students need to understand:
- Best external evidence: The most important component of EBP is external scientific evidence. Nurses need to stay informed about the latest nursing research, particularly research that applies to their specialty. Every RN needs to implement the most up-to-date, scientifically sound and clinically relevant evidence when developing patient care plans and making nursing decisions.
- Individual clinical experience: Although personal beliefs and values are not part of EBP and should not influence patient care, a nurse’s clinical experience can. Through experience, nurses develop an understanding of what works and what doesn’t. They can use their own personal clinical experience to guide patient care.
- Patient values and preferences: Nurses must always uphold patient autonomy. Patients have the right to make informed decisions about their own care, and those decisions may be guided by their personal values and treatment preferences.
Levels of Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses
The framework of evidence-based practice in nursing accommodates four main levels of evidence. These are:
- Level A: This level of evidence for nursing practice comes from randomized controlled scientific trials. Randomized controlled trials are a highly reliable method of establishing cause-and-effect relationships. The evidence provided is considered strong.
- Level B: This level of evidence is derived from well-designed scientific studies that are not randomized. These include cohort studies, uncontrolled studies, controlled trials, case-control studies, epidemiological research and investigations that are either qualitative or quantitative in nature. The evidence provided is considered moderately strong.
- Level C: When high-quality data is not yet available, evidence is derived from expert opinion and consensus. In other words, it’s the best judgment of experts who have reviewed the limited amount of available evidence. The evidence provided is considered less reliable, but the best available for any given topic, given the limited data.
- Level ML: The multi-level applies to highly complex patient cases or clinical situations. It compiles evidence from several levels to inform clinical decision-making.
Why Evidence-Based Practice Is Important in Nursing
What is evidence-based practice’s main advantage? The primary benefit of EBP is that nurses who adhere to it provide better patient care, leading to better patient outcomes.
Evidence-based practice in nursing can also:
- Improve provider retention
- Increase third-party payer reimbursements and reduce denials
- Reduce complications
- Reduce health care costs
- Standardize care
Along with these benefits, evidence-based practice in nursing can foster professional growth. This is accomplished by encouraging the refinement of critical thinking skills while nurturing a commitment to lifelong learning. Nurses who embrace EBP may also be keen to participate in voluntary professional development opportunities. Additionally, EBP can help nurses gain clinical confidence.
Explore the importance of teamwork and collaboration in nursing.
The Essential Steps for Implementing EBP
In nursing practice, there is considerable emphasis on established, controlled processes. These processes help guide nursing practice, standardize patient care and facilitate decision-making. One important process governs the implementation of evidence-based practice in nursing.
The five steps of EBP are:
- Ask: The process begins with developing a clinical question. While developing the question, consider the patient, their problem, the nursing intervention under consideration and the desired outcome. Consider possible alternatives or comparisons, as well.
- Acquire: Acquire relevant evidence that can answer the question. Gather evidence from peer-reviewed journals, clinical practice guidelines and research databases. Keep in mind the different levels of evidence and their strengths.
- Appraise: Evaluate the collected evidence, considering the study design, sample size and other relevant factors. Determine the strength of the evidence and its relevance to your particular situation. For example, case reports may be more applicable to rare conditions than large, randomized controlled trials.
- Apply: After analyzing the evidence, apply it to the clinical situation. Integrate it with your own clinical experience and the patient’s values and preferences.
- Assess: Evaluate the outcomes of the nursing intervention. Use trackable data, such as lab results, improvements in physical functioning or other relevant outcomes.
Examine Evidence-Based Practice at NDMU
At Notre Dame of Maryland University, you can dive into evidence-based practice in your choice of online or in-person coursework. For well over 100 years, we’ve provided transformative education, focusing on a values-based curriculum rooted in scientific knowledge. Our nursing students enjoy faculty mentoring, small class sizes, Academic Success Coaches and tutoring services as they work toward graduation on an accelerated timeline. There’s no waitlist, and our hybrid students can choose from three start dates each year.
Contact an admissions advisor at Notre Dame today to find out if you’re eligible for our ABSN program.