Evidence-Based Practice: A Guide to Successful Implementation

A brief “how-to” guide to evidence-based practice for nurses

What to do, how to do it, and why
This guide explains everything you need to know to successfully implement evidence-based practice (EBP). Carefully progressing from the fundamental facts to full application, the book tells you exactly what EBP is, and describes how to:

• Create a culture of EBP
• Use journal clubs
• Answer questions with nursing research
• Relate EBP and nursing research to your journey to designation

Build your confidence as you increase your knowledge

Making the transition to EBP requires learning new skills and using a different process for clinical decision making. To smooth and speed your progress, this extremely practical reference includes:

• Case studies that reveal the real-life consequences, so you can learn from the successes of your colleagues
• Exercises to familiarize you with EBP and give you a preview of practice
• Helpful checklists to reinforce the text
• Examples from practice to help you implement EBP in your own facility

Improve outcomes, patient care, and satisfaction

A successful EBP program brings benefits for you, your patients, and your facility. Whether you are new to nursing or an experienced clinician who just needs to master EBP, this guide will give you the answers to all your questions.

Book Topics at a Glance

Chapter 1: What is evidence-based practice?
Chapter 2: Creating a culture of evidence-based practice
Chapter 3: Accessing and appraising resources
Chapter 4: Evidence-based practice becomes a reality
Chapter 5: Journal clubs
Chapter 6: Answering questions with nursing research
Chapter 7: Nursing excellence and evidence-based practice
Chapter 8: Examples of evidence-based nursing practice

Learning objectives include:

• Differentiate evidence-based practice, research, research utilization, and quality improvement
• Describe the importance of EBP to nursing practice and high-quality patient care
• Identify strategies to establish a culture for inquiry and EBP
• Identify why journal clubs are an effective way to start EBP
• Discuss approaches to developing a nursing research project
• Identify approaches to demonstrating the links between EBP and nursing excellence and ANCC Magnet Recognition®
• Identify ways to engage nursing staff members in EBP

Suzanne C. Beyea, RN, PhD, FAAN is the director of nursing research at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Her role responsibilities include supporting evidence-based practice and developing the clinical nursing research program for the medical center, and supporting nurses’ efforts to utilize or conduct research. Her activities include providing consultation, education, technical support, and advice related to research, evidence-based practice, and the evaluation of nursing practices and clinical processes.

Mary Jo Slattery, RN, MS is the nursing research coordinator at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. She collaborates with the director of nursing research, Suzanne Beyea, in the office of professional nursing to support and facilitate research and evidence-based practice efforts in nursing. Her activities include consultation and assistance with groups and individuals on such topics as online searching, project planning, instrument development, obtaining Institutional Review Board approval, data collection, data analysis, and report writing.