What is Evidence-Based Nursing?

Evidence-based nursing uses scientific research to identify a patient’s needs and determine which treatment option might provide the best prognosis. If a particular treatment or therapy is backed by reliable science, a nurse typically chooses it over various alternative options. Hospitals throughout the world use evidence-based nursing practices that center on intervention and providing the best quality care possible.

The first step in evidence-based nursing involves defining a question that needs to be answered. This process evaluates the patient’s condition or a situation confronting hospital staff. The main type of test, procedure, or treatment being considered is identified to enable research on a specific method of care. By comparing previous results of one treatment against another, a nurse can decide which therapy, drug, or care produces the best outcome.

Once the question or problem has been narrowed down, a nurse selects research tools he or she will use. Databases and professional journals represent typical sources scoured for information in evidence-based nursing. Some databases have been reviewed for relevancy, while other documents or studies must be analyzed for their usefulness by the nurse.

As a nurse evaluates the research literature, he or she commonly determines if the information is reliable and valid. The nurse considers whether any bias or opinion shows up in the document, and if the literature seems appropriate for the patient or situation at hand. Results of randomized clinical trials are generally preferred research materials.

If the information is deemed valid and appropriate for the patient, the nurse uses what she has learned, along with experience, when applying it to a specific situation. The final step in evidence-based nursing involves assessing the short-term and long-term prognosis. Nurses evaluate whether the method used was successful or if other alternatives should be researched.

In some regions, the process refers to five words that start with the letter A: ask, acquire, appraise, apply, and assess. These procedures might also be used by administrators to analyze best practices that have proven successful in a hospital setting, such as staffing levels. If the research centers on an individual patient, an important facet of evidence-based nursing involves working with the patient to identify his or her treatment preferences.

Research-based nursing began as a theory in the early 1990s after its use in other professions. It gained popularity as technology made online access to clinical research readily available. In addition to the nursing profession, proven research drives the way other organizations incorporate knowledge. For example, some school districts use best practices when devising lesson plans and teacher training sessions.