Evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates the best evidence available to guide optimal nursing care
Scenario:
You are supervising three nurses working on the medical-surgical floor of a local
teaching hospital. This hospital is nationally recognized as a leader in education and
has a computer lab with an online library where staff has access to medical research
databases (that is, CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane library) and online
sources of all hospital policies, procedures, and guidelines, and computers at nurse
workstations that also have access to these resources.
You have given the nurses their patient assignments and you have all participated in
shift report. A new nurse who just completed orientation and training a week ago
approaches you and tells you that one of the assigned patients has a diagnosis he or
she is very unfamiliar with. Knowing that patient-centered care based on best practices
is imperative to positive patient outcomes, you want to assist this nurse to find research
that can be utilized to provide the best care for this patient. Describe how you would
communicate with this nurse to encourage him or her to research the diagnosis.
Assume you will assist in the quest to locate evidence, then describe where you would
go within the facility and what resources you would look for. These resources may
include websites, journals, facility policies or guidelines, or any other sources of online
information.
● To select the diagnosis for the patient in this scenario, review the three
diagnoses presented in the Assessment 01 Supplement: Locating Credible
Databases and Research [PDF] (check with the uploaded file)
● resource and select one. You will use this same diagnosis to complete the
next two assessments.
Create a list of at least five sources that could be used to find evidence, with the best
source listed first, and explain why the sources you chose are best to find evidence for
the diagnosis you chose and the clinical scenario. You are only evaluating the sources
of evidence (database, website, policy database or website, journal article, et cetera).
You are not actually completing a search and selecting evidence. Consider the following
examples: a nursing journal in CINAHL may not be the best source of evidence for
information on how to administer medications through a central-venous catheter,
whereas a hospital policy database found on a website may not be the best source of
information on caring for a patient with a rare chromosomal abnormality.
Instruction: For this assessment:
● Describe your role as a baccalaureate-prepared nurse supervising clinical
staff nurses with regard to communication and collaboration in locating
evidence for application to a nursing practice scenario.
● Compile a list of five online databases or other online sources (that is,
websites, journals, facility policies or guidelines, et cetera) that can be used
to research evidence to apply to the diagnosis in this scenario and describe
to which of these you would direct a nurse colleague to search for
evidence.
● Describe where you might go in the work place to complete this research
and how you would access the desired, relevant research within research
databases or other online sources.
Sample Answer
Scenario:
I am supervising three nurses on the medical-surgical floor of a teaching hospital. One of my nurses, a recent graduate who completed orientation a week ago, approaches me with a concern about a patient with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The nurse expresses unfamiliarity with the condition and is eager to provide the best possible care.
My Role as a Baccalaureate-Prepared Nurse Supervisor:
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, my role extends beyond direct patient care. I am responsible for guiding and supporting my team, fostering a culture of evidence-based practice, and ensuring patient safety. In this situation, my primary responsibilities include:
- Open Communication and Active Listening: I would create a safe and supportive environment for the nurse to express their concerns. I would actively listen to their questions and acknowledge their anxiety about caring for this unfamiliar patient.
- Promoting a Culture of Inquiry: I would emphasize the importance of continuous learning and evidence-based practice. I would explain that seeking out the best available evidence is crucial for providing high-quality, patient-centered care.
- Guiding Research Efforts: I would guide the nurse on how to effectively search for relevant evidence using the available resources. I would assist in formulating search terms and identifying the most appropriate databases and sources.