Evidence Based Practice in Addressing Gaps in Nursing Knowledge

Evidence Based Practice in Addressing Gaps in Nursing Knowledge

The nursing practice is a profession of continuous learning and development. Evidence based practice empowers nurses to be adept in obtaining relevant nursing knowledge rapidly, thus facilitating making of critical decisions based on an informed process. Evidence based nursing has been shown to equip the practitioner with the ability to evaluate data before applying the data in the care of patients, thus positively influencing health outcomes. Evidence based practice also encourages nurses to stay informed on current and innovative care standards in order to remain relevant in the profession. Evidence based practice represents a rational development in the persistent effort to narrow the gap between research and practice, and facilitates the use of research knowledge in real life clinical care settings (Youngblut and Brooten 474). Patients depend on nurses to perform the best in order to sustain their health. This subsequently compels the nurses to be actively involved in a continuous learning mechanism to evaluate the best approach for care delivery. Evidence based nursing practice, therefore, empowers nurses to fully actualize their professional role and avoid confining themselves to technical knowledge (Mulhall 4). A number of studies have shown that evidence based practice positively influences nursing practice and is significant to safe nursing practice (Youngblut and Brooten 473; Kania-Lachance et al. 48). It has positively influenced the attitudes of nurses towards the profession, while its effective use is associated with quality care, improved patient outcomes, professional development, satisfaction, and success in professional practice. The provision of high quality care is directly linked to progressive professional advancement and acquisition of relevant nursing knowledge and skills in relation to developments in nursing practice.

Order Now