| Wednesday, July 13, 2005: 1:00 PM-2:30 PM | |||
| Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice to Improve Outcomes of Patients in Acute Care | |||
| Learning Objective #1: Identify processes for appropriate implementation of evidence-based initiatives | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Discuss strategies to identify and measure outcomes related to implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinical practice | |||
| Patients in acute care settings are very complex and often difficult to manage with many competing priorities of care. It is well known in healthcare that best practice is based on well-researched methods. However, well-researched interventions are not always available. It is imperative to be able to decipher research and appropriately apply this to the clinical practice setting in order to optimize patient outcomes. Measuring outcomes in patients is imperative in order to demonstrate the value of evidence-based implementation in the acute care setting. Advanced practice nurses play an integral role in implementing evidence-based practice. Specifically, the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist is integral to appropriate implementation of evidence-based practice initiatives. The term evidence-based practice is often used loosely to describe changes in clinical practice. To appropriately implement evidence-based practice into clinical practice a structured, organized approach should be utilized. If not implemented appropriately, the processes actually impede the patients progression through the continuum of acute care. Appropriate implementation of evidence-based practice is imperative to improve outcomes of patients and decrease associated costs of care. Focus of this session will be on implementation of evidence-based practice using specific examples demonstrating improved outcomes in the acute care setting. Significant improvements have been attained which have resulted in reductions in patient complications, reductions in length of stay and attributed cost savings. Examples of programs that have been implemented to optimize patient outcomes will be incorporated in this session. These improvements came as a result of nursing practice interventions based on research utilization. By following the processes outlined throughout the presentations these same results are attainable at any institution. This session will exemplify the valuable role of the advanced practice nurse in positively impacting patient outcomes with an emphasis on research utilization and promoting collaboration among various healthcare disciplines. | |||
| Organizer: | Jan Powers, RN, MSN | ||
| Presenters: | Jan Powers, RN, MSN Jennifer Cohn, RN, MSN Sherry L. Brown, RN, MS | ||
| Improving Outcomes after Acute Ischemic Stroke on a Designated Stroke Unit by Implementing an Evidence-Based Plan of Care for Bedside Staff Jennifer Cohn, RN, MSN | |||
| Improving Outcomes of Patients Experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal in the Acute Care Setting Sherry L. Brown, RN, MS | |||
| Reduction of Hospital Acquired Pneumonia Through Research Utilization Jan Powers, RN, MSN | |||