An understanding of the utilization of research to improve and affect positive patient outcomes must be foundational in nursing education programs as we prepare new nurses. Whereas there are many ways of “knowing” in our profession, the most compelling as nurses articulate with other health care professionals, is through the empirical pattern of knowing. Through empirics, there is scientific evidence to support nursing interventions.
One approach to facilitating student learning in the utilization of research to improve nursing care is to guide them through an exercise that culminates in the development of an evidence-based intervention. Interest in a particular aspect of nursing is identified and existing research on this phenomenon is thoroughly examined by the student. Critical thinking skills along with the ability to appraise the quality of research, result in the development of a specific evidence- based intervention, protocol, or policy that is designed to improve clinical practice in the area chosen by the student. The student is further challenged to identify strategies that would facilitate adoption of the evidence-based intervention in the clinical setting.
A tool that has been successful in promoting understanding of how research is used to improve practice will be presented, along with common difficulties and resolutions from student experiences. Student comments and reflections along with examples of how the interventions produced by students have changed clinical practice in actual settings will be presented and discussed.
Objectives: Upon completion of the presentation the participant will be able to: 1) identify steps in teaching students to use research to improve clinical practice; and 2)describe common obstacles students encounter in putting research into practice.
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Back to International Evidence-Based Practice Preconference
Sigma Theta Tau International
9 July 2003