Introduction To Nursing Research And Evidence Based Practice

Evidence-Base practice (EBP) is defined as: “based on problem identified from the practitioner’s area of practice; a combining of best evidence and professional expertise and an integration of this into current practice; about ensuring patients receive quality care, being part of quality improvement processes; about collaboration and requiring a team approach” (French, 1999). Scott and Mcsherry (2008) supported the French’s assertion, proposing the key elements of EBP are that it is a theory-driven process, which involves the use, evaluation and application of research; identification of best evidence; evaluation of care; problem solving; decision-making; clinical expertise; and requires patient involvement. Evidence-based practice is made of evidence, clinical expertise, patient preference, the context of care (Barker, 2013). In brief, evidence-based practice is the parameter in the nursing practice that it requires that the nurses gather and use clinical evidence to make decision for the patients so that in the nursing process they can deliver the quality of care for the patients (Ellis, 2013). In the other words, in the nursing practice all the nursing procedures performed by the clinical evidence supported.

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.

CASE STUDY PROGRESS: The client has now received 3 cycles of combination chemotherapy for her breast cancer. Her last treatment with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and 5-fluorouracil was approximately 12 days ago. She came to the emergency room with a 2-day history of fever, chills, and shortness of breath. On arrival, she is disoriented and agitated. Vital signs are 86/43, 119, 28, 39.8° C, SaO2 85% on room air. Laboratory data include WBC 1.2 thou/cmm, Hct 24.9%, Hgb 8.7 g/dl, platelets 125 thou/cmm. Differential WBC count shows 37% granulocytes, 60% lymphocytes, 3% monocytes. Chem 14 is within normal limits, with the exception of BUN 28 mg/dl, creatinine 1.6 mg/dl, and lactic acid 2.4 mg/dl. Chest x-ray demonstrates diffuse infiltrates in the left lower lung.

In order to develop nursing knowledge and establish evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing, there needs to be a "concept model, one or more theories and one or more empirical indicators" (Fawcett & DeSanto-Madeya, 2013, p. 26). The theoretical framework can be advantageous in guiding and supporting the design and execution of an EBP change. Using a conceptual model (C) theory (T) and empirical research (E) provides the foundation for an intervention to an identified clinical problem. Known as C-T-E structure, the application of this system in nursing practice involves an elevated level of critical reasoning, which assists in knowing what data is important and how it relates to practice change (Chinn & Kramer, 2011; Fawcett & DeSanto-Madeya, 2013; Mazurek Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2015). The doctoral level of nursing necessitates the need to combine the understanding and knowledge gained from using the C-T-E structure, and then integrate the concepts and theories into daily practice.

Conrad, A., Grotejohann, B., Schmoor, C., Cosic, D., & Dettenkofer, M. (2015). Safety and tolerability of virucidal hand rubs: a randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial with healthy volunteers. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 4(1), 1. doi:10.1186/s13756-015-0079-y

Scenario: John is a 4 year-old boy who was admitted for chemotherapy following diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).  He had a white blood cell count of 250,000.  Clinical presentation included loss of appetite, easily bruised, gum bleeding, and fatigue.  Physical examination revealed marked splenomegaly, pale skin color, temperature of 102°F, and upper abdomen tenderness along with nonspecific arthralgia.

Pain is one of the most common and feared complications of cancer. It is exacerbated by stress, anxiety, fatigue, and malaise which accompany advanced cancer. Pain is generally absent in the early stages of cancer, but it is a significant factor as the illness progresses to advanced stages. Cancer-associated pain can arise from a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms including direct pressure, obstruction, and invasion of a sensitive structure, stretching of visceral surfaces, tissue destruction, infection, and inflammation (McCance 2010). Pain is generally accepted as whatever the patient says it is, wherever the patient says it is. Treatment of pain and its associated symptoms is a primary responsibility of the healthcare team. Treatment modalities for pain include the use of opioid analgesics, patient-controlled analgesia, psychological interventions, and preventing recurrence of pain. Reinforcing the reporting of pain by the patient is important, as is a respect for the social and cultural differences with respect to pain perception.

Findings of evidenced based practice have to be disseminated to ensure that innovations for practice are replicated or applied in other settings by stakeholders in the health fraternity and healthcare professionals (Forsyth, Wright, Scherb & Gaspar, 2010). One of the objectives of dissemination should be to improve the practice. Dissemination of evidenced based practice findings in nursing is very critical in knowledge synthesis, translation, and translation. It is imperative in strengthening healthcare, informing policy, and improving practice decisions based on clinical evidence (Rycroft-Malone & Bucknall, 2010). This is realized by transforming clinical changes into practice. It actually involves two stage processes namely: translation of evidence into practice and integration of research recommendations into actual practice. Effective dissemination of evidence based practice findings enable staff to share information about developments in healthcare practice and implement innovation (Freemantle & Watt, 1994).

Sterile technique is required for insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter in the hospital setting, but clean technique can be used for intermittent catheterization in non-acute settings. By itself, sterile technique on insertion doesn't prevent UTI’s. Prevention of UTI’s depends on knowledge of causes, proper care techniques, and early catheter removal. Nurses are taught early on in school that sterile technique helps to reduce infections. It was drilled in our heads the entire time and now to have the evidence tell us that early catheter removal, along with proper technique good hand hygiene is the key to reduce UTI’s.

The background information and review of literature showed a definite opportunity to improve healthcare practices which would also improve patient safety. The methodology was clear and unbiased. It should have provided credible information. The data analysis done gave accurate results according to the information

According to Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper & Bucher (2014), “Evidence-based practice is a problem-solving approach to clinical decision making. It involves the use of the best available evidence in combination with clinical expertise and patient preferences and values to achieve desired patient outcomes.” Using evidence based practice in nursing is extremely important, because evidence-based practice is the result of others trying a practice one way but needing to change some of the guidelines to make the practice safer and over all better for patients.

Evidence based practice is an important priority in nursing because it ensures that the best quality and most effective care is being used. Restraint use is an intervention that is being minimized more and more. It can be an important intervention when necessary but there are specific circumstances and guidelines that must be followed. Evidence based practice is proving that restraint use may be eliminated due to safety concerns and more beneficial interventions being used.

According to The American Nurses Association (ANA) Evidenced-based practice is a "scholarly and systematic problem-solving paradigm that results in the delivery of high quality healthcare" (American Nurses Association, 2010, p. 65). Through the use of evidence-based practice nurse and other health care professional have the ability to create clinical decisions, which allows clinical questions to be answered and aid in quality improvement. Furthermore creating a safe, efficient, productive environment for patients and staff that may result in improving patient outcomes and reduce expenses. Nursing research helps health care providers provide evidence-based practice, which may result in quality improvement (Rebar & Gersch, 2015).

Evidence-based practice is an extremely important subject because it proposes to combine methodologically, the experience of the health professional with the most current information of the clinical situation that it faced. With this work we want to comment about its beginnings and the history of the evidence-based practice. Also we would appreciate its positive aspects since the advantage is obvious: the young professional can make better decisions in spite of lacking sufficient years in clinical practice, while veteran can take decisions up to date despite of graduating several years ago.

The neutrophils and macrophages are phagocytic leukocytes that are present in large numbers and are evident within hours at the site of inflammation. The neutrophil is the primary phagocyte that arrives early at the site of inflammation, usually within 90 minutes of injury, and is often referred to as PMN’s (polymorphonuclear neutrophils or segmented neutrophils (segs). The neutrophil count in the blood often increases greatly during an inflammatory process, especially with bacterial infections (Porth, p. 379). Neutrophils have a lifespan of only about 10 hours, and as a result, the circulating WBC count is increased, causing leukocytosis. With excessive demand for phagocytes, immature forms of neutrophils are released from the bone marrow. These immature cells are called bands. Within 24 hours, mononuclear cells arrive at the inflammatory site, and by 48 hours, monocytes and macrophages are the predominant cell