Aging America, as a group, is a growing entity that has specific healthcare needs. Nurses in the community, serving this vulnerable population, address many of their health issues with limited access to real time evidence. Research has shown that healthcare providers using the best evidence available will provide individuals with the most appropriate, most efficient care. In this session of the symposium, the presenter will report on a pilot project in which an innovative model for promoting evidence-based practice (EBP) among the older adults in our area will be implemented to improve care. The community-based initiative will be implemented through the Visiting Nurse Service in early 2003. There will be an EBP mentor who will assist community-health nurses to answer questions in the field in real time as well as provide one-on-one mentorship and formal classroom education and problem solving. Outcomes from the study will include readmissions to the hospital, patient satisfaction, nurse satisfaction, nurse turnover, and cost. The model used for the study will be presented. Pilot study findings will be presented, along with lessons learned from the project. Primary consideration in the presentation will be placed on how to evaluate outcomes for EBP initiatives for vulnerable populations such as aging America.
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Back to International Evidence-Based Practice Preconference
Sigma Theta Tau International
9 July 2003