Evidence-Based Practice among Hospital Nurses - Term Paper Example

Evidence-Based Practice among Hospital Nurses Introduction: In an evidence-based research (EBR), the investigation, gathering and interpretation of facts are done in a manner that is consistent with evidence. This means that for instance, in healthcare research, the researcher should not have any bias, but instead, should have a strong command on the theory that is derived from the evidence. Thus, the researcher should use the research to test and prove the validity of the theory. There are several components that make up a valid evidence-based research study. One of the most salient components of evidence-based research studies is objectivity. As previously mentioned, this means that the research must not harbor any subjective feelings, biasness, persuasions or lopsidedness. On the contrary, the researcher must be led by the need to prove or discount a theory by only using the evidence. Secondly, in an EBR, there has to be the carrying out of the traditional research, the consideration of factual evidence and the integration of the traditional research undertaking and the factual evidence. The traditional research has to approach a project without harboring any preconceived notions. Furthermore, the evidence complements the traditional research undertaking since evidence is the actual fact that serves as the paradigm for objectivity and empiricism. Thus, by fusing the evidence with the traditional research undertaking, it becomes possible to extirpate biasness and to grace the research with valuable, practical knowledge (Brown, et al., 2010). EBR also focuses on facilitating effective and efficient decision making. This means that even as evidence-based research studies are carried out, there has to be a clear-cut goal that is being targeted. This is because, organizations use extensive technical, scientific and intelligence expertise to enhance insightful, relevant and effective solutions to matters of decisive importance. This is because, the research results that will have been obtained from EBR will in turn specify the manner in which professionals and other stakeholders will make decisions, based on the evidence. This means that the evidence that will have been obtained must be scientifically sound. 1) The Changes That the Health Care Leader Has Been Involved In Implementing As divulged by the healthcare leader, there are several changes that have been realized due to the consideration of evidence-based research studies. Above all, conducting evidence-based research studies has inculcated the culture of evidence-based practice (EBP). In itself, EBP integrates clinical practice, current clinical data, the individual patient’s values and discretion regarding the quality and methods of services, with scientific expertise. In this light, the health care leader was categorical that the final decision arrived at must be premised on available data and the rightful conviction that the decision made will elicit the most optimal patient outcome. The health care leader was also very categorical that the foregoing differentiates EBP from research-based practice (RBP). This is the case since, unlike EBP; RBP is a scientific method which involves the collection and analyzing traditional practices that are sustained within standards of care. The import of this is that in RBP, the care being advanced towards the patient has to have been identified as the most effective. This identification is normally carried out by comparing available research with and the established methods. The results available are thus to change the delivery of care, upon the changes having been deemed medically appropriate. Also, the changes that are being made must have been proven to have the capacity for improved outcome. 2) How Strongly the Leader Felt the Research on the Topic During the interaction with the health care leader, it became very palpable that he felt strongly about the topic. The strong conviction that the health care leader harbors is pegged on the belief that evidence-based research study will pave way for more efficient and productive services delivery in a medical institution and the healthcare sector in general. This is mainly because, according to him, evidence-based research study is likely to herald certain values. Particularly, employing the use of evidence-based research studies in healthcare puts focus on healthcare and scientific literature. All this consideration of medical and scientific literature is underpinned by the need to improve: treatment modalities such as appropriate medical technology; safety and quality (including prevention of accidents, errors and infections); and exercises (as a way of encouraging rehabilitation and exertion). 3) Whether Research Findings Have Ever Been Rejected Leeman and Sandelowski (2012) are categorical that at the moment, the healthcare leader is categorical that there has never been a discarding of research findings that have emanated from evidence-based research. This is because; the results obtained have always been consistently concomitant with the research relevant to the facets of healthcare design. Some of these facets include administration, evidence-based metrics, clinical matters and environmental psychologists. In evidence-based metrics for instance, the design for efficiency (also known as layout-IQ), the work measurement PDA and the resource and patient workflow have been accurately projected in the research findings. The import of this is that research findings have been always found to be helpful to the quest for cost-efficient, faster and quality provision of medical services. 4) Concerns Harbored or Resistance Experienced When Implementing Changes Based On Research/ One of the concerns that have been expressed by the healthcare leader in respect to the implementation of EBR findings is increased expenditure. Particularly, carrying out an EBR research involves the services of an interdepartmental staff, a supervisor and the organization’s resources. This ultimately translates to increased operational costs for the organization. Secondly, taking the effort to: carry out EBR research studies; compile the EBR results; analyze EBR findings; and integrate the EBR findings into a healthcare organization’s modus operandi, may claim a lot of time. According to Hewitt-Taylor, Vanessa and Nicholas (2012), physicians have also been seen to be less amenable to the use of evidence-based models, due to an array of reasons. Physicians and healthcare givers’ inhibitions towards the use of evidence-based models is partly underpinned by scarcity of medical resources such as time and medical equipment. Likewise, the deep acquaintance that physicians and nurses have with the traditional systems of healthcare services also derails the adoption of evidence-based models among this group. The failure by physicians, nurses and other healthcare givers to immediately adopt evidence-based approaches in the dispensation of their services makes the finances, synergy and time used in EBR studies heavier burdens. Thus, the temptation to revert back to traditional models remains very appealing. 5) Analyzing Findings As They Apply To the Components of Evidence-Based Research (EBR) The findings that are obtained from EBR studies are very crucial, despite the few aforementioned pitfalls that accompany EBR models. This is because EBR models are keen to remain adherent to the evidence. Because of this, the approaches that a healthcare institution uses to administer healthcare services are bound to be more accurate, cost-efficient, patient-and-staff-friendly and safer. This means that provided that a healthcare institution maintains its stickler for EBR practice, then the gains accrued will eventually surpass the liabilities incurred during the EBR study. References Brown C. E. et al. (2010). “Multi-Institutional Study of Barriers to Research Utilization and Evidence-Based Practice among Hospital Nurses.” Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19 (14), 1950-1. Hewitt-Taylor, J. H., Vanessa, R. & Nicholas, E. (2012). “Applying Research to Practice: Exploring the Barriers.” British Journal of Nursing, 21 (6), 357-9. Leeman, J. & Sandelowski, M. (2012). “Practice-Based Evidence and Qualitative Inquiry.” Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 44 (2), 171-9. Read More