Introduction to Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice

Goals

After completing this module, you will be able to do the following:

• Describe the link between research and the development of an evidence-based practice for nursing.
• Analyze your role in research and evidence based practice as a professional nurse.
• Trace the evolution of nursing research from the time of Florence Nightingale into the twenty-first century.
• Predict future trends and priorities in nursing research.
• Differentiate among the ways of acquiring nursing knowledge (tradition, authority, borrowing, trial and error, personal experience, role modeling, intuition, reasoning, and research) that you use in practice.
• Describe the major national initiatives whose focus is to increase the use of evidence based practice.
• Identify the 7 steps for the evidence based practice process.
• Formulate a clinical foreground question related to nursing practice in PICOT format.
• Identify corresponding research designs and other types of evidence that would best address the clinical question.
• Compare and contrast information resources, databases and search strategies.
• Perform a literature search to find evidence relevant to a clinical question.
• Perform a rapid critical appraisal of the evidence available to answer a clinical question.

Overview

This module provides an overview of nursing research, the history of research, and the significance of research evidence for nursing practice. Research methodologies and their importance in generating an evidence-based practice for nursing are explored. Current trends and events in healthcare and the nursing profession are examined in the context of the evolution of nursing research.

The module explains importance of nursing research in developing an evidence-based practice and the nurse’s role in research is addressed. The past, present, and future of nursing research are explored, including the scientific accomplishments in the profession over the last 150 years. The ways of acquiring knowledge in nursing are discussed, including the significance of research in developing nursing knowledge. The module describes the components and steps of the evidence based practice process, reasons for implementing evidence based practice and major healthcare initiatives whose focus is to increase the use of evidence based practice. Strategies for developing searchable clinical questions and conducting a literature review for relevant evidence to answer clinical questions are explored. Research designs, types of evidence and key questions that are part of the rapid critical appraisal process are identified are discussed.

Read

• Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt – Chapters 1, 2 and 3
• Worksheet: Question Templates for Asking PICOT Questions
• Application Case Study: Chapter 3: Finding Relevant Evidence to Answer Clinical Questions

Related Resources:

• Introduction to Nursing Research Joanna Briggs Institute for Evidence Libraries (www.joannabriggs.org)
  • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
  • National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC)
  • The Cochrane Collaboration
  • Association of Colleges of Nursing position statement regarding participation of nurses in research based on their educational preparation. AACN Position Statement on Nursing Researc.pdf
• Introduction to Evidence Based Practice
  • The Cochrane Collaboration and Cochrane Reviews
  • The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Triple Aim
  • The Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Evidence-Based Medicine (IOM)
  • Preventative Services Taskforce (USPSTF)
  • Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute
  • Magnet Recognition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

Goals Alignment

University Mission Goals:

• Demonstrates professional performance through research by using evidence-based research

Program Goals:

• Professional Behavior/Ethics: Develop a personal values system and value-based behaviors that include the capacity to make and act upon ethical judgments
• Research and Evidence-Based Practice: Use research findings and other evidence in designing, implementing, and evaluating care that is multidimensional, high quality, cost-effective and leads to improved patient outcomes

Course Goals:

• Articulate the role of research in the development of nursing knowledge and evidence-based practice.
• Describe the basic concepts, techniques, and methodologies underlying the research process and their application in the study of nursing problems.
• Identify researchable clinical nursing problems with the purpose of improving patient outcomes.
• Use information technology to retrieve hierarchical levels of evidence that addresses clinical questions.
• Utilize effective critical thinking and written communication skills in the critique of research for applicability to nursing practice.
• Integrate research findings into nursing practice to meet the changing needs of clients and professional nursing.
• Describe current research priorities in nursing.
• Identify legal, ethical and cultural considerations in research that involves human subjects.

Professional Standards

AACN Baccalaureate Essentials:

• Scholarship for evidence-based practice
• Inter-professional communication and collaboration for improving patient health outcomes
• Baccalaureate generalist nursing practice

IOM Core Competencies:

• Patient-centered care
• Evidence-based practice
• Quality improvement

Module 1: Assignment

Remember to submit your work following the file naming convention FirstInitial.LastName_M01.docx. For example, J.Smith_M01.docx. Remember that it is not necessary to manually type in the file extension; it will automatically append.

Start by reading and following these instructions:

1. Quickly skim the questions or assignment below and the assignment rubric to help you focus.

2. Read the required chapter(s) of the textbook and any additional recommended resources. Some answers may require you to do additional research on the Internet or in other reference sources. Choose your sources carefully.

3. Consider the course discussions so far and any insights gained from it.

4. Create your Assignment submission and be sure to cite your sources if needed, use APA style as required, and check your spelling.