Learning Objective #1: Identify educational strategies to facilitate student utilization of evidence-based practice

Learning Objective #2: Describe an educational-health care partnership that incorporates evidence-based practice into nursing care

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Although much scientific evidence exists, recent studies suggest that research findings are often not integrated into health care practices. The challenge that exists is often how to effectively translate scientific evidence into Nursing practice. Without the use of the most current and best evidence, practice can easily become out-dated and even harmful to patient care. A successful partnership was formed between a university Nursing program and a local hospital that was based on an educational clinical practicum focusing on the use of evidence-based practice. This collaboration facilitated the students' learning and created several initiatives to enhance nursing practice.

An educational strategy that removed many of the barriers to utilizing evidence-base care will be described. Using the steps of an evidence-based practice model, the students were able to define a researchable question, search and critically appraise the best evidence, and integrate the various components into an evidence-based decision about practice. In addition, strategies that led to the development of a framework that provided the basis for the beginning of a hospital's strategic initiative to incorporate evidence-based practice will be explored. The use of evidence-based practice within a context of caring will be highlighted to emphasize the paradigm shift to bridging the gap between an academic setting and the hospital environment.