Evidence-based practice as taught and experienced

Reflections: The Responsibility of Doctoral Nurses to Lead a Change in Practice

“…As Rosser et al ( 7) acknowledge, practice based on best evidence offers the best quality care; they indeed noted that nursing's regulatory body in the UK, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, states in their standards for professional nurse education throughout the UK that all nurses must "safely demonstrate evidence-based practice in all skills and procedures… [and] demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and ability to think critically when applying evidence" (8). Additionally, from an education perspective, Rosser et al (7) recognised the universal commitment of nurses to EBP, certainly in the western world, though they acknowledge that the support structures in practice are often lacking. Sackett et al (9), who instigated the EBP movement in medicine in the 1990s, explained EBP as not merely the evidence from research but ensuring that the best quality care embraces a combination of knowledge for the head (technical knowledge based on research evidence), knowledge for the hand (professional and life resources), and knowledge for the heart (first-person accounts of patient experience) (10).…”

“…In spite of the widespread acceptance of EBP, there remains much resistance to its continued adoption (7). Although it is the responsibility of all nurses to support the implementation of EBP, it is those doctorally educated nurses who are responsible for the leadership.…”