According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nursing interventions should be practical, methodical decisions based on EBP research studies (Chrisman, et al., 2014). EBP helps nurses determine an effective course of action for care delivery. It combines best practices from the latest medical literature with clinical experience and the values and preferences of the patients under treatment. This problem-solving approach to clinical practice encourages nurses to provide individualized patient care.
The steps involved in EBP research include:
- 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.
(American Nurses Association, 2023).
To find the best practices from the latest medical literature you will need to search the nursing and medical literature databases for the best available evidence on your topic. Databases such as CINAHL, PubMed, Medline with Full Text, and Cochrane Library are good places to start. For more information, see Finding EBP Articles in the Databases.
Image source: UC Davis Library
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