Clinical Questioning and Evidence Based Practice
Why is Evidence Based Practice relevant to nursing practice?
There is a gap between what we know and what we do
  • Nursing practice can and must be changed from tradition-based to science-based
  • Improved Patient Outcomes
  • Decreased unnecessary procedures & complications
  • Greater provider job satisfaction
  • Third party reimbursement
  • Effective nursing practice requires information, judgment, and skill
  • Evidence Based Practice empowers nurses and expands their skills
Here are some examples of how you can use the Evidence Based Practice process steps to guide questioning in the clinical setting:
1. Assess practice (formulate question)
  • What isn’t working?
  • What do you want to know about?
2. Decide (evidence review)
  • What resources are available and are they any good?
  • What has worked in other places?
  • How can you change your practice?
3. Plan (develop a plan based on findings)
  • Make a plan to change care based on relevant, applicable information.
4. Intervene (take action to review process or change)
  • How and what practice change would you recommend?
  • Implement care based on best evidence and organizational policy
5. Evaluate (care improved or modify and again intervene)
  • How well is that working for you?
 
 
https://www.amsn.org/sites/default/files/documents/practice-resources/evidence-based-practice/Evidence_Based_Practice_Module_I.pdf