Theory, Knowledge, Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Discussion: The Interrelationship Between Theory, Knowledge, and Research and Evidence-Based Practice Fawcett and Garity (2009) present an overview of the relationship between theory, knowledge, research, nursing research, and evidence-based practice. As you prepare for this Discussion, reflect on your own specialty area and consider how the authors’ definitions of evidence-based practiceand of research align with your understanding of these concepts based on your professional experiences and your experiences as a doctoral student embarking on your EBP Assignment. To prepare: Reflect on Fawcett and Garity’s definitions of knowledge, theory, research and evidence-based practice presented in the Learning Resources. How do these definitions align with your understanding of the concepts? How does this interrelationship support or guide your EBP Assignment? By Day 3 Post a cohesive scholarly response that addresses the following: How do Fawcett and Garity’s definitions align with your understanding of knowledge, theory, research and evidence-based practice? Support your response with evidence from the literature. Discuss the interrelationship between theory, knowledge, research and evidence-based practice. How does this interrelationship support or guide your EBP Assignment?Theory, Knowledge, Research and Evidence-Based Practice

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Research is the major source of evidence for nursing practice. EBP necessitates comprehension of the way research results along with other evidence sources to inform and guide nursing practice. The paper discusses how knowledge, theory, research, and evidence-based practice are interrelated and how this interrelationship guides my EBP assignment.

How Fawcett and Garity’s definitions align with my understanding of knowledge, theory, research, and EBP

According to Fawcett and Garity (2009), research as a rigorous, systematic, and formal inquiry process utilized to test or generate theories.  Nursing research refers to a systematic, rigorous, and formal process of inquiry that tests generate theories related to the experience of humans in their environment and about the processes and actions that nurses utilize in practice. Theory is always the product of research.  According to Cowen and Moorhead (2014), Garity and Fawcett integrates research as the development of theory, theory as evidence, and practice as research by describing research or evidence-based practice as the critical and deliberate utilization of theories concerning the health-related experience of human beings to offer direction to the actions connected with all steps of the process of nursing. Theory, Knowledge, Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Fawcett and Garity’s (2009) definitions align well with my understanding of knowledge, theory, research, and EBP.   A theory is an organizing structure of people’s influences, observations, and reflections while research is systematically inquiring into a subject that utilizes qualitative and quantitative approaches to solve problems and answer questions.   Nursing knowledge is not static but is evolving and dynamic.  According to Boswell and Cannon (2017), nursing research is aimed at building a body of knowledge, thus promoting EBP and improving patient outcomes.  The building of knowledge is achieved by the utilization of findings of research when delivering care that is based upon scientific data instead of gut feelings.

The interrelationship between theory, knowledge, research, and evidence-based practice

There is a strong relationship between theory and research, and these entities are essential to guide evidence-based nursing practice and contribute to nursing knowledge.  According to Saleh (2018), theory and practice research is the foundation of nursing practice.   Research offers direction to the practice of nursing and creates knowledge via the development of theory.  The theory offers direction to research and promotes the practice of nursing. In nursing, science is the product of the association between research, which is the inquiry process along with the outcomes of knowledge/ theory.

Apart from offering direction to nursing practice, research is also aimed at building knowledge by generating a theory or/and testing a theory. There is reciprocity in the connection between theory and knowledge. Research produces theory and additional knowledge while theory is central to the research process where it is utilized as a framework to offer guidance and perspective to nursing research (Saleh, 2018).

How the interrelationship support or guide my EBP assignment

The interrelationship between theory, research, knowledge, and EBP guide my EBP assignment by using knowledge generated by research findings to make nursing clinical decisions. Ideally, I base patient care decisions on research evidence. Findings from research are utilized in developing a protocol which is followed in everyday nursing practice. EBP management requires the utilization of distinctive clinical applications based upon accessible, latest research (Boswell & Cannon, 2017). According to Veloza-Gomez (2016), EBP in nursing is endorsed by theory and research. Thus, its orientation is founded on because of consideration that is judicious, explicit, and conscientious in its making of decisions, pursuant to the valid evidence that is found in up to date knowledge. Theory, Knowledge, Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Conclusion

Nursing research is important in generating or testing a theory, building nursing knowledge, and promoting EBP. When considering the interrelationship between research and theory, it can be concluded that theory guides research, which subsequently guides practice. As such, numerous research projects involve a nursing theoretical framework/theory and concepts to offer direction to the research and offer inferences for the practice of nursing.

References

Boswell, C., & Cannon, S.  (2017). Introduction to Nursing Research. Jones & Bartlett.

Cowen, P. S., & Moorhead, S.  (2014). Current Issues in Nursing –E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences

Fawcett, J., & Garity, J. (2009). Evaluating Research for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice. F.A. Davis.

Saleh, U. S. (2018). Theory guided practice in nursing.  Journal of Nursing Research and Practice, 2(1), 18.

Veloza-Gomez, M. (2016). The Research-Theory-Practice Relationship a Reference for the Discipline of Nursing.  Annals of Nursing Research and Practice, 1(1), 1004.Theory, Knowledge, Research and Evidence-Based Practice