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Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

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Evidence-based practice (EBP) centers around using the current, best evidence available to make patient care decisions. EBP solves issues and problems by searching for the most relevant evidence available and critically appraising it. It then takes into account one’s own clinical expertise, as well as patient values and preferences (Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, 2017). The goal of evidence-based practice is to provide optimal clinical service while treating the patient as an individual (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2017). Scientific evidence is continually evolving and expanding, therefore the use of EBP is a continuing process. Through ever-evolving available research and expanding clinical expertise, day-to-day practice is influenced and changed. It is expected that health care professionals will base their decisions and recommendations for care on evidence. This requires that current, valid, relevant, and the best available evidence be used in the decision making process (Hole, Brenna, Graverholt, Ciliska, & Nortvedt, 2016). Research is how new knowledge is generated or how existing knowledge is validated based on theory (Conner, 2014). It identifies facts and trends. Identification is important but without the information being analyzed and put into a usable context it cannot be used. This is where evidence-based practice comes in. It collects and analyzes research that was performed, and combines it with a clinician’s personal experience along

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