A Research Study On Nursing Practice

Evidence based practice is an integral part of nursing care. According to the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, evidence based practice is defined as, “the conscientious use of current best evidence in making decisions about patient care.” (AMSN) The use of evidence based practice has drastically improved patient outcomes, increased quality and safety of healthcare, and reduced costs for facilities. (Melnyk, 2016) In this paper I will provide the history of evidence based practice, how it has already been incorporated and impacted healthcare, and why it is important to nursing and healthcare as a whole.

Itroduction: Evidence-based practice is an approach to medicine that uses scientific evidence to determine the best practice (Beyea & Slattery, 2006). As nurses perform their daily tasks they must continually ask themselves, “What is the evidence for this intervention?”. Nurses are well positioned to question current nursing practices and use evidence to make care more effective. In order to improve patients’ outcomes it is the responsibility of the nurse to transition evidence-based practice into the norm, through application of daily practice (Flynn Makic, Rauen, Watson & Will Poteet, 2014). Continual evaluation of current practice must be performed to ensure the use of evidence-based practice opposed to practice based upon tradition. The implementation of evidence-based practice standardizes healthcare practices and diminishes groundless variations within care. These variations lead to the production of uncertain health outcomes (Stevens, 2013).

Very few experts disagree with the fact that breastfeeding is the optimal choice for the infant. However, decreasing breastfeeding rates raise many questions as to why mothers are not choosing the best nutritional choice for their children. Despite breast milk being the obvious choice for infant feeding due to the health, psychological, and economic benefits, many mothers still decide to feed their infants formula due to lack of knowledge and support, difficulties with breastfeeding, and social embarrassment. Changes need to be made with formula companies, medical professionals, and the public opinion of breastfeeding in order to give nursing mothers the support they deserve.

A plethora of questions and concerns arise upon confirmation of pregnancy; however, the decision on whether to breastfeed or formula feed an infant seems to be one of the more crucial decisions. Moms new to nursing a baby need all the information that they can get in order to help choose which method of feeding is more suitable, because every mother wants what is best for their child. Unlike formula feeding, the benefits of breastfeeding are substantial for both mother and baby. Moreover, choosing to breastfeed will lead to brighter, happier, and healthier lives.

Whether to breastfeed or to formula feed is one of the many decisions parents have to make when caring for a newborn baby. The decision may seem simple in which parents base there decision on comfort, convenience and finance but little do most parents know the decision being made can have damaging long term effects than that of the present. There is plenty of research that state the significance of breastfeeding that go far beyond the extent of bonding between mother and newborn. Although, that too is important. Breast milk is known to contain antibodies which can help the newborn in developing a strong immune system which influence all the body systems. Research has shown that breast-milk can help prevent long term diseases such as

The importance of providing breast milk to infants is something that is talked about often, but there are so many barriers that exist for mothers who have a baby in the NICU. These babies are very sick and need the extra benefits that breastmilk provides. Since I watched my sister struggle with the decision to give up I wanted to do my research on the steps that can be made to insure mothers of premature babies continue to breastfeed. To start my search, I asked myself what role does the NICU nurse play in the promotion of breastfeeding, what are some of the reasons why breastfeeding is not supported in the NICU, and what steps can be taking by the nurse to eliminate some of the barriers that prevent the mother from providing breastmilk.

Gathering information about the types of infant feedings and what feeding they benefit from more has been interesting to me. I have always known about the different view points on breast feeding verses bottle feeding, but I never understood the difference between the decision. Furthermore, I grew up hearing many women declare that natural breast milk was a much better choice than using formula. Honestly, I have known infants who were bottle fed and formula fed, and all turned out just as equally healthy. To be the surest about breast milk verses formula feeding, I took it in my hands to further research these the two nutritional options.

It is not uncommon for parents, especially mothers, to feel disconnected from their parental role while their infant is in the NICU because they are not very involved with their infant’s care (Boucher et al., 2011). The parents’ lack of interaction can be very detrimental to their emotional status. Mothers often associate breastfeeding with the idea of “good mothering,” and a way of nurturing the infant. Lack of breastfeeding can occur for numerous reasons, one being lack of knowledge. Mom’s may lack knowledge about breastfeeding and the nutritional benefits due to missing classes because of pregnancy complication and pre-term delivery. During a NICU study it was found that when incorporating a lactation consultant as a member of the NICU healthcare team, infants are more likely to benefit from breastfeeding, and mothers are more likely to maintain a milk supply (Dweck et al., 2008). This information may be very crucial for future NICU policies. These are just a few of the many barriers in the

When a woman delivers a baby, she has many questions to think about, like what shots to give them, where the baby should sleep, and what type of diapers they should use. One of the hardest decisions a new mother has to make is whether or not to breastfeed their baby. For years, mothers have been debating what would be more beneficial for the baby, breastfeeding or formula. “Several health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), and more support the position that breast milk is the best and most complete form of nutrition for infants” (Tish 2013). It seems now with our endlessly growing schedules, many mothers find it hard to take the time to sit down and breastfeed or pump every time the baby is hungry, making formula feeding more popular because of the little time it takes to prepare a bottle. Many mothers and doctors believe breastfeeding is more beneficial to the baby and mother in the long run of life. Compared to formula feeding, breastfeeding overall has more financial benefits, health benefits and emotional benefits for the baby and the mother.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for an infant’s first six months of life and then continued breastfeeding until age two (WHO,2015). The benefits of breastfeeding are well established in literature as being favorable for both the infant and mother. Breastfeeding has a range of advantages including nutritional, immunological and psychological benefits for the baby. Breast milk is a complex, living nutritional fluid containing antibodies, enzymes, long-chain fatty acids and hormones, many of which cannot be replicated in formula (Battersby, 2016). The drawbacks of breastfeeding are practically nonexistence, yet the breastfeeding rates continue to be well below the goals as established by Healthy People. The

Living in the year 2017, expecting parents have many resources to help them realize what necessities will be best for their baby. Once a couple discovers they are having a baby, there are many decisions that need attention.There is the matter of disposable diapers versus cloth diapers, a crib versus a bassinet, or arguably the most important decision, breastfeeding versus formula. This issue is one of the most import decisions for a parent to make.Breast milk is much healthier for a baby, according to many studies and research. There are many benefits of breastfeeding, including making babies healthier and less susceptible to illnesses, as well as being able to bond with their mother. WHO, the World Health

Breast milk is the best nutrition for infants, especially preterm infants by providing exact nutrient for growth and to fight disease (Meier, Engstrom, Patel, Jegier & Bruns, 2010). According to Hake-Brooks & Anderson (2008), “Preterm infants who are fed breast-milk have a lower incidence and severity of infection during hospitalization, including necrotizing enterocolitis, diarrhea, and sepsis. They have less retinopathy of prematurity, superior cognitive and motor development and decreased length of hospital stay (p. 151).” Unfortunately, breast-feeding preterm infants poses difficulty among mothers including physical and emotional barriers (Hake-Brooks & Anderson, 2008). Nurses have the opportunity to develop a trusting relationship with this population to encourage and facilitate breast-feeding preterm infants by providing continual support and implementing specific interventions (Hake-Brooks & Anderson, 2008). Nursing intervention and support can empower mothers to be persistent in overcoming the barriers of breast-feeding to provide preterm infants with optimal nutrition (Ahmed, 2008; Hake-Brooks & Anderson, 2008; Maastrup, Bojensen, Kronborg & Hallstrom, 2012; Wheeler, 2009; Yildiz & Arikan, 2011)

Pediatricians are doctors that specialize in the care of children from birth to early adulthood, generally 21. They diagnose illnesses, prescribe medicine, treat patients and help prevent other illnesses. They manage both the physical and mental side of their patients. Pediatricians diagnose and treat infections, injuries, genetic defects and other physical things that affect children. They are also involved in the detection, prevention and management of emotional health and learning problems including behavioral difficulties, development disorders and depression. Working as a pediatrician can be very tough but also very rewarding. They have to work long hours, be on call for any emergencies regarding their patients and are constantly on their feet but have the satisfaction of helping their patients live a healthier and happier life.

I have chosen this article because as a nurse we will come across this kind of service users in the hospital environment and understanding their experiences will helps to improve the quality of care given to the patients. In nursing practice, research is one of the main tools available to question practice and seek answers and also to generate knowledge for nursing staff to contribute towards the development of nursing as a profession (Parahoo, 2006).Therefore, to ensure nursing practice is effective both for patients’ and nurses’ perspectives, it has to be questioned and improved where necessary (Boswell and Cannon, 2014). It is vital for nurses to have the ability to critique research in order to identify what is best practice for caring the patients and to deliver best practice to the care and underpin evidence based practice (Boswell and Cannon, 2014).It has been stated by (Peat 2001 citied in; John and ward 2007) critique is to identify the issue of the study. The critique framework by (Caldwell K et al 2005) will be used here to guide my research.

Breast milk is the ideal source to provide optimum nutrition for babies and it is able to transform its composition to meet a babies growing and changing nutritional needs.1 In the first few days of babies life, nutrient dense colostrum is produced to meet and infants nutrition needs and fit proportionally to their stomachs that are the size of a marble.1 Mature milk then comes in and offers nutrient dense and exceptionally bioavailable nutrients to baby that is easily digested.1 The nutrients in breast milk are ideally suited to meet a babies nutritional needs, for example a babies kidneys are relatively immature and the fairly low protein content of breast milk does not allow for an overload of nitrogen a babies kidneys.1 Breastfed babies do not need any additional fluids and the relatively low sodium levels allow for an infants hydration needs to be met while keeping the renal solute load low.1 Breast milk contains highly absorbable and balanced nutrients, the 2:1 ration of calcium to phosphate in breast milk allows for provide the optimum calcium absorbtion.1 Breast milk has optimum nutrient composition and is the ideal source of nutrition for babies for the first 6 months exclusively and with complementary food to or past 1 years of age.1