Evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing is an approach to healthcare that involves collecting, processing, and implementing the latest scientific evidence to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. It is a method by which practitioners across the healthcare professions review and assess the most current, highest-quality research to inform their delivery of care. EBP involves integrating the best available research, along with clinical experience and patient preference, into clinical practice, so nurses can make informed patient-care decisions.
The following are the three main components of EBP in nursing:
- Best available research evidence
- Clinical expertise
- Patient values and preferences
The five basic steps of EBP in nursing are:
- Ask a clinical question
- Collect the best available evidence
- Critically appraise the evidence
- Integrate the evidence with clinical expertise and patient values
- Evaluate the outcomes of the practice decision or change
The benefits of EBP in nursing include prioritizing the needs of patients, improving the care delivered to patients, and reducing overall healthcare costs. EBP is essential in nursing because it bridges the theory-to-practice gap and delivers innovative patient care using the most current health care findings. By using the principles of EBP in nursing to make decisions about patient care, it results in better outcomes, higher satisfaction, and reduced costs.
