To become a good and qualified nurse means to deal with several tasks, and one of them is to be sure of the quality of offered information. There are many approaches to evaluating patients, their values, and clinical guidelines. According to Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt (2018), evidence-based practice (EBP) aims at delivering the highest quality of healthcare information and achieving the best patient outcomes. In this discussion, attention will be paid to EBP and the levels of evidence to be applied to personal and professional life.
A nurse has to be good at determining the quality of information and understanding its validity and accuracy. Validity is explained as the “extent to which an instrument measures what it purports to measure” (Kimberlin & Winterstein, 2008, p. 2278). As a rule, it is necessary to check the author’s credentials and read the abstract of an article to find out the purposes of a project. A list of references to other works is another proof that the chosen source is valid. Finally, the article’s publication date and the years of publication of referenced articles define its accuracy.
There is also a hierarchy of evidence in healthcare research, according to which studies are ranked and chosen by students and other researchers. Level I presents data from systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials, proving its high quality and validity. Level II usually contains a smaller number of sources to support a discussion compared to a previous level. In Levels III and IV, controlled trials and cohort studies are used as evidence. Level V and VI introduce the results of qualitative and descriptive studies. Finally, Level VII includes the results of reports and the personal opinions of experts in the chosen sphere. Any level of information is an example of EBP that is a constituent part of effective nursing care (Morton, 2013). However, people who prefer to seek credible information for personal or professional development prefer to choose Levels I and II sources.
My personal experience in working with different sources shows the true worth of EBP in nursing. I learned what I know using books and peer-reviewed journals and memorizing details to use them in my cooperation with other nurses. It is not enough to give definitions and cite different authors. My awareness is based on my ability to interpret information. As soon as other nurses or students agree with my opinions and offer similar evidence, I understand that I was able to introduce accurate information.
I think that there is no best practice to gain information. Each time, I get an opportunity to visit a library, surf the web, or talk to a healthcare expert with several options to rely on and prove my position. To be successful means to never stop on one option. However, in nursing practice, attention should be paid to pertinent knowledge that includes accurate publication dates, authors’ information, and geographical locations.
In general, a requirement for nurses to use various EBP strategies is a great chance that should never be ignored. Despite several tasks and characteristics, this practice provides an effective overview of recent studies and current research in the field of nursing. My personal and professional life has already been improved and supported by credible facts and data. I do not want to set deadlines or limitations on my work in the field of nursing because it is my opportunity to become a better and more proficient nurse.
References
Kimberlin, C. L., & Winterstein, A. G. (2008). Validity and reliability of measurement instruments used in research. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 65(23), 2276–2284. Web.
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
Morton, K. (2013). Implementing evidence-based health promotion strategies. Nursing Standard, 27(33), 35–42. Web.