What is evidence based practice and what are some of the barriers encountered by nursing to evidence based practice?

Evidence based practice (EBP) is a clinical approach which involves using an individual’s medical history and current condition as well as the latest research findings to inform decisions regarding diagnosis, treatment and care. EBP is a way to increase effectiveness while minimising risks and ensure patients get the right care based upon their needs.

Despite EBP’s many advantages, nurses may face some obstacles to its implementation. Another obstacle is time. Because nurses are often busy caring for patients, they may not be able to find the right evidence or assess its importance in every situation. Access can also be a problem, as it is difficult to obtain reliable data from studies published and as it becomes more complicated for researchers who need approval from decision-makers or administrators.

If staff are not familiar with EBP concepts, they may resist change. Finally, cost limitations could also hinder progress since conducting relevant research generally requires investment – something which might not always be feasible depending on budget constraints at a given organization. Nevertheless though by overcoming these challenges, nursing teams should then be better equipped to provide evidence-based care that is tailored specifically towards meeting each patient’s needs.