2023 In research from Bourgault 2018 evidence based practice EBP should be at the pinnacle of our profession as nurses

In research from Bourgault (2018), evidence-based practice (EBP) should be at the pinnacle of our profession as nurses. Rather than relying on professional opinion and tradition-based practices, all of our policies and procedures should be guided by the best research evidence. The clinicians’ responsibility is to bridge the gap between developing new research knowledge and translating research into clinical practice. High-quality research evidence is a fundamental element for successful EBP.

Nurses can verify the quality of evidence and knowledge in research. Gray et al. (2017) state that the strength or validity of the best research evidence in any given area depends on the studies’ quality and quantity conducted regarding that topic. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of quantitative studies with evidence formulated from randomized controlled trials or experimental studies provide the most substantial research evidence. Studies with similar frameworks, variables, designs, and methods increase the research evidence’s strength in an area. Mixed-methods systematic reviews of quantitative and qualitative studies and descriptive or qualitative studies provide limited evidence for weaker data. As a critical thinker, one would look for high-quality evidence in multiple studies before deciding to implement that change in their environment. 

Credibility and clinical significance greatly influence the decision to integrate EBP into practice. A study’s weaknesses are determined by critically appraising the credibility or trustworthiness of the study findings (Gray et al., 2018). If a source is not credible based on its limitations, the evidence is not supported and should not be used in practice. Considering the research’s sample size and population compared to their own would be a factor in realizing its clinical significance related to the environment in question.