As you complete the gathering and evaluation of the evidence, it’s important to review the significance and next steps related to EBP.(Nursing practice Discussion Essay)
Consider the following questions in your discussion post:
- How does a nurse know what (if any) knowledge in a research study is usable for clinical practice?
- What would a critical thinker look for in the evidence before deciding to change?
- What influence do credibility and clinical significance have on your decisions to integrate research-based evidence into your practice?
Responses need to address all components of the question, demonstrate critical thinking and analysis, and include peer reviewed journal evidence to support the student’s position.
Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.
Nursing practice Discussion Essay-Solution Sample
How does a nurse know what (if any) knowledge in a research study is usable for clinical practice?
Nursing practice demands nurses to research to obtain evidence-based information to improve quality care and health outcomes while dealing with emerging and complex healthcare problems. Specifically, nurses can make sound clinical judgments and adopt the best available practices through evidence-based practice. First, nurses can use a systematic review to determine whether research is usable in clinical practice.(Nursing practice Discussion Essay) The systematic review process involves identifying, selecting, and critically appraising the relevance of research in clinical practice. Second, nurses can use external validity to evaluate the study’s knowledge. Research should have external validity to establish the connection between its knowledge and application in relevant clinical practice (Siedlecki, 2020). Therefore, nurses can generalize the study’s findings to address problems in their clinical settings.(Nursing practice Discussion Essay)
What would a critical thinker look for in the evidence before changing?
Critical thinking skills are instrumental for nurses during research and clinical practice. First, a critical thinker will evaluate whether the provided evidence applies to solving the problems identified in clinical practice. The nurse will also determine if it is possible to implement the study’s proposed intervention in their clinical setting(Nursing practice Discussion Essay). Moreover, critical thinkers will also evaluate the study’s population, variables, goals, and clinical environment concerning their clinical settings. Thus, they can decide whether to change or proceed with the identified evidence if it suits their clinical settings.(Nursing practice Discussion Essay)
How do credibility and clinical significance influence your decisions to integrate research-based evidence into your practice?
Credibility and clinical significance influence the decisions to integrate research-based evidence in clinical practice. Credibility measures the value of research based on whether the findings are accurate and correct. Research articles with relevant citations, up-to-date information, and unbiased topic analysis are credible for integration into clinical practice. Peer-reviewed articles and those from the expert author are also credible for clinical practice. Subsequently, clinical significance determines whether research-based information will accomplish the goals set in a clinical setting (Sharma, 2021). Clinically significant research-based information or findings should improve the quality of care and patient satisfaction. Thus, nurses should select clinically significant information to improve health outcomes in clinical settings.(Nursing practice Discussion Essay)
Integrating research-based evidence into nursing practice is essential to ensure that patient care is based on the best available evidence. Credibility and clinical significance are two critical factors that influence the decisions to incorporate research-based evidence into nursing practice:(Nursing practice Discussion Essay)
- Credibility of the Evidence: Credibility refers to the trustworthiness and reliability of the research evidence. When evaluating the credibility of evidence, nurses consider the following factors:
a. Study Design: Rigorous study designs, such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews, are generally considered more credible than observational studies or anecdotal reports.
b. Source: The reputation and credibility of the journal or organization publishing the research play a role. Peer-reviewed journals and reputable healthcare institutions are more reliable sources.(Nursing practice Discussion Essay)
c. Sample Size: Studies with larger sample sizes are generally more robust and provide more reliable results.
d. Methodology: Nurses assess whether the study methodology is appropriate and whether potential biases have been addressed.
e. Results Consistency: When multiple studies show consistent results, the evidence is considered more credible.
Highly credible evidence is more likely to be incorporated into nursing practice as it provides a strong foundation for clinical decision-making.
- Clinical Significance of the Evidence: Clinical significance refers to the practical relevance and impact of research findings on patient outcomes and nursing practice. Even if evidence is credible, its clinical significance needs to be evaluated to determine whether it is applicable to the specific patient population and setting.
a. Patient Outcomes: Nurses assess whether the research findings have a meaningful impact on patient outcomes, such as improved health, reduced complications, or enhanced quality of life.
b. Relevance to Practice: The evidence must be relevant to the nursing practice setting and align with the specific needs and characteristics of the patient population.(Nursing practice Discussion Essay)
c. Cost-effectiveness: Nurses also consider whether the interventions or practices supported by the evidence are cost-effective and feasible within the healthcare organization’s resources.
d. Safety: Safety is of utmost importance in nursing practice. Nurses evaluate whether the evidence-based interventions are safe for the patients.(Nursing practice Discussion Essay)
Integrating research-based evidence with high clinical significance ensures that nursing interventions and practices are effective, efficient, and safe, leading to improved patient outcomes.
In summary, nursing decisions to integrate research-based evidence are heavily influenced by the credibility and clinical significance of the evidence. Highly credible evidence with significant clinical relevance is more likely to be adopted in nursing practice, promoting evidence-based care and better patient outcomes(Nursing practice Discussion Essay)
References
Sharma, H. (2021). Statistical significance or clinical significance? A researcher’s dilemma for appropriate interpretation of research results. Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia, 15(4), 431. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8477766/
Siedlecki, S. L. (2020). Understanding descriptive research designs and methods. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 34(1), 8-12.