Evidence-Based Practice

Evidence-Based Practice

Research has shown that patient outcomes improve with evidence-based care. Ever increasing workloads are reported to be obstacles in exploring new research. The Capstone preceptorship is an excellent opportunity to provide your unit with updated evidence-based knowledge and care practices.

During the Capstone practicum, your student will be enrolled in an evidence-based practice course that includes an evidence-based project on your unit. The project focuses on students' abilities to refine their critical/analytical skills in evaluating clinical research applicability to nursing practice. Course Requirements include writing an abstract, disseminating the information (such as a poster or flier for the unit), and making a presentation to the student’s Capstone group.

Activities related to evidence-based practice for the Capstone practicum needs to be discussed during the first meeting with your student. You can assist by having potential topics in mind as suggestions. The student will review literature and evidence-based models and comparing the literature to practice on your unit. The student must finalize the topic selection after working the third clinical shift.

The Evidence-Based Project

Your role is to assist your student in finding a topic to research for the unit or patient population served. You may seek others on the unit as resources, such as unit educator or Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS).

You can assist your student by understanding more about evidence-based practice and research utilization.

Research utilization is rhe process of using findings from conducting research to guide practice. Research findings may be from both/either qualitative and quantitative studies and is not limited to use of findings from randomized controlled studies.

Evidence-based practice is a problem-solving approach that involves clinical decision-making, a literature review aimed at finding the best and latest research-based evidence and connecting clinical expertise. Investigating patient preferences and values within a context of caring also guides the delivery of holistic care by nurses.

The following are methods that nurses employ to apply evidenced-based practice process. They:

• Disseminate scientific knowledge;
• Critique research studies;
• Determine applicability for practice;
• Develop research-based practice;
• Institute guidelines for care;and
• Evaluate practice change.

Use research findings to

•  Validate procedures;
• Formulate policies; and
• Establish protocols and standards of care.

Capstone preceptorships provide an excellent opportunity to develop evidence-based knowledge and care practices on your unit. Examples of previous student projects include:

• Cardiacenzymes to rule out an MI in the ED;
• Hypothermia in the OR and the use of warmed fluids and blanket;s
• Effects of glycemic control in critical care patients;
• Correct technique for administering childhood immunizations;
• Patient satisfaction: Why is it important and how nurses can affect outcomes;
• Pain assessment, effectiveness of pain medications, route of administration;
• Use of automatic external defibrillators in a school system; and
• Readability of patient teaching materials.
• Breastfeeding for a woman who is smoking

Locate sources of relevant evidence-based literature at:

• Cochrane Collaboration
• AHRQ-NGC
• American Pain Society
• Centers for Health Evidence
• Best Practices Network
• Stone & Rowles article"Nursing students can help support evidence-based practice on clinical nursing units."

Think About it! 

Think about potential evidence-based practice topics for your Capstone student. Is there a new procedure or medication that you would like research? Do you need more current information regarding patient education for a certain population?

Finishing Up

You have now completed the content of the Capstone Preceptor course.

CLICK HERE to complete the post-test survey and evaluation in order to receive your contact hours and be added to our preceptor list