In today's dynamic healthcare environment, the integration of evidence-based practice (EBP) is essential for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Reflecting on your experiences and observations within your organization( post-surgical unit), consider the following:
How do staff nurses contribute to evidence-based practice in your organization?
What is the perceived value of evidence-based practice among your colleagues on the nursing staff?
How does your organization support and facilitate the implementation of evidence-based practice among staff nurses?
Questioning Current Practice: Staff nurses contribute by formulating PICO questions (Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) to challenge traditions or non-evidence-based routines (e.g., "In post-surgical patients, does early ambulation (I) compared to late ambulation (C) decrease the incidence of DVT (O)?").
Collecting Data: Nurses are vital in the Measurement phase of EBP implementation. They diligently collect unit-level data on outcomes, such as wound infection rates, pain scores, or patient falls, which is used to benchmark performance and assess the impact of a new protocol.
Implementing and Evaluating Protocols: Once a new evidence-based protocol (e.g., a standardized surgical site infection prevention bundle) is adopted, the staff nurse is responsible for its faithful implementation and providing feedback on its feasibility and effectiveness.
Sample Answer
Staff Nurse Contributions to EBP
Staff nurses on a post-surgical unit are crucial to EBP because they are at the point of care where evidence is translated into action. Their contributions include:
Identifying Clinical Problems: Nurses are the first to observe inefficiencies, patient adverse events, or inconsistencies in care. For example, a nurse might notice a high rate of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and question the current antiemetic protocol. This observation forms the basis for an EBP inquiry.