Healthcare Knowledge Workers

Nursing education is constantly evolving as new techniques are introduced within the medical profession. Thus, it is imperative nurses are kept updated, and continuously learning new methods to enhance and improve patient care. Over the last 150 years there has been a drastic change in nursing`s participation in research. Nursing research advanced initially from the investigations made by Nightingale in the nineteenth century of nursing education during the 1930`s. This further progressed to the research of nursing roles in 1950s following on to the 1990s where nurses began to focus on clinical problems and finding solutions to these problems which had a major impact within the nursing profession. As of today many health professionals are focusing on clinical research which in turn has helped to establish an evidence informed practice for nurses. (Burns and Grove 2003)

Qualifications for best available research, consist of medical (health science) research, which reigns supreme because it most likely will yield accurate, unbiased and information, with multiple practice questions for specific patients and or patient groups. The research is large and effective in relation to prevalence, treatment, assessment, disorders and patient populations. The evidence should yield systematic

The development of knowledge requires a number of processes in order to establish credible data to ensure the validity and appropriateness of how it can be used in the future. For the healthcare industry, this has provided the ability to create and form new types of interventions in order to give adequate care across a of number of fields within the system. Research then, has been an essential part in providing definitive data, either by disproving previous beliefs or confirming newly found data and methods. Moreover, research in itself contains its own process with a methodological approach. Of the notable methods, quantitative research is often used for its systemic approach (Polit & Beck, 2006). Thus, the use of the scientific method is

validated through research (Monti & Tingen, 1999). This author believes that the basis of a good practice is through the use of evidence based findings. If the procedure or care plan is supported by research, and the findings are reproducible, then this author is more likely to implement it into his practice.

Evidence-based practice is an approach used by health care professionals to continually use current best evidence-based research to make ethical and reliable decisions regarding patient care. “Research to promote evidence-based practice is becoming more and more a part of the regular work of health care leaders” (Grand Canyon University, 2015, p. 1). However, it is important to determine the difference between solid research and flawed research that provides unreliable inferences. Evidence-based research includes focusing on a clinical question; and includes the review and incorporation of several studies to strengthen the results of the new study (Grand Canyon University, 2015). Roddy et al. and Ganz et al. articles will be assessed to determine if the recommended changes were backed by solid research that warrants changes in a hospital.

In this 21st century, health care is advancing remarkably and achieving various results through research. Research is vital to bring about new inventions, techniques and improvements and create a new body of knowledge. In nursing, research helps to bring about improvements in current practice, knowledge, patient outcomes as well as to create new polices and upgrade the existing ones. For example, a “re-challenge protocol” was created by the researchers to reduce the drug reactions caused by two chemotherapeutic agents. Likewise, numerous research is conducted to improve scientific knowledge in various fields of science. One such knowledge in the field of science is the nursing knowledge.

Nurses are responsible in providing holistic, quality care to their clients. In order to effectively provide such care Boswell and Cannon (2009, p. 2 & 7) states that nurses must base their provision of care on the most current, up-to-date health information available and sound nursing knowledge. This is where evidence-based practice (EBP) comes in. Polit and Beck (2010, p. 4) defined EBP as "the use of the best clinical evidence in making patient care desicions". This usually comes from research conducted by nurses and other healthcare professionals. Thus it is pertinent that research reports are critically analyzed.

Evidence based practice, “involves integrating the best available research evidence with professional expertise while also taking account of patient preferences the patients state setting and circumstance and health care resources” (Gerrish, K. Lathlean, J, 2015). As the health care profession constantly changes, then it is vital that all evidence based practice is kept up to date with current information and research, relating to nursing practice. Always assuring that the patients need are taken into consideration (Sackett et al, 1996).

Evidence Based Practice is crucial to support care provided to patient. It is imperative to get evidence base on proven clinical practice that provides valuable insights about human health and illness as per Polit and Beck (2017). The researcher must pick a topic to be research on and A PICOT question formulated. These questions help as a guidance on the research. The researcher then check to see what can be retrieve that are of importances to topic. In most case narrowing of the questions may help. The levels of evidence are important because it help with identifying hierarchy of evidence. The higher the Hierarchy of evidence the better evidence base information.

Evidence based practice is the incorporation of individual clinical expertise with best research evidence and patient values and expectations. Health care decision of individual patients should be based on best available research evidence. A health decision made from a sound research evidence has the potential to ensure best practice and reduce variations in health care delivery. In health science, an ever increasing plethora of studies being published and is challenging for clinicians to keep up with the literature. Integrating research into practice is time consuming and need methods for easy access to such evidences for busy clinicians. Indeed, clinical decision should be based on the latest research evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses summarize the research evidence, which is generally the best form of evidence, thereby making the available evidence more accessible to decision makers and are positioned

In healthcare, evidence based practice (EBP) has grown and become important in providing the best quality care possible to patients. There are numerous ways to collect and use the research in the nursing profession. Studies are constantly being done to help better nursing and all of the healthcare field in order to help patients live better and maintain their health. There are different types of research such as qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative uses the human experience or something that has been lived by someone and quantitative examines for meaning and goes more in depth to research things and strives to test a hypothesis or makes use of statistical data to answer research questions (LoBiondo-Wood

Showing knowledge of up-to-date health practices is simply not enough. A nurse must have an adequate ability to research and discover current trends and best practices in his or her specific clinical setting (QSEN Institute, 2014). So, while creating this clinical practice project, a proficient knowledge of how to research for evidence-based

The findings from good, current, reliable, valid or trustworthy research are the basis for maintaining high standards of care and all nurses must practice based on the most up to date evidence (NMC 2008). It is now an important part of nursing to actively participate in research and evidence based practice in order to continually improve the standard of the health care system. This process ensures that nurses are kept up to date with relevant information needed to provide the most effective care for patients.

As healthcare moves from the Industrial Age to the Information Age, a new role for nurses as knowledge workers comes in its wake (McGonigle & Mastrians, 2015). In his definition of a knowledge worker, O’Grady cited “that the knowledge worker is someone who synthesizes a broad array of information and knowledge from a wide variety of sources and brings that synthesis to bear on nursing work” (O’Grady & Malloch, 2003, para. 2). Thus, a knowledge worker is one who translates and integrates information that would eventually be applied in the context of patient care (O’Grady & Malloch, 2003). Nurses, as knowledge workers, therefore, have moved “from the process and function orientation to that of outcome and evidence-based direction” (O’Grady & Malloch, 2015, para. 1).

Research is the driving force behind many of the decision we make in our everyday life, from choosing the car with the best safety rating to selecting the most cost effective prescription to treat a health condition, we rely on the data research provides us. The generalist practice is no different, relying on research to inform and guide our professional practice. Research provides information about the effectiveness of specific interventions to address a social issue or guide the