Evidence-based Health Care Research Paper
Introduction
Evidence-based health care leads to better clinical decisions and patient outcomes. Currently, evidence-based practice plays an important role in nursing. The use of accurate research findings, reliable knowledge taken from basic science, valuable clinical knowledge and expert opinions guarantee well-developed approaches to decision making in clinical practice. Many nursing practices which are based on research findings lead to the desired patient outcomes in different health care settings. The use of evidence-based practice is assessed as the best way to address healthcare facility pressures associated with cost containment, availability of health-related information, and consumer concerns about the selection of treatment options and care alternatives. Evidence-based health care requires strengthening working relationships between clinicians and researchers. In addition, evidence-based practice provides massive opportunities for nursing care service delivery, making it more individualized, more dynamic, more efficient and more goal-oriented to enhance the effects of clinical judgement. Evidence-based Health Care Research Paper
The effects of research on existing knowledge within professional nursing
A research study affects existing knowledge within professional nursing, providing new ideas to resolving problems and addressing emergent challenges in a more comprehensive way. According to recent studies, “evidence-based practice improves healthcare quality, reliability, and patient outcomes as well as reduces variations in care and costs” (Melnyk et al., 2014, p. 5). Research studies help to better understand the issues under investigation in order to contribute to existing knowledge. It is not enough to have some knowledge and understanding of the issue because there is a need for finding the proper solutions to the problems that occur in professional nursing. The major goals of research studies are to explore the experiences and to assess the benefits of the proposed solutions. Actually, identification of re searchable questions, selection of relevant and appropriate topics, fusibility of the research study within the allocated time span and resources guarantee positive outcomes in health care delivery. Evidence-based Health Care Research Paper
The effects of evidence-based patient care on the quality of care
Evidence-based patient care can improve the quality of care in different ways. Research findings allow finding failures in care, provide valuable information on new treatment options, help to generate new ideas and learn from experiences. In recent study, researchers found that evidence-based practice helps to identify failures in care provided to patients. According to John James (2013), “the epidemic of patient harm in hospitals must be taken more seriously if it is to be curtailed” (p. 122). Evidence-based practice assists in combating a wide range of problems that cause harm to patient health outcomes. It is necessary to succeed in “fully engaging patients and their advocates during hospital care, systematically seeking the patients’ voice in identifying harms, transparent accountability for harm, and intentional correction of root causes of harm” (James, 2013, p. 122). Hence, nurses can use academic literature to identify specific evidence in medical records that points to adverse events and activities that may harm patients. In addition, evidence taken from research studies suggests that performance data stimulates quality of care through improved activities at the hospital level (James, 2013).
Description of the clinical strategies that help to foster evidence-based nursing practice
There are many effective clinical strategies that help to foster evidence-based nursing practice. It is known that evidence-based practice is “still not a standard for care delivered by practising clinicians across the globe” (Melnyk et al., 2014, p.5). Nurses and advanced practice nurses should adopt the proper competencies to use evidence-based practice in various healthcare settings. They should assist healthcare institutions in providing high-value, low-cost evidence-based health care. In order to achieve these goals, nurses should have access to training. Researchers suggests that “providing research training opportunities to point-of-care clinicians is a promising strategy for healthcare organizations seeking to promote evidence-based practice, empower clinicians, and showcase excellence in clinical research” (Black, 2015, p.14). Evidence-based Health Care Research Paper
Moreover, there is a need for using the strategy that helps to eliminate barriers to the use of evidence-based patient care. Researcher place emphasis on both individual and organizational barriers to the utilization of research findings in practice. Individual barriers include
- lack of knowledge about the research process
- lack of understanding of how to critique research studies
- lack of awareness of research significance
- lack of support of practice changes implementation by colleagues
- lack of authority to change practice
There are several organizational barriers to the use of evidence-based practice, including
- insufficient time to implement new approaches and share ideas with colleagues
- lack of access to research studies
- lack of awareness of available educational tools related to research (Black, 2015, p. 15). Evidence-based Health Care Research Paper
Hence, nurses should be supported by their employing organizations to use evidence-based practice. Other strategies to foster evidence-based patient care are collaboration with advanced practice nurses, research mentors and educators who are knowledgeable about the benefits of research. It is recommended to use the services of research role models and to maintain close relationships with academics, as well as to participate in research interest groups (Black, 2015).
Conclusion
Thus, it is necessary to conclude that evidence-based health care is crucial to nursing professionals. Research studies confirms that patient outcomes are improved significantly when nurses provide services in an evidence-based manner. Evidence-based practice helps to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes, reduce healthcare costs and minimize variation in patient outcomes. The significance of evidence-based practice is proved by nursing professionals across the world. There is a need for eliminating the existing barriers to widespread use of evidence-based patient care, including the fluency and knowledge level of nurses, as well as organizational failures to implement evidence-based practice in health care settings.Evidence-based Health Care Research Paper