Research Utilization and Evidence-Based Practice, Coursework Example

Introduction

Evidence-based practice in nursing is a significant contributor to the development of successful clinical practice settings in modern healthcare environments. It is necessary to address the benefits and challenges of evidence-based practice as it relates to the creation of a positive and meaningful nursing experience that promotes greater quality of care and improved quality of life for patients. Prior research offers a framework for adapting current techniques and strategies to improve outcomes for patients; therefore, it is important to consider these tools in order to improve nursing care in all healthcare settings. Deriving evidence-based practice from existing research, however, requires a level of understanding that identifies research that is viable and may be duplicated in real practice settings. This process supports expanded knowledge and support of evidence-based practice research and solutions to solve relevant and timely problems in the healthcare setting that impact children and adults in a variety of settings.

Analysis

Nursing practice requires continuous innovation and growth in order to accomplish a number of critical objectives to integrate research-based knowledge. Nurses must recognize the importance of utilizing research effectively in order to encourage positive and meaningful results for the practice setting (Polit and Beck, 2013). Research-based evidence may be difficult to implement in nursing practice settings, particularly when it is relatively unexplored and may be novel to the field; therefore, nurses must be able to recognize the importance of these factors in enhancing positive outcomes for patients over time (Polit and Beck, 2013). Nurses must be provided with the resources and training that are necessary to recognize relevant research evidence and how to integrate it into practice settings to improve quality of care and treatment (Polit and Beck, 2013).

Levin and Feldman (2012) address the significance of evidence-based practice in enabling nurse educators to provide knowledge to nurses in a proactive manner. This requires an understanding of why research and outcomes are essential to the growth of nursing practice and the potential innovations that are derived from these tools (Levin and Feldman, 2012). This strategy supports the continued expansion of knowledge so that nurses are able to recognize when research might be useful to their practice settings and the tools that are necessary to support its integration into current strategies (Levin and Feldman, 2012). Nurses at all experience levels are likely to benefit from the tools and resources provided through evidence-based practice and related research as a means of improving knowledge and supporting the advancement of the field over the long term (Levin and Feldman, 2012).

In spite of the advantages of evidence-based practice in modern nursing environments, it is often difficult to transition this evidence into practical applications (Solomons and Spross, 2011). This is attributed in large part to the barriers that are associated with evidence-based solutions and their practicality in nursing applications, particularly those that have been proven successful in the past (Solomons and Spross, 2011). As a result, the integration of evidence-based research into practice is a challenging process and requires significant time and effort to enhance this practice (Solomons and Spross, 2011). The concept of continuous quality improvement should be considered as a means of recognizing the barriers to evidence-based practice at all levels so that nurses are provided with a framework for success and achievement that will enhance their growth and development, as well as the improvement of quality in all areas of patient care and treatment (Solomons and Spross, 2011). These factors will encourage the integration of evidence-based practice solutions into nursing units and other healthcare environments to enhance the quality of care that is provided to patients on a gradual yet consistent basis (Solomons and Spross, 2011).

Burns and Grove (2011) support the integration of evidence-based research into nursing practice settings through strategic concepts and knowledge acquisition. These factors play a significant role in shaping research outcomes and in supporting how care is provided to patients in nursing units (Burns and Grove, 2011). Education is a primary factor in this process and supports the utilization of valuable resources to encourage positive outcomes in the nursing practice setting (Burns and Grove, 2011). Widespread support and guidance are necessary in order to facilitate positive patient care experiences and to promote continuous innovation in the practice setting (Burns and Grove, 2011). It is expected that nurses must work collaboratively in order to accomplish these objectives and to determine how to best move forward in expanding knowledge regarding evidence-based practice so that patient care is optimized, resources are utilized efficiently, and all possible concepts are explored to promote healing and recovery from a variety of health concerns (Burns and Grove, 2011).

Conclusion

Evidence-based research continues to expand its scope and significance to nursing practice on a variety of levels. It is important for nurses to obtain the knowledge and experience that is necessary to review existing research and integrate demonstrated solutions into practice settings as appropriate so that nurses and patients will benefit over the long term. This process is challenging and requires sufficient training and knowledge in order to achieve the desired outcomes. Furthermore, this process also supports the continued growth and development of successful outcomes in nursing that are designed to enhance quality of care and treatment for all patients. Evidence-based practice fills a void that is often observed in nursing practice and bridges barriers to promote continuous innovation and quality improvement across many nursing environments.

References

Burns, N., and Grove, S.K. (2010). Understanding Nursing Research: Building an Evidence-Based Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Levin, R.F., and Feldman, H.R. (2012). Teaching Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: Second Edition. Springer Publishing Company.

Polit, D.F., and Beck, C.T. (2013). Essentials of Nursing Research: Appraising Evidence for Nursing Practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Solomons, N.M., and Spross, J.A. (2011). Evidence-based practice barriers and facilitators from a continuous quality improvement perspective: an integrative review. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(1), 109-120.