Chapter 5: Evidence-Based Practice
fundamentals
To provide patient care of the highest quality, nurses utilize an evidence-based practice
approach because evidence-based practice is
a. A guide for nurses in making clinical decisions.
b. Based on the latest textbook information.
c. Easily attained at the bedside.
d. Always right for all situations. - ANS ANS: A
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a guide for nurses to structure how to make accurate,
timely, and appropriate clinical decisions. A textbook relies on the scientific literature,
which is often outdated by the time the book is published and is not the most reliable
source for EBP.
Unfortunately, most of the best information in evidence never reaches the bedside. EBP
is not to be blindly applied without using good judgment and critical thinking skills. It is
not appropriate for all settings
In caring for patients, it is important for the nurse to realize that evidence-based practice
is
a. The only valid source of knowledge that should be used.
b. Secondary to traditional or standard care knowledge.
c. Dependent on patient values and expectations.
d. Not shown to provide better patient outcomes - ANS ANS: C
Even when the best evidence available is used, application and outcomes will differ
based on patient values, preferences, concerns, and/or expectations. Nurses often care
for patients on the basis of tradition or convenience, or the standard, "It has always
been done this way."
Although these sources have value, it is important to learn to rely more on research
evidence than on non-research evidence. Patients who receive care based on the most
recent and best evidence experience 28% better outcomes
The first step in evidence-based practice is to ask a clinical question. In doing so, the
nurse needs to realize that in researching interventions, the question
, a. Is more important than its format.
b. Will lead you to hundreds of articles that must be read.
c. May be easier if in PICO format.
d. May be more useful the more general it is - ANS ANS: C
The PICO format allows the nurse to ask questions that are intervention focused.
Inappropriately formed questions will likely lead to irrelevant sources of information. It is
not
beneficial to read hundreds of articles. It is more beneficial to read the best four to six
articles that specifically address the question. The more focused the question asked,
the easier it will become to search for evidence in the scientific literature
In collecting the best evidence, the gold standard for research is
a. The randomized controlled trial (RCT).
b. The peer-reviewed article.
c. Qualitative research.
d. The opinion of expert committees - ANS ANS: A
Individual RCTs are the gold standard for research. A peer-reviewed article means that
a panel of experts has reviewed the article; this is not a research method. Qualitative
research is valuable in identifying information about how patients cope with or manage
various health
problems and their perceptions of illness. It does not usually have the robustness of an
RCT. Expert opinion is on the bottom of the hierarchical pyramid of evidence
The nurse is writing a research article on a patient care topic. The nurse realizes that
the section that will get the reader to read the article because of the value of the topic
for the reader is the
a. Abstract.
b. Introduction.
c. Literature review or background.
d. Results - ANS ANS: B
The introduction contains information about its purpose and the importance of the topic
to the audience who reads the article. The abstract is a brief summary of the article. The
literature review or background offers a detailed background of the level of science or
clinical information that is available about the topic of the article. The results section is
the summary section of the article.
fundamentals
To provide patient care of the highest quality, nurses utilize an evidence-based practice
approach because evidence-based practice is
a. A guide for nurses in making clinical decisions.
b. Based on the latest textbook information.
c. Easily attained at the bedside.
d. Always right for all situations. - ANS ANS: A
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a guide for nurses to structure how to make accurate,
timely, and appropriate clinical decisions. A textbook relies on the scientific literature,
which is often outdated by the time the book is published and is not the most reliable
source for EBP.
Unfortunately, most of the best information in evidence never reaches the bedside. EBP
is not to be blindly applied without using good judgment and critical thinking skills. It is
not appropriate for all settings
In caring for patients, it is important for the nurse to realize that evidence-based practice
is
a. The only valid source of knowledge that should be used.
b. Secondary to traditional or standard care knowledge.
c. Dependent on patient values and expectations.
d. Not shown to provide better patient outcomes - ANS ANS: C
Even when the best evidence available is used, application and outcomes will differ
based on patient values, preferences, concerns, and/or expectations. Nurses often care
for patients on the basis of tradition or convenience, or the standard, "It has always
been done this way."
Although these sources have value, it is important to learn to rely more on research
evidence than on non-research evidence. Patients who receive care based on the most
recent and best evidence experience 28% better outcomes
The first step in evidence-based practice is to ask a clinical question. In doing so, the
nurse needs to realize that in researching interventions, the question
, a. Is more important than its format.
b. Will lead you to hundreds of articles that must be read.
c. May be easier if in PICO format.
d. May be more useful the more general it is - ANS ANS: C
The PICO format allows the nurse to ask questions that are intervention focused.
Inappropriately formed questions will likely lead to irrelevant sources of information. It is
not
beneficial to read hundreds of articles. It is more beneficial to read the best four to six
articles that specifically address the question. The more focused the question asked,
the easier it will become to search for evidence in the scientific literature
In collecting the best evidence, the gold standard for research is
a. The randomized controlled trial (RCT).
b. The peer-reviewed article.
c. Qualitative research.
d. The opinion of expert committees - ANS ANS: A
Individual RCTs are the gold standard for research. A peer-reviewed article means that
a panel of experts has reviewed the article; this is not a research method. Qualitative
research is valuable in identifying information about how patients cope with or manage
various health
problems and their perceptions of illness. It does not usually have the robustness of an
RCT. Expert opinion is on the bottom of the hierarchical pyramid of evidence
The nurse is writing a research article on a patient care topic. The nurse realizes that
the section that will get the reader to read the article because of the value of the topic
for the reader is the
a. Abstract.
b. Introduction.
c. Literature review or background.
d. Results - ANS ANS: B
The introduction contains information about its purpose and the importance of the topic
to the audience who reads the article. The abstract is a brief summary of the article. The
literature review or background offers a detailed background of the level of science or
clinical information that is available about the topic of the article. The results section is
the summary section of the article.
