APPLYING NURSING RESEARCH TO PRACTICE

Running head: APPLYING NURSING RESEARCH TO PRACTICE

Applying Nursing Research to Practice

Robin Scott

Ohio University

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2 APPLYING NURSING RESEARCH TO PRACTICE

Applying Nursing Research to Practice

Nursing research has become an integral part of the nursing profession. Research is no

longer a separate specialty but is part of every-day nursing practice. Evidence-based research

drives our patient care and has helped to improve quality of care as well as our working

environment. Evidence-based practice is become the standard, tools for decision making in

practice are widely accessible and accountability for outcomes are demanded from all health care

professionals (Clarke, 1995). This paper will discuss a new best practice to be implemented at

my workplace, the steps required to implement the new best practice and justification of the new

best practice.

Best Practice to Implement

The hospital I work for is a Magnet hospital and has great emphasis on evidence-based

practice. The best practice that has been identified by my team is utilizing the Situation,

Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) communication tool. Handoff in the

emergency department is considered a high-risk period for errors (Campbell & Dontje, 2019).

Communication is key in the nursing profession and assuring every handoff is standardized can

help decrease adverse events and improve patient outcomes.

Steps to Implementation

Implementing evidence-based research practice is not always simple and involves more

than just nurses in clinical practice (Clarke, 1995). My hospital organization has a very detailed

policy/process for nursing research or evidence-based practice development. Prior to any

research study or evidence-based practice project the TriHealth Nurse Research must be

consulted to discuss the topic/problem that brought about the project. If deemed pertinent it is

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3 APPLYING NURSING RESEARCH TO PRACTICE

determined if the project will be classified as a research study, evidence-based practice project or

a quality improvement project. All evidence-based practice projects must receive approval from

the Unit Manager and be reviewed by the Nursing Research Council. Evidence-based practice

projects must be completed using the ACE Star Model of Knowledge Transformation (TriHealth,

Inc., 2018). Once approval is received from the Unit Manager and TriHealth Nurse Researcher

and the project is reviewed by the Nursing Research Council, the research can be completed.

Once completed an Evidence-Based Practice Project Abstract must be sent to the TriHealth

Nurse Researcher. With additional review it is decided if the practice will be implemented

(TriHealth, Inc., 2018). Evidence-based practice projects can be implemented for a specific unit,

hospital or system wide. Once deemed warranted, the practice change occurs. This is more than

a new policy or procedure. Implementing change requires interaction among all affected

including care providers, leadership and system changes (Lobiondo-Wood & Haber, 2018). Our

network has actually implemented this practice to not only involve shift change handoff, but also

handoff between units, facilities, transportation and even security. All communication is to be

done utilizing the SBAR format.

Literature to Support New Practice

Communication is key to any successful practice. Effective working relationships

between colleagues and the entire health care team contributes to comprehensive care and

optimal patient outcomes (Prowd, Leach, Lynn, & Tao, 2017). Ineffective communication has

been proven to be one of the leading causes of preventable medical errors in the United States

(Campbell & Dontje, 2019). Utilizing the SBAR communication tool helps to decrease

preventable errors. This tool is broken down in S: Situation – this is the patient’s chief complaint

and detail pertinent to current situation, B: Background – this discusses past medical history,

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4 APPLYING NURSING RESEARCH TO PRACTICE

testing that has occurred, allergies and code status, A: Assessment – this a review of current

situation including current condition, test results, medications that have been administered, vital

signs, IV status and monitoring, and finally R: Recommendation – this is where outstanding

orders are discussed, pending results, plan of care and any questions for nursing handing off

patient (Campbell & Dontje, 2019). Once comfortable with this practice, it saves time, makes

the patient feel more secure when seeing bedside handoff and promotes team. By utilizing the

SBAR bedside handoff, it allows both oncoming and off-going nurses to promote situational

awareness, discuss plan of care with patients and their families and increases staff

communication while decreasing patient errors (Campbell & Dontje, 2019)

In conclusion, implementing an evidence-based best practice can be a time-consuming

process that might seem daunting. But, with the goal of nursing being to provide quality care to

our patients, implementing a best practice such as SBAR bedside handoff is a win for team

members and patients. Strategic communication through commitment of all levels of a care team

is one of the most critical elements of success (Prowd et al., 2017).

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References

Campbell, D., & Dontje, K. (2019, March 1). Implementing bedside handoff in the emergency

department: A practice improvment project. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 45(2), 149-

154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2018.09.007

Clarke, H. F. (1995). The Nightingale Legacy. Paper presented at Child Health 2000.

International Pediatric Nursing Conference, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Retrieved from:

https://blackboard.ohio.edu/bbscwebdav/courses/NRSE_4550_1033_SEM_FALL_2017-

18/CONTENT/MODULE_5/INSTRUCTIONAL_MATERIALS/REQUIRED_RESOUR

CES/NRSE_4550_M5_IM_Using_Nursing_Research.pdf

Lobiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2018). Nursing research: Methods and critical appraisal for

evidence-based practice (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Prowd, L., Leach, D., Lynn, H., & Tao, M. (2017, December 7). An interdisciplinary approach to

implementing a best practice guideline in public health. Health Promotion Practice.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177.1524839917739616

TriHealth, Inc. (2018). Nursing research or evidence-based practice project: Policy for

development of. Retrieved from http://trihealth.com/policies

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