Although evidence-based practice (EBP) is an excellent method to fulfill nursing purposes, a nurse should also assess their actions and their effectiveness. As Sim et al. (2018) state, “nurses play an important role in the health care system yet there is no consensus on how the impact of nursing work should be evaluated” (p. 369). Therefore, a nurse can apply EBP in the healthcare system to achieve quality, safe, and cost-effective outcomes as said in the previous post. Still, they will also have to find a way to evaluate their potential success. If there is no evidence on how to assess nurses’ work impact, a nurse cannot apply EBP to decide if they have achieved their goals and fulfilled their nursing purpose. Using the best available evidence to make quality care decisions is an excellent yet mostly theoretical approach. Each patient is a separate individual, and taking care of them requires nurses to apply the knowledge they have gained from EBP and their intelligence.
Diabetes and Preceptor’s Functions
Taking care of a patient with diabetes mellitus is not the most straightforward task and requires significant experience. When it comes to a nurse, making decisions in acute nursing care requires assessing many complicated factors (Nibbelink & Brewer, 2018). Furthermore, the plurality of patients under a nurse’s care may further complicate this process (Nibbelink & Brewer, 2018). Therefore, when the preceptor is highly experienced, they can share their experience with a student nurse and help them learn more about the specific disease. Moreover, an experienced preceptor can show a nurse how to develop a nursing strategy for each patient. It is especially crucial for patients with diabetes mellitus and similar diseases. The preceptor has more knowledge on disease processes, but they also have worked with many different patients. Following their guidance and learning from them is an excellent method to inherit their expertise and strategies.
References
Nibbelink, C. W., & Brewer, B. B. (2018). Decision‐making in nursing practice: An integrative literature review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(5-6), 917-928.
Sim, J., Crookes, P., Walsh, K., & Halcomb, E. (2018). Measuring the outcomes of nursing practice: A Delphi study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(1-2), 368-378.