Evidence-Based Practice
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the thoughtful and rightful use of the available evidence in tandem with expertise in clinical matters and the value of patients for the purpose of guiding the decision-making process in health care (Steinwachs &Hughes, n.d). The steps that nurses use to establish evidence-based practice include formulation of well-designed questions, identification of the most appropriate sources that can be consulted to answer the questions, critical appraisal of the evidence to determine its validity, application of the evidence as required, and re-evaluation of the evidence to identify the areas of improvement. EBP allows individual to conduct an assessment of current or past research and deal with questions through qualitative and evaluative designs.
Information literacy and informatics competency plays significant roles in the achievement of evidence-based practice (EBP). Information competency and literacy allows the healthcare provider to come up with the most appropriate techniques of evaluating the questions in place. The availability of information tools is an added advantage because it increases the efficiency and the ease with each questions are handled in EBP.
There is evidence to show that EBP has been used to improve patient outcome in one way or another in most health care centers in the world (Titler, n.d). From the provided literature, there is a case where EBP is used to determine the effectiveness of endotracheal suctioning method by the respiratory therapists and nurses. Generally, EBP has enabled major improvements in health care service provision due to its effectiveness, ease, and reliability.
In my workplace, I have experienced the use of EBP as a technique of enhancing practice and patient outcome. We always have interactive forums where clinicians who are innovative display their proposals and sources of information that are relevant for patient service. EBP has been in use for a very long period of time at the workplace.
Computers in Research
The use of computer technology is beneficial for professionals who conduct research on various matters pertaining to health care practices. Computer technology allows the researcher to have access to real-time health information and enhances effective communication between two or more parties to retrieve/share the necessary information. Generally, computer technology has transformed research and nursing practices due to its efficiency, accuracy, and reliability.
One of the outcome measures in my area of practice that needs improvement is the real time telehealth where live interactions are necessary. Improvement in this area is achievable when computer technology and research skills are used to identify the strength and areas of weakness concerning the whole process. Telehealth is a cheap and efficient communication tool where live interactions between health professionals are possible to achieve the required best practices.
Mary is an enthusiastic and a hardworking medical practitioner who is interested in conducting research in the field of health care. To avoid the issues she faced, Mary could have consulted different sources such as online peer-reviewed articles or accredited web-sites.. To learn more about what current research suggests about preventing each of these conditions, she would have obtained trusted information from the previous studies/research sources. The criterion that should used to identify credible sources to enhance her clinical practice is the triangulation technique where she is required to outsource information from different sources.