Evidence-Based Practice
in Nursing | Study Guide,
Practice Questions &
Exam Review
|Guaranteed success|
, Why should I use PICOT format to state my clinical • The questions you ask will eventually lead you to the evidence for an answer
question? • You want to be able to read the BEST four-to-six articles that specifically
address your practice question
• The more focused a question you ask, the easier it becomes to search for
evidence in the scientific literature
PICOT question P = Patient population of interest
I = Intervention of interest
C = Comparison of interest
O = Outcome
T = Time
Collect the best evidence- what kind and includes • Search for evidence!
• Evidence includes but is not limited to: agency policy and procedure
manuals, quality improvement data, existing clinical practice guidelines, agency
experts, staff educators, risk managers, infection control nurses, and peer
reviewed articles (specifically within the most recent 5 years from the present
date)
Critically appraise the evidence you gather • The most difficult step in the EBP process
• Involves evaluation, determining if information is valuable and can be easily
applied, and if there is enough evidence for making a nursing practice change
• Thorough review of elements included in evidence-based articles
Integrate the evidence • How will you incorporate the evidence into practice?
• Integrate evidence with use of teaching tools, clinical practice guidelines,
policies and procedures, and new assessment documentation tools
• Consider staff support and available resources
• Conduct a pilot study and attempt to answer your PICOT question
Evaluate and share outcomes • Did it work? Is it effective?
• Communicate the results to various groups of nurses or other care providers
(facility nursing practice council or research committee)
PICO four-step process P - population of interest
I - intervention
C - comparison
O - outcome
Utilization of the research process • Identification of a researchable problem
• Review of the literature
• Formulation of the research question or hypothesis
• Design of the study
• Implementation of the study
• Drawing conclusions based on findings
• Discussion of clinical implications
• Dissemination of findings
in Nursing | Study Guide,
Practice Questions &
Exam Review
|Guaranteed success|
, Why should I use PICOT format to state my clinical • The questions you ask will eventually lead you to the evidence for an answer
question? • You want to be able to read the BEST four-to-six articles that specifically
address your practice question
• The more focused a question you ask, the easier it becomes to search for
evidence in the scientific literature
PICOT question P = Patient population of interest
I = Intervention of interest
C = Comparison of interest
O = Outcome
T = Time
Collect the best evidence- what kind and includes • Search for evidence!
• Evidence includes but is not limited to: agency policy and procedure
manuals, quality improvement data, existing clinical practice guidelines, agency
experts, staff educators, risk managers, infection control nurses, and peer
reviewed articles (specifically within the most recent 5 years from the present
date)
Critically appraise the evidence you gather • The most difficult step in the EBP process
• Involves evaluation, determining if information is valuable and can be easily
applied, and if there is enough evidence for making a nursing practice change
• Thorough review of elements included in evidence-based articles
Integrate the evidence • How will you incorporate the evidence into practice?
• Integrate evidence with use of teaching tools, clinical practice guidelines,
policies and procedures, and new assessment documentation tools
• Consider staff support and available resources
• Conduct a pilot study and attempt to answer your PICOT question
Evaluate and share outcomes • Did it work? Is it effective?
• Communicate the results to various groups of nurses or other care providers
(facility nursing practice council or research committee)
PICO four-step process P - population of interest
I - intervention
C - comparison
O - outcome
Utilization of the research process • Identification of a researchable problem
• Review of the literature
• Formulation of the research question or hypothesis
• Design of the study
• Implementation of the study
• Drawing conclusions based on findings
• Discussion of clinical implications
• Dissemination of findings
