What is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing?
Published on: February 22, 2025 | 10 minutes read
By: Lisa Radesi
Whether you are an aspiring nurse or an established RN, you probably know that the profession abounds with different modalities. Functional nursing, the team nursing model, primary nursing, and case management were all designed to improve patient care and enhance patient outcomes.1
Add evidence-based nursing to the list.
First introduced by Florence Nightingale more than a century ago, evidence-based practice (EBP) combines the latest in clinical healthcare research with medical expertise and patient preferences to enrich the quality of healthcare.2
But what is evidence based practice, exactly? And why is it important to know and implement?
Read on to learn the basics of EBP, why itās critical in todayās healthcare environment, and how it can help you understand how to be a better nurse.
What is Evidence-Based Practice?
Evidence-based practice is an innovative, holistic nursing technique that involves gathering, processing, and applying the most recent research findings to patient care.
Unlike some traditional nursing practice methods, or relying on colleagues for guidance, it asks nurses to:
- Use their research and critical thinking skills
- Leverage their clinical experience and medical knowledge
- Inquire about and confirm their patientsā preferences and expectations
The main goal of evidence-based practice is at the heart of nursing itself: to give patients the highest possible level of care and boost their health outcomes.
Examples of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
So, what does evidence-based practice look like in action?
A few examples of evidence-based nursing practice include:
- Administering oxygen to patients with COPD
- Identifying and addressing how a patientās presentation of symptoms can be influenced by family members and loved ones
- Using noninvasive techniques to measure blood pressure in children
- Managing angina based on new evidence
- Recognizing alarm fatigue
Importance of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
Personal beliefs, advice from physicians and fellow nurses, and intuition all play into a nurseās approach to healthcare.3 And while EBP also counts on these methods, it leans more heavily on the most cutting-edge clinical healthcare research available. Not only does this help nurses and other health professionals expand their body of knowledge, but it may also result in:4
- Fewer medical errors and enhanced patient safety
- Stronger standardized care (and fewer variations)5
- Better use of resourcesĀ
- Improved practice settings
All told it has the potential to give nurses and health professionals the confidence they need to make empowered, informed treatment decisions.
The Three Components of EBP
As discussed, evidence-based practice in nursing focuses on three core principles: clinical research, medical know-how, and patient preferences.
Research Evidence
New medical research is published almost daily in scientific journals.6 This alone shows why itās so important for healthcare professionals to stay on top of the latest findings. After all, why use an outdated clinical tool or treatment when a novel approach may increase a patientās success and satisfaction?
EBP in nursing relies on four levels of evidence:
- Level A, or results from randomized, controlled clinical trials
- Level B, or data obtained through non-randomized, quality-control clinical trials
- Level C, or information acquired through expert opinions and general consensus
- Level D, or decisions based on multiple forms of available evidence
One or more of these levels of evidence often serve as a roadmap for how a nurse decides to tackle patient care.
Clinical Expertise
āClinical expertiseā refers to your cumulative education and experience (or the education and experience you hope to gain).
Your expertise is individual to the positions youāve held and the experiences youāve obtained. But it generally involves:7
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving abilitiesĀ
- Medication management
- Infection control
These traits, as well as others, are not only needed in EBP but may also complement what youāve uncovered in your researchāand further shape your treatment decisions.
Patient Preferences and Values
Learning your patientsā preferences and values is widely seen as a crucial part of evidence-based practice.8
For example, one patient may want to experiment with alternative forms of healingāsuch as acupuncture and mindfulness meditationāwhile another might prefer medication over psychotherapy. One may have solid beliefs on end-of-life care, and another might be against certain interventions.
Ultimately, understanding your patientās clinical preferences, as well as their culture and religious/spiritual beliefs, can help you craft a compassionate and potentially effective practice plan.9
The EBP Process
Evidence-based practice typically follows seven essential steps:10
- Create an environment that encourages and supports curiosity
- Ask questions, such as what a patient needs to improve their well-being or what kind of technology you can use in your treatment decision
- Search for evidence
- Evaluate the evidence
- Implement the evidence into your practiceĀ
- Assess the outcomes
- Share your results
A quick note here: Before implementing evidence-based practice, you must discuss your findings with your nurse manager (if applicable) and your healthcare team. Following this, you must receive approval and ensure your tactic complies with your facilityās procedures and policies.
Naturally, this isnāt the only process for evidence-based practice in existence. For example, the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model (JHEBP) uses a three-phase framework known as the PET process:11
- Practice question ā The JHEBP starts with a clinical inquiry based on the PICO format, or Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Intervention. In a nutshell, this involves identifying the patient population (or a group of people with a similar condition, symptoms, or complaints), exploring possible interventions and their risks, comparing alternative interventions, and determining the ideal (and potential) patient outcomes.Ā
- Evidence ā In the second phase, clinical research is conducted to make sure nurses have a solid understanding of the most recent findings. Here, data is assessed for quality and strength.
- Translation ā In the final phase, research is applied to developing a treatment plan or care tactics.
Will implementing evidence-based practice increase the time you spend on a specific patient case? Possibly. But the return on investment may be well worth your extra effortsāa topic weāll turn to next.
Benefits of EBP in Nursing
EBP may be primarily focused on enhancing patient care and their overall health. And yet, it may also contribute to:
- Reduced healthcare costs ā Florence Nightingale founded evidence-based practice when she collected evidence about the connection between unsanitary conditions and health problems; today, the same principleāfinding, assessing, and applying clinical evidence to prevent illnessesāmay save money for patients and healthcare facilities.Ā
- Decreased medical complications ā Data-driven insights on a condition and treatment plans (such as medication) might lead to fewer medical errors.
- Enhanced autonomy in nurses ā Nurses work with a patientās entire healthcare team and consistently consult with other professionals. Evidence-based practice does not take away from this, but it does fuel independence by equipping nurses with more in-depth, advanced knowledge.Ā
- Better use of the latest technologies ā Technology has been an absolute game changer in the healthcare field. Staying on top of the most recent studies and technologies will allow you to implement the latest tools (and potentially improve patient outcomes).Ā
- Increased patient satisfaction ā By and large, patients want to be seen and heard. Understanding your patientsā preferences, values, and expectations can help ensure their needs and desires are met, and possibly uplift their satisfaction.
- Improved time management ā Evidence-based practice can also help nurses attain what they need most: more time. By creating treatment plans based on research, they can concentrate on the most important aspects of patient care, cut down on activities that have no proven benefit, and use their time at work more wisely.
Above all, evidence-based practice naturally promotes lifelong learning, which may be key to remaining engaged with (and excited about!) nursing.
Challenges and Barriers to EBP Implementation
As you might imagine, nurses interested in exploring (and adopting) evidence-based practice might encounter a few issues along the way. These may include:12
- A lack of time to conduct clinical research
- Insufficient training in research methods
- Trouble with interpreting clinical data
- Inadequate financial, material, and colleague support
Fortunately, there are dozens of ways to get past these obstacles. Letās have a look.
Strategies for Overcoming Barriers
The potential benefits of evidence-based practice may be all the motivation you need to overcome its perceived and actual challenges. But you can also take several active steps towards integrating into your daily patient care, such as:13
- Refining your time management skills to allow you enough hours to collect and analyze research
- Searching for a mentor, like a senior nurse who regularly uses EBP
- Engaging in interprofessional collaboration in nursing
- Attending workshops, seminars, and conferences associated with evidence-based practice
- Reaching out to your alma mater about getting library access
Another option? Looking into an educational institute that offers additional credentials in evidence-based practiceāand demonstrates, first-hand, its power to elevate healthcare.
Advance Your Nursing Career with 911³Ō¹Ļ International University
There is a wealth of evidence based practice examples, from preventing infections through advanced sanitation protocols to managing pain in post-operative patients through a multi-pronged approach.14 Its versatility and value underline its growing importance in the healthcare field, a fact Nightingale knew from the start.
911³Ō¹Ļ International University can help you develop the skills you need to effectively implement evidence-based practice in your nursing career. Whether you are interested in pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing or a master of science in nursing, nurse executive, our hybrid nursing school programs provide students with the education and training they need to succeed in the medical profession.
Make a difference in the world with 911³Ō¹Ļ International University.
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- āNursing Care Delivery Models [+ Free Cheat Sheet].ā Lecturio, October 15, 2024. https://www.lecturio.com/nursing/free-cheat-sheet/nursing-care-delivery-models/. Accessed October 29, 2024.
- āWhat Is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing?ā ANA, February 26, 2024. https://www.nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/workplace/evidence-based-practice-in-nursing/. Accessed October 29, 2024.
- āThe Role of Intuition in Nurse Decision Making ā Bjn Inform.ā ā BJN Inform. https://www.bjninform.com/my-career/the-role-of-intuition-in-nurse-decision-making/. Accessed October 29, 2024.Ā
- Abu-Baker, Nesrin N., Salwa AbuAlrub, Rana F. Obeidat, and Kholoud Assmairan. āEvidence-Based Practice Beliefs and Implementations: A Cross-Sectional Study among Undergraduate Nursing Students – BMC Nursing.ā BioMed Central, January 7, 2021. https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-020-00522-x. Accessed October 29, 2024.
- Evidenceābased practice improves patient outcomes and … https://sigmapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/wvn.12621. Accessed October 30, 2024.
- Ā āUnderstanding Medical Research.ā MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/understandingmedicalresearch.html. Accessed October 29, 2024.Ā
- Clinical nursing skills: Definition, uses and examples | indeed.com. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/clinical-nursing-skills. Accessed October 29, 2024.Ā
- The importance of listening to patient preferences when … https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wps.20912. Accessed October 29, 2024.Ā
- Swihart, Diana L. āCultural Religious Competence in Clinical Practice.ā StatPearls [Internet]., July 24, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493216/. Accessed October 29, 2024.Ā
- Brunt, Barbara A. āNursing Professional Development Evidence-Based Practice.ā StatPearls [Internet]., March 4, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589676/. Accessed October 29, 2024.Ā
- āEvidence-Based Practice.ā Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/nursing/center-nursing-inquiry/nursing-inquiry/evidence-based-practice. Accessed October 29, 2024.Ā
- Pitsillidou, Maria, Zoe Roupa, Antonis Farmakas, and Maria Noula. āFactors Affecting the Application and Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing.ā Acta informatica medicaāÆ: AIMāÆ: journal of the Society for Medical Informatics of Bosnia & HerzegovinaāÆ: casopis Drustva za medicinsku informatiku BiH, December 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8800576/. Accessed October 29, 2024.Ā
- Summit. āOvercoming Barriers to Using Evidence in Practice – Summit Professional Education.ā Summit Professional Education – Sharing Knowledge, June 18, 2024. https://summit-education.com/blog/general/overcoming-barriers-to-using-evidence-in-practice/. Accessed October 29, 2024.Ā
- CareRev. āEvidence-Based Practice in Nursing: Examples & More.ā Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: Examples & More, September 18, 2024. https://www.carerev.com/blog/understanding-evidence-based-practice-in-nursing. Accessed October 29, 2024.Ā
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