examples of evidence based practice in nursing essays

What is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing? (With Examples, Benefits, & Challenges)

Are you a nurse looking for ways to increase patient satisfaction, improve patient outcomes, and impact the profession? Have you found yourself caught between traditional nursing approaches and new patient care practices? Although evidence-based practices have been used for years, this concept is the focus of patient care today more than ever. Perhaps you are wondering, “What is evidence-based practice in nursing?” In this article, I will share information to help you begin understanding evidence-based practice in nursing + 10 examples about how to implement EBP.

What Is Evidence-Based Practice In Nursing?

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relevant to the patient’s problem:, what are 5 main components of evidence-based practice in nursing, 1. clinical expertise:, 2. management of patient values, circumstances, and wants when deciding to utilize evidence for patient care:, 3. practice management:, 4. decision-making:, 5. integration of best available evidence:, what are some examples of evidence-based practice in nursing, 1. elevating the head of a patient’s bed between 30 and 45 degrees, 2. implementing measures to reduce impaired skin integrity, 3. implementing techniques to improve infection control practices, 4. administering oxygen to a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), 5. avoiding frequently scheduled ventilator circuit changes, 6. updating methods for bathing inpatient bedbound clients, 7. performing appropriate patient assessments before and after administering medication, 8. restricting the use of urinary catheterizations, when possible, 9. encouraging well-balanced diets as soon as possible for children with gastrointestinal symptoms, 10. implementing and educating patients about safety measures at home and in healthcare facilities, how to use evidence-based knowledge in nursing practice, step #1: assessing the patient and developing clinical questions:, step #2: finding relevant evidence to answer the clinical question:, step #3: acquire evidence and validate its relevance to the patient’s specific situation:, step #4: appraise the quality of evidence and decide whether to apply the evidence:, step #5: apply the evidence to patient care:, step #6: evaluating effectiveness of the plan:, 10 major challenges nurses face in the implementation of evidence-based practice, 1. not understanding the importance of the impact of evidence-based practice in nursing:, 2. fear of not being accepted:, 3. negative attitudes about research and evidence-based practice in nursing and its impact on patient outcomes:, 4. lack of knowledge on how to carry out research:, 5. resource constraints within a healthcare organization:, 6. work overload:, 7. inaccurate or incomplete research findings:, 8. patient demands do not align with evidence-based practices in nursing:, 9. lack of internet access while in the clinical setting:, 10. some nursing supervisors/managers may not support the concept of evidence-based nursing practices:, 12 ways nurse leaders can promote evidence-based practice in nursing, 1. be open-minded when nurses on your teams make suggestions., 2. mentor other nurses., 3. support and promote opportunities for educational growth., 4. ask for increased resources., 5. be research-oriented., 6. think of ways to make your work environment research-friendly., 7. promote ebp competency by offering strategy sessions with staff., 8. stay up-to-date about healthcare issues and research., 9. actively use information to demonstrate ebp within your team., 10. create opportunities to reinforce skills., 11. develop templates or other written tools that support evidence-based decision-making., 12. review evidence for its relevance to your organization., bonus 8 top suggestions from a nurse to improve your evidence-based practices in nursing, 1. subscribe to nursing journals., 2. offer to be involved with research studies., 3. be intentional about learning., 4. find a mentor., 5. ask questions, 6. attend nursing workshops and conferences., 7. join professional nursing organizations., 8. be honest with yourself about your ability to independently implement evidence-based practice in nursing., useful resources to stay up to date with evidence-based practices in nursing, professional organizations & associations, blogs/websites, youtube videos, my final thoughts, frequently asked questions answered by our expert, 1. what did nurses do before evidence-based practice, 2. how did florence nightingale use evidence-based practice, 3. what is the main limitation of evidence-based practice in nursing, 4. what are the common misconceptions about evidence-based practice in nursing, 5. are all types of nurses required to use evidence-based knowledge in their nursing practice, 6. will lack of evidence-based knowledge impact my nursing career, 7. i do not have access to research databases, how do i improve my evidence-based practice in nursing, 7. are there different levels of evidence-based practices in nursing.

• Level One: Meta-analysis of random clinical trials and experimental studies • Level Two: Quasi-experimental studies- These are focused studies used to evaluate interventions. • Level Three: Non-experimental or qualitative studies. • Level Four: Opinions of nationally recognized experts based on research. • Level Five: Opinions of individual experts based on non-research evidence such as literature reviews, case studies, organizational experiences, and personal experiences.

8. How Can I Assess My Evidence-Based Knowledge In Nursing Practice?

Examples of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

Nurses play a crucial role in patient care and outcomes. By embracing evidence-based practice, nurses can ensure they are providing the highest quality and most effective care possible. In this article, we explore what evidence-based nursing practice is, how it improves patient outcomes, and how it can reduce healthcare costs. We also look at how professional nursing organizations support evidence-based practice, share examples of evidence-based practice in nursing, and discuss how nurses can advance their education to support evidence-based practice.

What is Evidence-Based Nursing Practice?

Evidence-Based Nursing Practice (EBNP) is an approach that involves integrating individual clinical expertise with the most relevant and current research evidence available. This assists healthcare providers in making informed decisions about patient care. Research conducted in the nursing field helps bridge the knowledge gap and improve healthcare organizations and patient outcomes. EBNP is built on the foundation laid by Florence Nightingale, who pioneered the use of empirical data and research studies to improve patient care and outcomes in the 19th century.

How Does Evidence-Based Practice Improve Patient Outcomes?

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) leads to positive patient outcomes by promoting informed decision-making processes among healthcare providers. As they incorporate the latest and most reliable research evidence with their clinical expertise and the unique circumstances of each patient, they can develop more effective care plans. High-quality patient care is driven by relevant research studies, which inform clinical practice and aid in detecting discrepancies in healthcare delivery, thus minimizing potential complications and enhancing overall patient satisfaction.

What Are the Core Elements of an Answerable Clinical Question?

An answerable clinical question consists of four key components, commonly called the PICO framework. The acronym PICO stands for Patient or Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. These elements are essential for formulating a specific, clear, and answerable question that can be addressed using evidence-based research. By considering each aspect of the PICO framework, healthcare providers can pinpoint crucial knowledge gaps and assess an intervention’s effectiveness concerning a particular patient population and desired outcomes.

How Does Evidence-Based Practice Reduce Healthcare Costs?

Evidence-Based Practice can potentially reduce healthcare costs by boosting healthcare providers’ efficiency and improving patient care quality. By integrating the latest research evidence and clinical expertise, professionals can identify cost-effective interventions and minimize unnecessary or redundant procedures. This leads to better utilization of resources and reduced expenditure for both healthcare organizations and patients. Furthermore, improving healthcare outcomes through EBP reduces the need for costly readmissions, prescription medications, and extended hospital stays, thus reducing the financial burden on healthcare systems.

How Do Professional Nursing Organizations Support Evidence-Based Practice?

Professional nursing organizations, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), play a vital role in promoting and supporting Evidence-Based Practice. These organizations provide guidance, resources, and opportunities for ongoing education, helping nurses and other healthcare providers enhance their clinical practice and deliver quality patient care. By offering access to reputable research studies and professional development programs, these organizations assist nurse leaders in implementing EBP throughout various healthcare settings.

What is the Role of the American Nurses Association in Evidence-Based Practice?

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is committed to promoting Evidence-Based Practice for its members and the nursing profession as a whole. The ANA provides resources, tools, and educational opportunities for nurses, encouraging continuous professional growth and development. They also advocate for nursing research funding and support nurses in conducting and disseminating research studies. The ANA empowers nurses to incorporate the most relevant evidence into their practice, ensuring patients receive the best possible care.

How Does the American Nurses Credentialing Center Promote Quality Patient Care?

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) plays a significant role in promoting quality patient care through its various certification programs, accreditation services, and the Magnet Recognition Program. By encouraging healthcare organizations to adopt EBP, the ANCC aids in improving various aspects of patient care, such as safety and satisfaction. Additionally, ANCC certification programs recognize and validate the expertise of individual nurse leaders in their respective specialties, ensuring they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to implement EBP.

What Resources Do Professional Nursing Organizations Offer for Evidence-Based Practice?

Professional nursing organizations, such as the ANA and ANCC, offer numerous resources to support nurses in implementing Evidence-Based Practice. These include access to research databases, guidelines, and best practice recommendations. Furthermore, organizations like these provide educational webinars, conferences, and workshops on EBP, helping nurses stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in their field. For instance, the ANA’s Florence Nightingale Library offers diverse resources, including publications and e-books that cover various aspects of nursing practice, including EBP. Nurses can also find MSN programs specializing in EBP, such as the program developed by Darby Faubion, which is designed to train nurse leaders in implementing evidence-based practice in diverse healthcare settings.

What are Some Examples of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing?

Evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates clinical expertise, best research evidence, and patient values to optimize health outcomes. This approach supports the nursing profession in delivering quality patient care. There are several examples that showcase the value of EBP in nursing:

1. Hand hygiene: Research studies have consistently demonstrated the importance of handwashing in preventing hospital-acquired infections. Florence Nightingale was a pioneer in emphasizing cleanliness in patient care. Today, healthcare organizations follow guidelines from the American Nurses Association and other agencies to ensure that hand hygiene is a standard of practice.

2. Fall prevention: EBP guides the proper assessment of patients at risk for falls and the implementation of strategies to prevent these incidents. Healthcare providers use evidence-based tools like the Morse Fall Scale to assess patients and develop a comprehensive care plan.

3. Pressure ulcer prevention: Evidence-based guidelines help nurses understand the risk factors and implement interventions to prevent pressure ulcers. Examples include turning patients regularly, using pressure-relieving devices, and maintaining skin integrity through proper care.

4. Pain management: EBP supports nurses in identifying a patient’s pain and managing it effectively using a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, improving patient outcomes and overall experience.

How Can Implementing Evidence-Based Practice Improve Patient Outcomes?

The evidence-based practice contributes to positive patient outcomes by guiding nurses in delivering the best possible care. Some of the ways in which EBP can lead to improved patient outcomes are:

1. Enhanced decision-making: EBP promotes the use of research findings and other evidence in clinical practice, allowing nurses to make informed decisions when developing and implementing care plans.

2. Consistency in care: Healthcare providers who consistently apply evidence-based practices across the various aspects of patient care ensure that their patients receive uniform, high-quality care, reducing the knowledge gap between providers and improving overall outcomes.

3. Decreased variations in practice: The adoption of EBP across healthcare organizations can minimize variations in clinical practice, leading to similar standards of care and promoting positive patient outcomes throughout the United States.

4. Empowered nursing workforce: Nurses equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to apply EBP are more likely to engage in effective clinical decision-making, translating into better patient care and outcomes.

How Does Evidence-Based Practice Impact Quality Patient Care?

EBP directly influences the quality of patient care delivered by nurses and other healthcare professionals. Implementing EBP in nursing practice results in:

1. Improved clinical effectiveness: EBP helps healthcare providers identify the most effective interventions and treatment strategies based on the latest research evidence, ensuring that patients receive the best possible care.

2. Reduced healthcare costs: Utilizing evidence-based interventions can decrease the use of unnecessary or ineffective treatments, lowering healthcare costs for both patients and healthcare organizations.

3. Improved patient satisfaction: Adherence to EBP principles leads to better patient outcomes and experiences, resulting in heightened patient satisfaction and a positive perception of the healthcare organization.

4. Greater professional accountability: Nurses who embrace EBP take responsibility for staying updated on current research and integrating evidence into practice, ensuring their actions align with best practices and fostering a culture of excellence.

What Techniques Can Help Nurses Apply Evidence-Based Practice?

To successfully integrate EBP into nursing, healthcare providers can adopt several strategies:

1. Develop a culture of curiosity and learning: Encourage continuous learning among nursing staff by fostering an environment that values inquiry, research, and evidence-based practices. Nursing is a rapidly evolving field, and the latest research and technology can impact patient outcomes significantly. As such, it is essential to cultivate a culture of curiosity and continuous learning among the nursing staff. Leaders in healthcare organizations can promote and encourage nursing staff to stay current on new treatments, procedures, and technology. This can be accomplished through regular training sessions, attending conferences, and offering mentorship programs. By ensuring that nurses have the latest knowledge and tools at their disposal, patients can receive better care. Also, fostering a continuous learning environment can help attract and retain top talent.

2. Collaborate with other healthcare professionals: Teamwork, especially with healthcare professionals in other disciplines, can help to expand knowledge, share insights, and promote the use of EBP throughout the organization. For example, a nurse may collaborate with a physical therapist to develop a care plan for a patient with mobility issues. The physical therapist can provide insights on exercises and techniques that can aid the patient’s mobility, while the nurse can contribute information on the patient’s overall health and specific needs. Furthermore, collaborating with other healthcare professionals can help to identify common challenges and barriers to EBP implementation, and together they can develop solutions to overcome these hurdles. This can lead to more effective and efficient patient care, ultimately improving outcomes and satisfaction for both patients and healthcare providers.

3. Access and use resources: A wide array of tools and resources exist to support evidence-based practice, such as online databases, journals, and reference materials. Encourage regular use of these resources to support informed clinical decision-making. It is important to ensure healthcare professionals have the knowledge and skills necessary to access and use these resources. Training sessions can be offered to teach staff how to effectively search for and critically evaluate evidence. In addition, it can be beneficial to establish a process for regular updates to these resources, ensuring the most current and relevant information is available. Providing support and resources for staff who may not have access to these materials outside of work can also ensure they have the tools necessary to provide the best care possible. By promoting the regular use and access to these resources, healthcare professionals can make informed clinical decisions based on the best available evidence.

4. Engage in reflection: Reflecting on individual and team practices can help identify areas for improvement and encourage the implementation of evidence-based approaches at all levels of patient care. Reflection plays a critical role in improving the quality of healthcare services. It creates a culture of self-awareness, which helps team members understand their roles, responsibilities, and strengths. Reflective practice enables individuals and teams to identify areas where they need to improve their skills and knowledge. It also encourages the implementation of evidence-based approaches that have been shown to be effective in patient care. Reflection can involve various activities, such as discussing challenging cases, analyzing outcomes of previous treatments, and reviewing feedback from patients. By engaging in reflection, healthcare professionals can continuously improve their practices and provide the highest quality care possible.

How Can Nurses Advance Their Education to Support Evidence-Based Practice?

By obtaining advanced degrees and participating in professional development programs, nurses can acquire the knowledge and skills required to deliver evidence-based care. Several educational options exist for nurses looking to enhance their expertise in EBP.

Why Should Nurses Pursue an Online RN to BSN Program?

Pursuing an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is an excellent way for registered nurses to deepen their understanding of EBP. A BSN program typically focuses on enhancing clinical reasoning skills, research, and evidence-based practice, preparing nurses for the challenges of modern patient care. Online RN to BSN programs provide flexibility, allowing working professionals to balance their education with career and personal commitments.

How Can Nurses Find MSN Programs Focused on Evidence-Based Practice?

Nurses can find Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs that emphasize evidence-based practice by conducting thorough research on graduate nursing programs. Pay particular attention to a program’s curriculum, faculty expertise, accreditation status, and any available specialties that align with your professional interests. Seek recommendations from colleagues, mentors, and nurse leaders such as Darby Faubion, a well-known nursing advocate.

How Does Continuing Education Contribute to Improving Patient Outcomes?

Continuing education equips nurses with the latest knowledge and skills required to provide evidence-based care, promoting improved patient outcomes. By participating in workshops, conferences, and other professional development opportunities, nurses can stay informed on best practices, innovative research, and emerging trends in healthcare. Many healthcare organizations, including the American Nurses Credentialing Center, offer continuing education options tailored for nurses looking to maintain their licenses and advance their clinical practice to ultimately contribute to positive patient outcomes.

Other Resources from Xavier University Online

MSN vs. DNP: Which Nursing Degree is Right For You?

The Advantages of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree in Addressing the Nursing Shortage

Exploring the Benefits of an MSN Degree for Nurses

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Evidence-Based Practice Nursing Research Paper Guide

The world now has more health researchers than ever before in history. Because of this, many quality health studies are being published virtually every week. These studies provide new ideas, systems, and theories that are helping to improve patient care. Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) nursing research papers are academic writings that help to document how the new studies are helping or can help to improve patient care.

In this post, you will discover everything you need to know about EBP papers, including how to write one from start to finish.

But before proceeding further, let's get solid on what Evidence-Based Practice means in nursing.

What is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing?

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in nursing is a field of nursing focusing on helping nurses to learn how to find and adopt patient care strategies, theories, and systems that are based on scientific evidence. It has significantly improved patient care over the last two decades. In evidence-based practice, nurses ask, acquire, appraise, apply, and assess. The five steps of EBP are integral in nursing and medical practice.

Nursing degree programs that include this field in their curriculum produce nurses who know that patient care should almost always be based on evidence from research.

EBP is implemented methodically in actual nursing practice, beginning with assessing the need for change. It is then followed by locating the best evidence from credible, reliable, reputable, and authoritative sources.

The next step entails a systematic review of the evidence using a specific guideline, enabling the synthesis of the gathered evidence. The evaluation aims to ensure that the evidence being considered for adoption or implementation is suitable for use.

Since so many health studies are published weekly, adopting evidence from random studies is insufficient. The evidence must first be reviewed before adoption.

The review results help design change, which leads to implementation and evaluation and, finally, integration and maintenance of the EBP change.

The methodical review of the evidence for adoption in EBP is done through an EBP nursing research paper , aka EBP research paper .

Learn what exactly makes up the structure of a typical EBP research paper in the section below and then how to write a brilliant EBP research paper in the section after the section below.

The standard structure of a nursing EBP research paper

A good nursing EBP research paper has several vital parts. All the parts must be included for it to be considered complete.

If you have seen or read many EBP research papers, you must have noticed that a typical EBP research paper includes an introduction, methodology, literature review, discussion, and conclusion. These are perhaps the most crucial parts of an EBP paper. Nevertheless, they are not the only ones. Below is a breakdown of the critical parts of a nursing EBP research paper:

1. Title page

The first part of an EBP paper is the title page. Like every other academic paper, an EBP research paper must have a title page, and the title page must be formatted appropriately. Ensuring your title page is formatted correctly is vital so you do not get penalized during grading. Probably the most critical element of your title page is the title itself. The title should be an attention-grabber to make your professor highly interested in your research paper.

When developing a title for your research paper, you should ensure it sets the scope of your EBP research paper. It should also provide a hint at what your thesis statement will be. Moreover, it should also be concise and fine-tuned. A clear, concise title that provides the scope of the paper is more than sufficient for any academic paper.

2. Introduction

The introduction of your EBP paper is one of its most critical parts. This is because it introduces the reader to the rest of your paper. Therefore, a good EBP research paper introduction presents background information on the research topic or question.

The best way to provide background information on the research topic or nursing issue is to use the PICO approach. PICO is an acronym for Problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. You can use the PICO approach to organize your introduction as follows:

• Problem: Present the problem that needs to be solved.
• Intervention: Present the intervention or solution being evaluated. (Reference relevant literature)
• Comparison: Present other possible interventions. (Reference relevant literature)
• Outcome: Present the expected outcome of the intention on the problem.

In addition to organizing your introduction using the PICO approach, as shown above, you must ensure it ends with your thesis statement.

Related Reading:

• Steps for writing a nursing diagnosis. 
• Writing a nursing case study.
• Nursing Research topics

3. Thesis statement

The second part of your EBP paper is your thesis statement. Every adequately written EBP paper must have a thesis statement. A thesis statement in an EBP paper is its central argument. It is usually the last sentence or statement in the introduction paragraph, and the entire paper is based on it. Only an EBP paper with a good thesis statement can get a top grade. This is because it does not force the reader to read the entire paper to get what it is all about.

A proper thesis statement is specific, argumentative, and manageable. If your thesis statement is not specific, your EBP research paper will be too broad and lose significance. If your thesis is not argumentative, your EBP paper will be too descriptive and not analytic enough to be considered a good research paper. Lastly, completing your EBP paper will be challenging if your thesis statement is not manageable.

4. Methodology

At the core of every EBP research paper is the systematic review of recent literature on a particular topic to find information that can help improve a nursing or patient care issue. Because the literature review is a vital element of every nursing EBP paper, it is essential to ensure the literature chosen for review is of the highest quality.

You cannot just go on Google and find random papers or sources to use for your EBP research paper literature review. You must use credible evidence from cohort studies, case-controlled studies, RCTs, peer-reviewed journals, practice papers, white papers, literature reviews, and systematic reviews. And you must get them orderly and systematically in trustworthy databases. How you get them is what is referred to as methodology. Your professor expects to see details about your methodology immediately after your EBP paper introduction.

The most crucial methodology details your professor expects to see include the names of the databases you searched for evidence (sources), the search terms you used, and the inclusion and exclusion criteria. One can use different methodologies to choose evidence for their literature review.

Under methodology, explain the databases you used, including the search terms, total articles yielded, and your inclusion and exclusion criteria. You should consider the credibility, validity, and reliability of each study. You can use qualitative or quantitative studies. Qualitative studies focus on subjective analysis, interviews, and description, while quantitative studies use objective figures that can be measured, calculated, and counted.

5. EBP Literature Review

The most crucial part of every nursing EBP paper is the literature review. Because it is in the literature review section, you are supposed to analyze and compare the links between the evidence (sources) you have settled on in your methodology.

What is essential in the literature review section is not the evidence used but the associations or analysis of the evidence. As long as the evidence (sources) are gotten using the proper methodology, what matters is how you show the links between the different pieces of evidence you include in your literature review. The best way to show the links between the sources is to show how the sources compare and contrast. Doing this will help you to develop an excellent EBP paper.

After reviewing the evidence you collected, you should create a table to show how different aspects of your pieces of evidence associate in terms of year of publication, sample size, demographics, methodology, limitations, results, and confidence level.

6. Discussion

After your EBP literature review section, you will want to discuss your findings or what you've noted in the evidence. A typical discussion will discuss the critical aspects of the different sources used as evidence, including the interventions, the approaches used for implementation, the evaluation strategies, and so on. You should start the discussion by discussing the findings first, followed by a discussion of the change in practice and then a discussion of the efficiency of the change. This should be followed by a discussion of the most appropriate implementation strategy.

7. Conclusion

The last written part of every EBP research paper is the conclusion. You must professionally conclude your EBP paper. For your conclusion to be professional, it must have a summary of your EBP paper and nicely wrap the whole thing.

8. References

After writing your conclusion, you must add a references page that correctly references all the sources you have used in your paper. Without a references page, your EBP research paper will be considered incomplete. Make sure you add the references following the formatting style advised by your professor.

Most EBP research papers usually have an abstract. An abstract is a short (less than 250 words) summary of a scientific paper. It is used to highlight what is contained in the paper.

Steps to writing an EBP nursing paper

When given an EBP paper assignment, there are specific steps you need to follow to ensure that the paper you develop is quality and 100 percent complete. Below we will highlight these steps.

1. Select a good topic for your EBP paper

The first thing you need to do when given an EBP paper assignment is to pick a topic. Ensure the topic is viable (not too hard to write about). There are different ways to pick a topic for your nursing EBP paper. You can get inspiration from your class notes, assignments, coursework, peer-reviewed sources, etc. You can also search on Google for nursing EBP paper topics to get inspiration for your own paper topic.

As you look at different things for inspiration for your own topic, you should ensure that the topic you come up with is one in which you have great interest. If you do this, it will be evident in your paper that the topic you are writing about is one you are interested in. If you don't, your EBP paper will probably sound dull or flat and won't even excite your reader.

Sometimes, your professor/instructor will give you a topic to focus on. If that is true in your EBP paper assignment, jump to the next step below.

2. Ask your professor for confirmation

You should ask your professor for confirmation after choosing a nursing topic for your EBP paper. Ask them if your chosen topic is good enough to help you develop a good EBP paper. If they say it is good enough, start collecting evidence for your paper. If they suggest you edit the topic in any way, do it immediately. By asking your professor for confirmation before you start writing your EBP paper, you will write it will so much confidence when they agree it is good enough. Even if they ask you to refine it, you will have a lot of confidence writing it because you will know the refined topic is on the right track.

Sometimes professors ask students to write a research proposal before starting the EBP research paper. If you have been asked to write a research proposal, you will need to write it before you begin researching the paper. To accept your research proposal, you must ensure it clearly highlights the issue you want to solve, the change process, and the basis for change. If your proposal is not good enough, your professor will most likely recommend changes you can implement to improve it.

3. Gather evidence to support your topic

Once you choose a topic (a problem you want to solve) and your professor confirms it, you should start gathering evidence to support your topic. Good evidence is probably the most essential part of an essay. If your EBP paper does not have good evidence, it is improbable that you will get a top grade when graded. Therefore, it is crucial to do good research to ensure you get credible and trustworthy sources for your EBP paper. Sources should be all the papers that can help you to provide a solution to the problem you want to solve.

Once you have many sources, read through them to find out how to solve the problem. When you have a good idea of how to do this, you should create a proper problem statement and a strong thesis statement. A problem statement describes the problem you want to solve unambiguously, while a thesis statement defines how you will do it. With a thesis statement written, you should evaluate the sources you collected and choose only those that are very credible for your literature review.

The right way to choose sources or find evidence for your EBP nursing paper is to search for your chosen topic in a credible or reliable science database. Examples of credible nursing article databases include The Cochrane Collaboration, CINAHL, OVID, TRIP Database, PubMed, and EBSCO. You can also search for sources in your university's online database. Mark all the sources you believe have information that could help you answer your research question and/or support your thesis statement.

Related reading: Important nursing theories and nursing theorists.

4. Choose sources for your nursing EBP paper

It is crucial to choose sources carefully to ensure you do not mess up. The best sources to use in the literature review section of your EBP paper are those that are credible and verifiable. Do not choose or use any source that is not credible and verifiable to use in your paper.

It is crucial to note that most nursing EBP papers focus on the research and its credibility. This is the reason why they have a methodology section. In the section, you are supposed to explain your inclusion and exclusion criteria. You are supposed to write down the conditions the sources you want to use should meet and the conditions that will disqualify a source.

So make sure you create inclusion and exclusion criteria for your EBP paper at this stage. Then, use these two criteria to identify the most relevant and credible sources for the literature review section of your paper.

5. Create an outline

You should create an outline after choosing a nursing topic, gathering evidence, and selecting sources. There are many outline templates available online for writing nursing EBP research papers. Download a good template and print it. After printing it, fill it in with all the crucial points you intend to write your paper in the order you intend to write them.

Once you have written them down, make sure they make sense to you from an organizational point of view. If they do, your outline is good to go. Creating an outline is an important thing to do when writing an EBP paper. This is because once you create it, you have to follow it, and you will have all the forward momentum you need to write your paper from the first paragraph to the last. In addition, you won't get stuck because whenever you feel like you are getting stuck, you can refer back to your outline for direction, and just like that, you will know what to write next.

6. Write a good title for your EBP paper

You need to ensure your EBP paper has an interesting title if you want your reader/professor to read it with high interest. If your paper's title is dull or flat, the reader will read it with the same mood from start to finish. In addition to your title being interesting, it should set the scope for your entire paper.

The best EBP paper title is clear, precise, relevant, and fine-tuned. The title of your paper can be a statement, a PICOT statement, a question, or a fact against the status quo. Whatever approach you take, you must ensure it provides good insight into your paper.

7. Write your introduction

The introduction of an EBP paper is one of its most essential elements. This is because it presents background information on the problem plus the solution blueprint. In other words, it tells the reader what the paper is about. The best way to write an EBP paper introduction is to provide background information on the paper's topic. And best way to provide background information on the topic is to use the PICO approach. PICO is an acronym for Problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. You can use the PICO approach to organize your introduction as follows:

In addition to organizing your introduction using the PICO approach shown above, the last statement in your introduction needs to be your thesis statement.

Related Reading : Does a picot question or statement have to be in order ?

8. Write the methodology section

You can't just go on Google and find random papers or sources to use for your EBP research paper literature review. You must use credible evidence from cohort studies, case-controlled studies, RCTs, peer-reviewed journals, practice papers, white papers, literature reviews, and systematic reviews. And you must get them orderly and systematically in trustworthy databases. How you find credible sources is what is referred to as methodology. Your professor expects to see details about your methodology immediately after your EBP paper introduction.

The most crucial methodology details your professor expects to see include the names of the databases you searched for evidence (sources), the search terms you used, and the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In addition, highlight the methodology you used earlier in step 4.

9. Develop the EBP Literature Review

The analysis of the evidence is essential in the literature review section. As long as the evidence (sources) are gotten using a sound methodology, what matters is how you show the links between the different pieces of evidence you include in your literature review. The best way to show the links between the sources is to show how the sources compare and contrast. Doing this will help you to develop an excellent EBP paper literature review section.

After reviewing the evidence you collected, you should create a table to show how different aspects of your pieces of evidence link in terms of year of publication, sample size, demographics, methodology, limitations, results, and confidence level.

10. Write the discussion section

After writing your EBP literature review section, you should discuss your findings. You should start the discussion by examining the findings first, followed by a discussion of the change in practice and then a discussion of the efficiency of the change. This should be followed by a discussion of the most appropriate implementation strategy.

11. Write the conclusion

You must professionally conclude your EBP paper. For your conclusion to be professional, it must have a summary of your EBP paper. The right way to write this summary is to start with a restatement of the thesis, followed by a restatement of the main points. The main points should be followed by an overview of the proposed change, its implementation strategy, and the intended benefits.

12. Develop the references page

After writing your conclusion, you must add a references page that correctly references all the sources you have used in your paper. Without a references page, your EBP research paper will be considered incomplete. The references on your references page must be formatted appropriately.

13. Edit and proofread

After completing your references page, you should begin editing and proofreading your paper. Your paper will most likely contain typing errors, grammar errors, and so on. You can only make it perfect by proofreading it. The best way to proofread is first to do it using an AI-powered proofreader like Grammarly.com. It will help you to quickly catch and eliminate most of the obvious or basic mistakes in your work.

After proofreading and editing using an AI proofreader, you should do it with your own two eyes and brain. This will help you to catch the errors the computer software might have missed. It will also help you to find and correct sentences and paragraphs in your work that are not clear.

Once you are done editing and proofreading, your paper will be ready for submission.

Also Read: How to formulate an excellent nursing care plan for a nursing school assignment.

Evidence-based Practice Topics in Nursing Research

Check out the sample EBP topics below for inspiration to develop your own topic.

• How to reduce the likelihood of child injury during birth
• How to improve the diagnosis of childhood respiratory illnesses
• How to improve child malnutrition programs
• How to enhance neonatal care
• Ethics of pediatric care
• Effective methods to enhance nurse emotional health
• How to improve ADHD treatment
• How to reduce child mortality
• How to improve nonchemical bipolar disorder treatments
• How to minimize the spread of infectious illnesses by nurses
• Improvement of treatment of restless leg syndrome
• How to better identify chronic anxiety disorders
• How to enhance midwifery practices in rural areas
• How to improve nonchemical pain management during labor
• Enhanced care strategies for the elderly
• How to improve the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
• How to improve breast cancer diagnosis in women
• The enhancement of acne treatments for women
• How to improve ADHD stimulant treatments
• How to enhance remote care in nursing

You can also consider the list of nursing informatics research topics we have developed to help you select the best.

Types of studies to use when writing an EBP nursing paper

You can include several types of studies in the literature review section of your EBP paper. They include case reports, control studies, and so on. Discover all the important ones below:

• Meta-analysis. A meta-analysis is a research paper that utilizes a qualitative method to compare study results and combine their conclusions. Meta-analyses are considered to have the best quality for EBP research papers.
• Systematic review. A systematic review uses various methods to compare and synthesize information from credible sources.
• Case report. A case report is a story written on a hypothetical patient or group of patients to analyze treatment plans.
• Cohort study. This study looks at a population subset over an extended period to examine the effects of a particular experiment.
• Randomized control study. This is a clinical trial that looks at the effects of a treatment plan on a specific population. This paper is known as a gold standard research paper or source because it is randomized.

Levels of Evidence to consider when writing EBP nursing paper

There are seven levels of evidence you can use in your literature review. They include:

• Level I: Evidence from the systematic review of related RCTs.
• Level II: Evidence is from a minimum of one RCT.
• Level III: Evidence from controlled trials but without randomization.
• Level IV: Evidence from cohort studies and case-control studies.
• Level V: Evidence from qualitative and descriptive studies.
• Level VI: Evidence from a single qualitative or descriptive study.
• Level VII: Evidence from reports by expert committees or the opinion pieces authored by government or medical agencies.

Tips for writing an excellent research paper

• Make sure your thesis statement is strong and clear. This will ensure your resulting paper is similarly solid and well-structured.
• Create an outline before you start writing. This will help you to have a paper that is well-organized and structured from start to finish.
• Reference your paper correctly . Proper references will help to make your paper stronger. It will also help to ensure your paper is not penalized for poor referencing during grading.
• Revise your paper before submitting it. Never submit your research paper before you revise it thoroughly. Thoroughly revising your paper will help you to identify and eliminate errors to ensure your paper is perfect before submission.
• Never forget to follow all your paper instructions. This seems like something small, but it isn't. Following your paper's instructions will ensure it is what your professor expects. This will put you in an excellent position to get a good grade.

Before you Close this Guide, ...

Using the knowledge, tips, and insights we shared in this article, you should be able to write a nursing EBP research paper effortlessly.

If you can't because of time or other reasons, you should order your nursing EBP paper from NurseMyGrade. We assure you a brilliant nursing EBP research paper that is 100% original, 100% error-free, and formatted correctly in either APA, AMA, or Harvard formatting styles.

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Evidence-Based Practice: Step by Step: The Seven Steps of Evidence-Based Practice

Melnyk, Bernadette Mazurek PhD, RN, CPNP/PMHNP, FNAP, FAAN; Fineout-Overholt, Ellen PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN; Stillwell, Susan B. DNP, RN, CNE; Williamson, Kathleen M. PhD, RN

Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk is dean and distinguished foundation professor of nursing at Arizona State University in Phoenix, where Ellen Fineout-Overholt is clinical professor and director of the Center for the Advancement of Evidence-Based Practice, Susan B. Stillwell is clinical associate professor and program coordinator of the Nurse Educator Evidence-Based Practice Mentorship Program, and Kathleen M. Williamson is associate director of the Center for the Advancement of Evidence-Based Practice.

Contact author: Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, [email protected] .

This is the second article in a new series from the Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation's Center for the Advancement of Evidence-Based Practice. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a problem-solving approach to the delivery of health care that integrates the best evidence from studies and patient care data with clinician expertise and patient preferences and values. When delivered in a context of caring and in a supportive organizational culture, the highest quality of care and best patient outcomes can be achieved.

The purpose of this series is to give nurses the knowledge and skills they need to implement EBP consistently, one step at a time. Articles will appear every two months to allow you time to incorporate information as you work toward implementing EBP at your institution. Also, we've scheduled "Ask the Authors" calls every few months to provide a direct line to the experts to help you resolve questions. See details below.

In this second article on implementing evidence-based practice, the authors offer an overview of the multistep process.

Research studies show that evidence-based practice (EBP) leads to higher quality care, improved patient outcomes, reduced costs, and greater nurse satisfaction than traditional approaches to care. 1-5 Despite these favorable findings, many nurses remain inconsistent in their implementation of evidence-based care. Moreover, some nurses, whose education predates the inclusion of EBP in the nursing curriculum, still lack the computer and Internet search skills necessary to implement these practices. As a result, misconceptions about EBP—that it's too difficult or too time-consuming—continue to flourish.

In the first article in this series ("Igniting a Spirit of Inquiry: An Essential Foundation for Evidence-Based Practice," November 2009), we described EBP as a problem-solving approach to the delivery of health care that integrates the best evidence from well-designed studies and patient care data, and combines it with patient preferences and values and nurse expertise. We also addressed the contribution of EBP to improved care and patient outcomes, described barriers to EBP as well as factors facilitating its implementation, and discussed strategies for igniting a spirit of inquiry in clinical practice, which is the foundation of EBP, referred to as Step Zero. ( Editor's note : although EBP has seven steps, they are numbered zero to six.) In this article, we offer a brief overview of the multistep EBP process. Future articles will elaborate on each of the EBP steps, using the context provided by the Case Scenario for EBP: Rapid Response Teams .

Step Zero: Cultivate a spirit of inquiry. If you've been following this series, you may have already started asking the kinds of questions that lay the groundwork for EBP, for example: in patients with head injuries, how does supine positioning compared with elevating the head of the bed 30 degrees affect intracranial pressure? Or, in patients with supraventricular tachycardia, how does administering the β-blocker metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL) compared with administering no medicine affect the frequency of tachycardic episodes? Without this spirit of inquiry, the next steps in the EBP process are not likely to happen.

Step 1: Ask clinical questions in PICOT format. Inquiries in this format take into account patient population of interest (P), intervention or area of interest (I), comparison intervention or group (C), outcome (O), and time (T). The PICOT format provides an efficient framework for searching electronic databases, one designed to retrieve only those articles relevant to the clinical question. Using the case scenario on rapid response teams as an example, the way to frame a question about whether use of such teams would result in positive outcomes would be: "In acute care hospitals (patient population), how does having a rapid response team (intervention) compared with not having a response team (comparison) affect the number of cardiac arrests (outcome) during a three-month period (time)?"

Step 2: Search for the best evidence. The search for evidence to inform clinical practice is tremendously streamlined when questions are asked in PICOT format. If the nurse in the rapid response scenario had simply typed "What is the impact of having a rapid response team?" into the search field of the database, the result would have been hundreds of abstracts, most of them irrelevant. Using the PICOT format helps to identify key words or phrases that, when entered successively and then combined, expedite the location of relevant articles in massive research databases such as MEDLINE or CINAHL. For the PICOT question on rapid response teams, the first key phrase to be entered into the database would be acute care hospitals , a common subject that will most likely result in thousands of citations and abstracts. The second term to be searched would be rapid response team , followed by cardiac arrests and the remaining terms in the PICOT question. The last step of the search is to combine the results of the searches for each of the terms. This method narrows the results to articles pertinent to the clinical question, often resulting in fewer than 20. It also helps to set limits on the final search, such as "human subjects" or "English," to eliminate animal studies or articles in foreign languages.

Step 3: Critically appraise the evidence. Once articles are selected for review, they must be rapidly appraised to determine which are most relevant, valid, reliable, and applicable to the clinical question. These studies are the "keeper studies." One reason clinicians worry that they don't have time to implement EBP is that many have been taught a laborious critiquing process, including the use of numerous questions designed to reveal every element of a study. Rapid critical appraisal uses three important questions to evaluate a study's worth. 6-8

• Are the results of the study valid? This question of study validity centers on whether the research methods are rigorous enough to render findings as close to the truth as possible. For example, did the researchers randomly assign subjects to treatment or control groups and ensure that they shared key characteristics prior to treatment? Were valid and reliable instruments used to measure key outcomes?
• What are the results and are they important? For intervention studies, this question of study reliability addresses whether the intervention worked, its impact on outcomes, and the likelihood of obtaining similar results in the clinicians' own practice settings. For qualitative studies, this includes assessing whether the research approach fits the purpose of the study, along with evaluating other aspects of the research such as whether the results can be confirmed.
• Will the results help me care for my patients? This question of study applicability covers clinical considerations such as whether subjects in the study are similar to one's own patients, whether benefits outweigh risks, feasibility and cost-effectiveness, and patient values and preferences.

After appraising each study, the next step is to synthesize the studies to determine if they come to similar conclusions, thus supporting an EBP decision or change.

Step 4: Integrate the evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences and values. Research evidence alone is not sufficient to justify a change in practice. Clinical expertise, based on patient assessments, laboratory data, and data from outcomes management programs, as well as patients' preferences and values are important components of EBP. There is no magic formula for how to weigh each of these elements; implementation of EBP is highly influenced by institutional and clinical variables. For example, say there's a strong body of evidence showing reduced incidence of depression in burn patients if they receive eight sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy prior to hospital discharge. You want your patients to have this therapy and so do they. But budget constraints at your hospital prevent hiring a therapist to offer the treatment. This resource deficit hinders implementation of EBP.

Step 5: Evaluate the outcomes of the practice decisions or changes based on evidence. After implementing EBP, it's important to monitor and evaluate any changes in outcomes so that positive effects can be supported and negative ones remedied. Just because an intervention was effective in a rigorously controlled trial doesn't mean it will work exactly the same way in the clinical setting. Monitoring the effect of an EBP change on health care quality and outcomes can help clinicians spot flaws in implementation and identify more precisely which patients are most likely to benefit. When results differ from those reported in the research literature, monitoring can help determine why.

Step 6: Disseminate EBP results. Clinicians can achieve wonderful outcomes for their patients through EBP, but they often fail to share their experiences with colleagues and their own or other health care organizations. This leads to needless duplication of effort, and perpetuates clinical approaches that are not evidence based. Among ways to disseminate successful initiatives are EBP rounds in your institution, presentations at local, regional, and national conferences, and reports in peer-reviewed journals, professional newsletters, and publications for general audiences.

When health care organizations adopt EBP as the standard for clinical decision making, the steps outlined in this article naturally fall into place. The next article in our series will feature a staff nurse on a medical–surgical unit who approached her hospital's EBP mentor to learn how to formulate a clinical question about rapid response teams in PICOT format.

Ask the Authors on January 22!

On January 22 at 3:30 PM EST, join the "Ask the Authors" call. It's your chance to get personal consultation from the experts! And it's limited to the first 50 callers, so dial-in early! U.S. and Canada, dial 1-800-947-5134 (International, dial 001-574-941-6964). When prompted, enter code 121028#.

Go to www.ajnonline.com and click on "Podcasts" and then on "Conversations" to listen to our interview with the authors.

Case Scenario for EBP: Rapid Response Teams

You're a staff nurse on a busy medical–surgical unit. Over the past three months, you've noticed that the patients on your unit seem to have a higher acuity level than usual, with at least three cardiac arrests per month, and of those patients who arrested, four died. Today, you saw a report about a recently published study in Critical Care Medicine on the use of rapid response teams to decrease rates of in-hospital cardiac arrests and unplanned ICU admissions. The study found a significant decrease in both outcomes after implementation of a rapid response team led by physician assistants with specialized skills. 9 You're so impressed with these findings that you bring the report to your nurse manager, believing that a rapid response team would be a great idea for your hospital. The nurse manager is excited that you have come to her with these findings and encourages you to search for more evidence to support this practice and for research on whether rapid response teams are valid and reliable.

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What is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing?

5 min read • June, 01 2023

Evidence-based practice in nursing involves providing holistic, quality care based on the most up-to-date research and knowledge rather than traditional methods, advice from colleagues, or personal beliefs. 

Nurses can expand their knowledge and improve their clinical practice experience by collecting, processing, and implementing research findings. Evidence-based practice focuses on what's at the heart of nursing — your patient. Learn what evidence-based practice in nursing is, why it's essential, and how to incorporate it into your daily patient care.

How to Use Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

Evidence-based practice requires you to review and assess the latest research. The knowledge gained from evidence-based research in nursing may indicate changing a standard nursing care policy in your practice Discuss your findings with your nurse manager and team before implementation. Once you've gained their support and ensured compliance with your facility's policies and procedures, merge nursing implementations based on this information with your patient's values to provide the most effective care. 

You may already be using evidence-based nursing practices without knowing it. Research findings support a significant percentage of nursing practices, and ongoing studies anticipate this will continue to increase.

Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Examples

There are various examples of evidence-based practice in nursing, such as:

• Use of oxygen to help with hypoxia and organ failure in patients with COPD 
• Management of angina
• Protocols regarding alarm fatigue
• Recognition of a family member's influence on a patient's presentation of symptoms
• Noninvasive measurement of blood pressure in children 

Improving patient care begins by asking how you can make it a safer, more compassionate, and personal experience. 

Learn about pertinent evidence-based practice information on our  Clinical Practice Material page .

Five Steps to Implement Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

Evidence-based nursing draws upon critical reasoning and judgment skills developed through experience and training. You can practice evidence-based nursing interventions by  following five crucial steps  that serve as guidelines for making patient care decisions. This process includes incorporating the best external evidence, your clinical expertise, and the patient's values and expectations.

• Ask a clear question about the patient's issue and determine an ultimate goal, such as improving a procedure to help their specific condition. 
• Acquire the best evidence by searching relevant clinical articles from legitimate sources.
• Appraise the resources gathered to determine if the information is valid, of optimal quality compared to the evidence levels, and relevant for the patient.
• Apply the evidence to clinical practice by making decisions based on your nursing expertise and the new information.
• Assess outcomes to determine if the treatment was effective and should be considered for other patients.

Analyzing Evidence-Based Research Levels

You can compare current professional and clinical practices with new research outcomes when evaluating evidence-based research. But how do you know what's considered the best information?

Use critical thinking skills and consider  levels of evidence  to establish the reliability of the information when you analyze evidence-based research. These levels can help you determine how much emphasis to place on a study, report, or clinical practice guideline when making decisions about patient care.

The Levels of Evidence-Based Practice

Four primary levels of evidence come into play when you're making clinical decisions.

• Level A acquires evidence from randomized, controlled trials and is considered the most reliable.
• Level B evidence is obtained from quality-designed control trials without randomization.
• Level C typically gets implemented when there is limited information about a condition and acquires evidence from a consensus viewpoint or expert opinion.
• Level ML (multi-level) is usually applied to complex cases and gets its evidence from more than one of the other levels.

Why Is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Essential?

Implementing evidence-based practice in nursing bridges the theory-to-practice gap and delivers innovative patient care using the most current health care findings. The topic of evidence-based practice will likely come up throughout your nursing career. Its origins trace back to Florence Nightingale. This iconic founder of modern nursing gathered data and conclusions regarding the relationship between unsanitary conditions and failing health. Its application remains essential today.

Other Benefits of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

Besides keeping health care practices relevant and current, evidence-based practice in nursing offers a range of other benefits to you and your patients:

• Promotes positive patient outcomes
• Reduces health care costs by preventing complications 
• Contributes to the growth of the science of nursing
• Allows for incorporation of new technologies into health care practice
• Increases nurse autonomy and confidence in decision-making
• Ensures relevancy of nursing practice with new interventions and care protocols 
• Provides scientifically supported research to help make well-informed decisions
• Fosters shared decision-making with patients in care planning
• Enhances critical thinking 
• Encourages lifelong learning

When you use the principles of evidence-based practice in nursing to make decisions about your patient's care, it results in better outcomes, higher satisfaction, and reduced costs. Implementing this method promotes lifelong learning and lets you strive for continuous quality improvement in your clinical care and nursing practice to achieve  nursing excellence .

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How to Write a Nursing Essay with a Quick Guide

Ever felt the blank-page panic when assigned a nursing essay? Wondering where to start or if your words will measure up to the weight of your experiences? Fear not, because today, we're here to guide you through this process.

Imagine you're at your favorite coffee spot, armed with a cup of motivation (and maybe a sneaky treat). Got it? Great! Now, let's spill the secrets on how to spin your nursing tales into words that not only get you that A+ but also tug at the heartstrings of anyone reading. We've got your back with nursing essay examples that'll be your inspiration, an outline to keep you on the right path, and more!

What Is a Nursing Essay

Let's start by dissecting the concept. A nursing essay serves as a focused exploration of a specific aspect of nursing, providing an opportunity for students to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and its practical application in patient care settings.

Picture it as a journey through the challenges and victories of a budding nurse. These essays go beyond the classroom, tackling everything from tricky ethical dilemmas to the impact of healthcare policies on the front lines. It's not just about grades; it's about proving, 'I'm ready for the real deal.'

So, when you read or write a nursing essay, it's not just words on paper. It's like looking into the world of someone who's about to start their nursing career – someone who's really thought about the ins and outs of being a nurse. And before you kick off your nursing career, don't shy away from asking - write my essay for me - we're ready to land a professional helping hand.

How to Start a Nursing Essay

When you start writing a nursing essay, it is like gearing up for a crucial mission. Here's your quick guide from our nursing essay writing service :

Choosing Your Topic: Select a topic that sparks your interest and relates to real-world nursing challenges. Consider areas like patient care, ethical dilemmas, or the impact of technology on healthcare.

Outline Your Route : Plan your essay's journey. Create a roadmap with key points you want to cover. This keeps you on track and your essay on point.

Craft a Strong Thesis: Assuming you already know how to write a hook , kick off your writing with a surprising fact, a thought-provoking quote, or a brief anecdote. Then, state your main argument or perspective in one sentence. This thesis will serve as the compass for your essay, guiding both you and your reader through the rest of your writing.

How to Structure a Nursing Essay

Every great essay is like a well-orchestrated performance – it needs a script, a narrative that flows seamlessly, capturing the audience's attention from start to finish. In our case, this script takes the form of a well-organized structure. Let's delve into the elements that teach you how to write a nursing essay, from a mere collection of words to a compelling journey of insights.

Nursing Essay Introduction

Begin your nursing essay with a spark. Knowing how to write essay introduction effectively means sharing a real-life scenario or a striking fact related to your topic. For instance, if exploring patient care, narrate a personal experience that made a lasting impression. Then, crisply state your thesis – a clear roadmap indicating the direction your essay will take. Think of it as a teaser that leaves the reader eager to explore the insights you're about to unfold.

In the main body, dive into the heart of your essay. Each paragraph should explore a specific aspect of your topic. Back your thoughts with examples – maybe a scenario from your clinical experience, a relevant case study, or findings from credible sources. Imagine it as a puzzle coming together; each paragraph adds a piece, forming a complete picture. Keep it focused and let each idea flow naturally into the next.

Nursing Essay Conclusion

As writing a nursing essay nears the end, resist the urge to introduce new elements. Summarize your main points concisely. Remind the reader of the real-world significance of your thesis – why it matters in the broader context of nursing. Conclude with a thought-provoking statement or a call to reflection, leaving your reader with a lasting impression. It's like the final scene of a movie that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll.

Nursing Essay Outline

Before diving into the essay, craft a roadmap – your outline. This isn't a rigid skeleton but a flexible guide that ensures your ideas flow logically. Consider the following template from our research paper writing service :

Introduction

• Opening Hook: Share a brief, impactful patient care scenario.
• Relevance Statement: Explain why the chosen topic is crucial in nursing.
• Thesis: Clearly state the main argument or perspective.

Patient-Centered Care:

• Definition: Clarify what patient-centered care means in nursing.
• Personal Experience: Share a relevant encounter from clinical practice.
• Evidence: Integrate findings from reputable nursing literature.

Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing Practice

• Scenario Presentation: Describe a specific ethical challenge faced by nurses.
• Decision-Making Process: Outline steps taken to address the dilemma.
• Ethical Frameworks: Discuss any ethical theories guiding the decision.

Impact of Technology on Nursing

• Current Trends: Highlight technological advancements in nursing.
• Case Study: Share an example of technology enhancing patient care.
• Challenges and Benefits: Discuss the pros and cons of technology in nursing.
• Summary of Key Points: Recap the main ideas from each section.
• Real-world Implications: Emphasize the practical significance in nursing practice.
• Closing Thought: End with a reflective statement or call to action.

A+ in Nursing Essays Await You!

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Nursing Essay Examples

Here are the nursing Essay Examples for you to read.

Writing a Nursing Essay: Essential Tips

When it comes to crafting a stellar nursing essay, a few key strategies can elevate your work from ordinary to exceptional. Here are some valuable tips from our medical school personal statement writer :

Connect with Personal Experiences:

• Approach: Weave personal encounters seamlessly into your narrative.
• Reasoning: This not only adds authenticity to your essay but also serves as a powerful testament to your firsthand understanding of the challenges and triumphs in the nursing field.

Emphasize Critical Thinking:

• Approach: Go beyond describing situations; delve into their analysis.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays are the perfect platform to showcase your critical thinking skills – an essential attribute in making informed decisions in real-world healthcare scenarios.

Incorporate Patient Perspectives:

• Approach: Integrate patient stories or feedback into your discussion.
• Reasoning: By bringing in the human element, you demonstrate empathy and an understanding of the patient's experience, a core aspect of nursing care.

Integrate Evidence-Based Practice:

• Approach: Support your arguments with the latest evidence-based literature.
• Reasoning: Highlighting your commitment to staying informed and applying current research underscores your dedication to evidence-based practice – a cornerstone in modern nursing.

Address Ethical Considerations:

• Approach: Explicitly discuss the ethical dimensions of your topic.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays provide a platform to delve into the ethical complexities inherent in healthcare, showcasing your ability to navigate and analyze these challenges.

Balance Theory and Practice:

• Approach: Connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications.
• Reasoning: By bridging the gap between theory and practice, you illustrate your capacity to apply academic knowledge effectively in the dynamic realm of nursing.

Highlight Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

• Approach: Discuss collaborative efforts with other healthcare professionals.
• Reasoning: Acknowledging the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare underscores your understanding of the importance of teamwork – a vital aspect of successful nursing practice.

Reflect on Lessons Learned:

• Approach: Conclude with a thoughtful reflection on personal growth or lessons from your exploration.
• Reasoning: This not only provides a satisfying conclusion but also demonstrates your self-awareness and commitment to continuous improvement as a nursing professional.

As we wrap up, think of your essay as a story about your journey into nursing. It's not just about getting a grade; it's a way to share what you've been through and why you want to be a nurse.

Imagine the person reading it – maybe a teacher, a future coworker, or someone starting their nursing journey. They're trying to understand your passion and why you care about nursing.

So, when you write, remember it's more than just an assignment. It's your chance to show why nursing matters to you. And if you ever need help – there's always support from our essay writer online .

Ready to Excel in Your Nursing School Essay?

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How to Write a Nursing Essay?

How can a nursing essay effectively address ethical considerations, what are some examples of evidence-based practices in nursing essays.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

Examples of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

This article was written in collaboration with Christine T. and ChatGPT, our little helper developed by OpenAI.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a key component of nursing care, aiming to improve patient outcomes and healthcare quality by integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences. In this article, we will explore some real-world examples of EBP in nursing care, including fall prevention strategies, antibiotic stewardship programs, and mindfulness-based interventions for pain management. We will also discuss some common challenges and barriers to EBP implementation and strategies to overcome them.

Example 1: Implementation of Fall Prevention Strategies

Fall prevention strategies are important in nursing care, particularly for elderly patients at higher risk of falls and related injuries. Healthcare facilities can reduce falls and improve patient safety by implementing evidence-based fall prevention strategies. For example, one study found that implementing a multifaceted fall prevention program in a long-term care facility reduced the rate of falls by 34%.

Key components of fall prevention strategies include:

• Comprehensive patient assessment to identify fall risk factors
• Individualized care plans to address identified risk factors
• Staff education and training on fall prevention techniques
• Environmental modifications to reduce hazards

Example 2: Use of Antibiotic Stewardship Programs

Antibiotic stewardship programs aim to optimize antibiotic use, improving patient outcomes while minimizing the risk of antibiotic resistance. By implementing evidence-based antibiotic stewardship programs, healthcare facilities can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and prevent the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms. For example, one study found that implementing an antibiotic stewardship program in a hospital reduced antibiotic use by 30% without compromising patient outcomes.

Key components of antibiotic stewardship programs include:

• Antibiotic prescribing guidelines based on the latest evidence
• Regular review and feedback on antibiotic prescribing practices
• Education and training for healthcare providers on appropriate antibiotic use

Example 3: Integration of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Pain Management

Mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), effectively manage chronic pain. By integrating evidence-based mindfulness-based interventions and palliative care into nursing care, healthcare facilities can provide effective pain management options that do not rely on opioids or other medications. For example, one study found that integrating MBSR into nursing care for chronic pain patients reduced pain severity and improved quality of life.

Key components of mindfulness-based interventions include:

• Mindfulness meditation exercises to increase awareness and acceptance of pain
• Yoga or other gentle physical activities to promote relaxation and flexibility
• Group support and discussion to share experiences and coping strategies

Challenges and Barriers to EBP Implementation

Implementing EBP in nursing care can be challenging, with common barriers including limited resources, lack of time, and resistance to change. However, overcoming these barriers is crucial for improving patient outcomes and healthcare quality. Strategies for overcoming these barriers include:

• Engaging staff in the EBP process
• Using quality improvement methods such as Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles
• Prioritizing EBP as a core component of nursing care

Evidence-based practice is essential for improving patient outcomes and healthcare quality in nursing care. By implementing evidence-based strategies such as fall prevention programs, antibiotic stewardship programs, and mindfulness-based interventions, healthcare facilities can improve patient safety and reduce unnecessary interventions. While there may be challenges and barriers to EBP implementation, nursing professionals must prioritize EBP and work together to overcome these challenges. We can continue improving nursing care and providing our patients with the best possible outcomes.

📎 Related Articles

1. The Joint Commission 2. CDC Antibiotic Stewardship Program 3. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) 4. Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) 5. Examples of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing 6. Understanding Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing + 10 Examples 7. 5 Examples of Evidence-Informed Nursing Practice Protocols

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• Databases / Articles
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Peer-reviewed (Refereed) Articles

Refers to articles that have undergone a rigorous review process, often including revisions to the original manuscript, by peers in their discipline, before publication in a scholarly journal.

Scholarly information and evidence-based sources

Evidence-based practice involves providing the highest quality patient care by reviewing and assessing the scholarly research literature in nursing - not by relying on newspapers, magazines, opinions from colleagues, or personal beliefs. 

Scholarly research allows new discoveries and knowledge to be communicated to health care professionals; therefore, scholarly information can improve patient care and improve nursing practice.  

Try to think of scholarly Information in two ways:

• Primary (unfiltered) sources: include original research studies, randomized controlled trials, and case-control studies.  These studies have not undergone additional analysis and review beyond that of the peer review process.  
• Secondary (filtered) sources: include sources that evaluate and analyze existing research and often provide recommendations for practice.  Systematic reviews, critically-appraised topics, and meta-analyses are considered filtered information.

CINAHL and the Evidence Pyramid

To find scholarly sources that support your topics, you need to use a database like CINAHL - do not rely on more commons options like Wikipedia, magazines, newspapers, or a basic Google search.

CINAHL has many related search features like randomized control trial, clinical trials, and meta-analysis, but you should be cautious in using these limits too quickly.  First, start with a very broad search, evaluate the results, then consider using some of the specific search features in order to find a more focused set of research articles.

As always, pay attention to the requirements outlined by your instructor which might require very specific articles such as "limited by date" or "first author is a nurse."

Evidence Pyramid

Primary Sources: Unfiltered

• Research Articles
• Pilot/prospective studies
• Cohort study -  Identifies two groups (cohorts) of patients, one which did receive the exposure of interest, and one which did not, and following these cohorts forward for the outcome of interest.
• Survey research
• Case control study -  Individuals with a particular condition or disease (the cases) are selected for comparison with individuals who do not have the condition or disease (the controls)
• Clinical trials
• Randomized controlled trials/RCTs - An experiment where individuals are randomly assigned to an experimental or control group to test the value or efficiency of a treatment or intervention

Secondary Sources: Filtered

• Review articles
• Systematic reviews - are articles in which the authors have systematically searched for and summarized all of the medical literature for a specific topic.
• Meta-analysis - is a systematic review that uses quantitative methods to summarize the results.
• Critically appraised topic -   Authors of critically-appraised topics evaluate and synthesize multiple research studies.
• Clinical practice guidelines
• Clinical care notes
• Patient education information

Background Information/Expert Opinion

• Background Information/Expert Opinion -  Handbooks, encyclopedias, and textbooks often provide a good introduction to a topic, but only provide very brief or generalized information.
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Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare, Essay Example

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Introduction

Evidence-based practice solutions require an ongoing effort to promote the effective utilization of evidence generated in practice settings to achieve greater progress in the healthcare environment. Most importantly, an examination of specific evidence-based practice models is required to ensure that patient outcomes are effective and timely to ensure that quality of care is optimized under a variety of conditions. For this discussion, the Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice offers an opportunity to examine the different constructs of evidence that support patient care quality and related outcomes, and by examining research, the potential exists to alter or modify practice settings to support a successful practice environment (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2010).

In my organization, there has been an increased interest in evidence-based practice to improve current protocols regarding a number of recurrent health concerns such as pressure ulcers and the risk of MRSA infections. These issues have become increasingly significant over the past few years and have had a tremendous impact on patient care outcomes, particularly for older adults with lower immunity. Therefore, recognizing the impact of existing evidence may be an effective contributor in modifying current practice methods to ensure that patients receive the best possible care, including protocols to prevent pressure ulcers effectively (Padula et.al, 2014). From this perspective, it is likely that there will be new perspectives to consider that will positively impact patient care by using evidence as a guide in expanding nursing-based protocols to support improvements in the practice setting that will enhance pressure ulcer prevention using proven techniques that will have a positive impact on patient care outcomes over time (Padula et.al, 2014).

One evidence-based tool that has been examined is screening for MRSA infection in the hospital environment, and based upon the analysis of Glick et.al (2013), screening does not have any real impact on patient outcomes. This evidence demonstrates the importance of evaluating specific evidence directly prior to making any protocol-related changes that will not have a true impact on patient care quality. In addition, this evidence supports the belief that traditional infection control practices are likely to remain instrumental in preventing the infection for patients over time (Glick et.al, 2013). There are significant opportunities for nurses to act as successful promoters of infection control through routine and direct contact with patients, and this also reflects prior evidence that has been incorporated into the practice setting to alter patient outcomes in a positive manner (Glick et.al, 2013). It is anticipated that as future research evidence is revealed, additional changes or updates to existing protocols may occur to improve patient care quality on the nursing unit.

The implementation of an evidence-based practice approach in the healthcare environment requires an evaluation of different protocols that will positively impact outcomes and enable nurses to expand or alter the care that they provide to patients to minimize complications. For conditions such as MRSA infection or pressure ulcers, there is a continuous need to evaluate current and future evidence to facilitate positive results and to provide a basis for integrating research evidence into the daily routine. It is expected that this strategy, particularly the Stetler Model, will encourage nurses to explore research as a viable alternative to existing protocols and to also empower them to examine ideas that are unconventional that will enable patients to be provided with a continuum of care that will improve quality of life and promote effective outcomes.

Glick, S. B., Samson, D. J., Huang, E., Vats, V., Weber, S., & Aronson, N. (2013). Screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Melnyk, B.M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2010). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: a guide to best practice. LWW.

Padula, W. V., Mishra, M. K., Makic, M. B. F., & Valuck, R. J. (2014). A Framework of Quality Improvement Interventions to Implement Evidence-Based Practices for Pressure Ulcer Prevention. Advances in skin & wound care , 27 (6), 280-284.

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The Importance of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Essay

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Empirically validated treatments are biomedical measures and/or medications that have favored biological treatment of a specific illness. This involves the precise handling of a medical case using treatments that have been discovered to work in the past. Such an approach does not necessarily mean that this specific treatment is the best solution for that particular medical illness. Several criteria have been identified to facilitate confirmation of an empirically validated treatment. One criterion describes that an empirically validated treatment has been proven by at least two superior experiments that show that the treatment is effective. A treatment is deemed to be effective when the results generated by the administration of such procedure are superior over the other treatment or the placebo control.

This may be determined through robust statistical analyses. This may be proven by employing a placebo in the experiment or by observing effective treatments in a conventional experiment consisting of amply sample sizes.

An empirically validated treatment may also be confirmed through the use of a vast amount of defined studies that show the efficiency of that particular treatment.

It is understood that these defined studies followed a competent experimental design and that the particular treatment being tested has been compared to another treatment, just like the placebo controls. Empirically validated treatments are also generally conducted based on a treatment manual.

This piece of documentation serves as the guideline for the investigator so that any modifications will be avoided, because any minor or major changes to a certain treatment may cause a different output or experimental result. In addition, this type of treatment provides precise descriptions of the samples that are included in the trial experiment. It is also important that empirically validated treatments are verified by at least two independent research groups that did not conspire to generate similar or exact observational results.

The healthcare profession involves the augmentation of a patient’s condition through therapeutic intervention. The shared moment between a healthcare worker and a patient who is unbearably suffering by himself provides guidance for the proper course of action, often resulting in greater patient satisfaction and healing potentialities (Gooden et al., 2001).

During this interaction, the healthcare professional establishes his presence by using a human care transaction mind-body-soul with another’s mind-body-soul in a lived moment.

Presence has been defined as a relational style within healthcare professional interactions that involves being with, as well as doing with. The core of this interaction is to learn and understand the circumstances of the situation and to direct the course of action to achieve the desired outcome of healing and recuperation on the part of the patient (Rachagan and Sharon, 2003; Hagihara A and Tarumi K, 2006). In addition, the focused shared moments with the patient and his family teach the healthcare professional to identify the key turning point necessary for the patient’s healing process (Gore and Ogden, 1998; Street et al., 2003). The professional learns the needs of his patient by being fully present and consciously relating to his whole being, enabling the professional to use aesthetic ways of discovering the obstructions in the hidden pathways preventing the healing process (Murphy DD and Lam CL, 2002). The healthcare professional plays a major role as a therapeutic agent by getting deeply involved with the situation using his inner energy of caring, being open and listening with solid awareness, and developing and sustaining a helping-trusting, authentic caring relationship (Ornstein, 1977; Heszen-Klemens and Lapinska E, 1984; Berry, 2007). Healthcare guidelines highlight that every healthcare professional is accountable for his decision and action and for maintaining competencies in every day of practice. This strong foundation requires that all nurses provide a therapeutic professional-patient relationship and provide care to patients under the scope of practice according to their needs, which will, in turn, lead to significant outcomes (Clark, 2002).

Healthcare workers use different types of presence in order to learn from their patients, in order a therapeutic relationship and mutual understanding under any circumstance.

The evidence-based practice focuses on observational studies to improve the methodological quality and effectiveness of the intervention. There is currently a vast amount of information regarding the incidence and prevalence of healthcare-related infections, as well as mortality data. Unfortunately, these significant figures are not efficiently disseminated and more importantly, not integrated into the general protocol of healthcare, because they have not been discovered by healthcare personnel for their own perusal and for integration into their routine services. Health care informatics is a recent area that involves the integration of health science, computer science, information science, and cognitive science to assist in the management of healthcare information (Saba and McCormick, 2001). By using the statistical information offered by these different fields of science, healthcare informatics may be divided into the areas of medical informatics, health informatics, dental informatics, and nursing informatics. The areas of medical, dental, and nursing informatics overlap in several areas such as information retrieval, clinical care, ethics, imaging, computer security, electronic medical records, and computer-assisted instruction.

The use of statistical information via informatics has been used in the field of medicine for more than two decades and has resulted in the establishment of the specialty field of medical informatics. Such area uses information technologies in relation to functions carried out when performing their duties (Hannah, 1985). It covers the entire range of information technology that is useful to nursing, especially for patient care, nursing practice, and healthcare management. It essentially helps in the processing of medical data, knowledge, and information to aid in medical practice and delivery of health care.

A parallel global scheme has existed for clinical trials, namely the Cochrane Collaboration, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Reproductive Health and Research, aim to provide a comprehensive tabulation of available data on their specific fields of investigation. Such reviews also aim to calculate case-fatality rates and the proportion of preventable deaths by specific interventions. The development of search and retrieval strategies using statistical information should be sensitive and specific enough because there is so much information available in the databases and internet sources that it would seem very difficult for healthcare personnel to sieve through all the unnecessary and irrelevant entries. Databases are technically pools of information that may be useful should the right search results be presented to the investigator, or these may be useless if the investigator ends up with more confusion than when he just started using the database.

Statistical information that has been pooled into a central registry may serve as a convenient and systematic resource for the retrieval of medical information that is very useful for critical care management in the healthcare setting.

Two of the most recognized and employed databases in the medical field are MEDLINE and EMBASE. Both are universal bibliographical records of primary literature, with MEDLINE covering mostly North American publications, while EMBASE covers more European reports. Unfortunately, these two databases only have 30 to 50% overlap in their entries (Topfer, 1999). Unfortunately, databases employing evidence-based practice do not include unpublished reports, either because the investigators assumed that nobody else would be interested in looking at their data or because the investigators thought that a report that shows no significant differences is not worth publishing. In addition, non-English reports are not included in most of the databases due to language restrictions, yet these types of reports usually show statistically significant results as well as larger treatment effects. CINAHL is another database that healthcare practitioners, especially nurses, utilize for information on patient care and delivery.

It has been very useful in medical specialties including descriptive and explanatory information on nursing topics.

The employment of statistical information as applied to nursing care is highly interdisciplinary, with certain areas overlapping with computer science and education.

Nursing informatics provides a direct route to information connecting nursing informatics to research, especially evidence-based practice, and this provides a quicker mode for nursing to gather information on specific patient cases. In the earlier days, a healthcare practitioner needs to read a lot of research reports, journals, and books in order to be up-to-date with the latest trends in health care diagnosis, treatment, and delivery. The use of statistical knowledge and information as directly applied to evidence-based nursing provides a quicker way to access so much information that is available around the globe. It also saves time for the healthcare practitioner in researching for answers to their healthcare questions, leaving them more time to provide quality health care to their patients. In addition, the networking and establishment of databases serves as an essential tool to the construction of virtual global hospitals, wherein doors do not exist, but actually, bridges are erected.

• Berry PA (2007): The absence of sadness: darker reflections on the doctor-patient relationship. J. Med. Ethics 33(5):266-8.
• Clark PA (2002): Confidentiality and the physician-patient relationship – ethical reflections from a surgical waiting room. Med. Sci. Monit. 8(11):SR31-4.
• Gooden BR, Smith MJ, Tattersall SJ and Stockler MR (2001): Hospitalised patients’ views on doctors and white coats. Med. J. Aust. 175(4):219-22.
• Gore J and Ogden J (1998): Developing, validating and consolidating the doctor-patient relationship: the patients’ views of a dynamic process. Br. J. Gen. Pract. 48(432):1391-4.
• Hagihara A and Tarumi K (2006): Doctor and patient perceptions of the level of doctor explanation and quality of patient-doctor communication. Scand. J. Caring Sci. 20(2):143-50.
• Hannah KJ, Guillemin EJ and Conklin DN, eds. (1985): Nursing uses of computer and information science. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier Science, 1985.
• Heszen-Klemens I and Lapinska E (1984): Doctor-patient interaction, patients’ health behavior and effects of treatment. Soc. Sci. Med. 19(1):9-18.
• Murphy DD and Lam CL (2002): Functional needs: agreement between perception of rural patients and health professionals in China. Occup. Ther. Int. 9(2):91-110.
• Ornstein PH (1977): The family physician as a “therapeutic instrument”. J. Fam. Pract. 4(4):659-61.
• Rachagan SS and Sharon K (2003): The patient’s view. Med J Malaysia. 58 Suppl A:86-101.
• Saba VK and McCormick KA (2001): Essentials of computers for nursing: informatics for the new millennium. 3rd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
• Street RL Jr, Krupat E, Bell RA, Kravitz RL and Haidet P (2003): Beliefs about control in the physician-patient relationship: effect on communication in medical encounters. J. Gen. Intern. Med. 18(8):609-16.
• Topfer LA, Parada A, Menon D, Noorani H, Perras C, Serra-Prat M (1999): Comparison of literature searches on quality and costs for health technology assessment using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Int. J. Technol. Assess. Health Care 15:297-303.
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Evidence Based Practice In Nursing

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Content relating to: "evidence-based practice"

Evidence based practice refers to all the clinical judgments that are prepared on the basis of investigation and scientific studies which facilitates in the distribution of the high quality care to the patient to make better results. Evidence-based health care practices are accessible for a number of circumstances such as diabetes, heart failure, kidney failure, and asthma.

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Evidence-Based Practice Essay

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the use of evidence-based practice in answering a PICO question: “Do stimulants increase academic performance in university students?” Drawing references from peer-reviewed articles, this study will illustrate how clinical decisions are made from the inferences acquired from the literature sources. Through demonstrating an understanding of the principles of evidence-based practice, the paper will prove the validity of the statement by Khalil (2017) that it is imperative to evaluate and apply evidence-based practice in improving the quality of healthcare.

This study adopts a quantitative research design in which the researchers used a sample of eighteen healthy university students to report on the non medical use of elicit and prescription stimulants for enhancing academic performance. The data was collected through face to face interview. The methodology and methods of research were appropriate to course of the study since the researchers had a large sample size which guaranteed the generalization of the research findings.

Munro, B., Weyandt, L., Marraccini, M., & Oster, D. (2017). The relationship between nonmedical use of prescription stimulants, executive functioning and academic outcomes. Addictive Behaviors, 65, 250-257. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.08.023

Barriers for the Application of Evidence in Practice

How closely the research studies provided align with the pico question.

1. Barclay, L. (2012). Evidence: Making an impact. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 10(1), 1-2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-1609.2012.00258.x

2. Bergstrom, N. (2008). The gap between discovery and practice implementation in evidence-based practice. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 6(2), 135-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01258363-200806000-00001

3. Frewin, D. (2014). The International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare – Quo vadis? International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 12(1), 1-2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/xeb.0000000000000000

4. Frewin, D., & Court, A. (2009). Elements of evidence-based healthcare. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 7(1), 1-2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-1609.2009.00125.x

5. Hildt, E., Lieb, K., & Franke, A. (2014). Life context of pharmacological academic performance enhancement among university students – A qualitative approach. BMC Medical Ethics, 15(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6939-15-23

6. Khalil, H. (2017). Evidence-based quality improvement. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 15(3), 81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/xeb.0000000000000118

7. Munro, B., Weyandt, L., Marraccini, M., & Oster, D. (2017). The relationship between nonmedical use of prescription stimulants, executive functioning and academic outcomes. Addictive Behaviors, 65, 250-257. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.08.023

8. Tan, M. (2013). Mentoring nurses in evidence-based projects. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 11(3), 252-253. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01258363-201309000-00081

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Analysis of Evidence-based Practice in Nursing

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