Paper
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Development of a Clinical Practicum to Support Evidence-Based Nursing
Vera C. Brancato, RN, BC, EdD, MSN, Nursing Department, Nursing Department, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, USA
| Learning Objective #1: Identify educational strategies to foster the comfort level and inclusion of evidence-based research into nursing practice |
| Learning Objective #2: Design methods to link with service partners to assist nursing students to increase their knowledge and utilization of evidence-based research |
Design: A model was developed linking a university nursing program with an acute care hospital to devise a clinical practicum for RN to BSN students to engage in actual evidence-based practice research projects to gain experience and familiarity with evidence-based nursing practice. The students completed written questionnaires and oral interviews describing their impressions of this process prior to and at the end of their clinical practicum. Population: Registered Nurses completing a final BSN course participated in a clinical practicum at a large acute care hospital during a 15 week clinical rotation. Intervention: Students were assigned to preceptors who were engaged in evidence-based practice research projects. The process and outcomes were to challenge the students to increase their knowledge and support of the best evidence to guide their practice, to critique existing practices first-hand, and to demonstrate sound judgement as they plan and provide patient care. Methods: Written and oral descriptions of the students'lived experiences with evidence-based practice during a semester long clinical practicum. Findings: Students' descriptions revealed an increase in their ability to critique research as well as an increase in their comfort level in questioning, critically analyzing, and reading nursing research that applies to their practice. Conclusions: Follow-up studies will need to be conducted to see if there is carryover into future practice. Implications: Nurse educators can develop linkages with service providers to augment student learning that ultimately may help maintain and improve the quality of patient care and the translation of more research into practice.
Back to Improving Nursing Practice Through Evidence
Back to Evidence-Based Nursing: Strategies for Improving Practice
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 21, 2004