Linking evidence to practice: A clinical practice guideline project

Abstract

More than ever, health care organizations seek nursing graduates, empowered through education, who are able to critique existing practices and initiate evidence-based changes resulting in better patient outcomes. This ability is a vital part of a nursing philosophy which focuses on evidence-based quality improvement. Evidence based practice is a problem-solving approach that incorporates the thorough use of up-to-date, quality data in decisions regarding patient care. It involves a systematic search for the most relevant evidence, as well as critical appraisal of this evidence to answer a clinical question (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). State and national organizations have issued credentialing directives specifying that evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing is expected. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that these abilities are firmly rooted in the education of future nurses (Heye & Stevens, 2009).