Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Essay Example

Levels of evidence in clinical practice must be well understood in order to effectively apply them to the care and treatment environment. This process requires nurses to understand the impact of the AHRQ clinical practice guidelines on the work that is performed in the nursing unit. The clinical guidelines for Depression in Primary Care, Pressure Ulcer Prevention, and Smoking Cessation, for example, provide important information regarding how to manage clinical practice objectives for these groups of patients so that they are able to address specific issues that require further attention and focus. There are two sections for each guideline, the Clinical Guide and Quick Reference Guide, and both provide additional guidance regarding the respective conditions and how they impact patient care decision-making.

The clinical guide for Pressure Ulcer Prevention, for example, offers a comprehensive view of this condition and how it impacts patient health, while also considering other issues that impact nursing care and treatment (AHRQ, 1992). Although the guidelines are over 20 years old, they establish the tone for treatment in this area; however, there is always room for improvement, thereby requiring nurses to be on top of current evidence related to this area of study. For Depression in Primary Care, there are two focus areas: Detection and Diagnosis, as well as Treatment, both of which were written in 1993 (AHRQ, 1993). Therefore, it is important to identify current practice evidence that may improve upon these guidelines and provide further support for improving patient health and wellbeing. As a result, these guidelines continue to serve as the primary area of focus, but nurses must continue to be apprised of current evidence that may have an impact on current trends and issues that continue to emerge within the context of each condition. As a result, AHRQ guidelines continue to be the standard, but additional evidence must be considered in the care and treatment of patients with specific needs and concerns.

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (1993). Depression in Primary Care (Volume 2:                Treatment of Major Depression). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52234/

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (1992). Pressure ulcers in adults: prediction and                prevention. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK63915/