Evidence-based practice is a key principle in nursing that focuses on using the latest research to improve practices and ensure high quality care centered around patients' needs. In emergency nursing, evidence-based practices like strict infection control and carefully monitored oxygen use for COPD patients are used daily. As nurses, following evidence-based guidelines is important for tasks like regular repositioning of bedridden patients to prevent bed sores and scrubbing IV lines to reduce infections.

1. 4-Evidence based practice research has changed the field of
nursing in many ways. It is one of the key principles in
medicine today adhering to standards for high quality and
safety, all while focusing on patients’ needs. Old practices may
not work and need to change, evidence-based practice provides
the latest research in improving these practices.
In emergency nursing, evidence-based practice is used daily.
One very common practice is infection control. “This includes
keeping the healthcare environment clean, wearing personal
protective clothing, using barrier precautions and practicing
correct handwashing” (Arkansas State University, 2016). Even
though the emergency is very fast paced, nurses in my facility
are very aware of infection control and make efforts to improve
their infection control practices daily. Another evidence-based
practice used frequently in the ED, is oxygen use in patients
with COPD. “Despite the belief by some that providing oxygen
to these patients can create serious issues such as hypercarbia,
acidosis or even death, the evidence-based protocol is to
provide oxygen to COPD patients. This practice can help
prevent hypoxia and organ failure. Giving oxygen, which is the
correct treatment based on the evidence, can enhance COPD
patients’ quality of life and help them live longer” (Arkansas
State University, 2016). It is very important that nurses know
that giving to much oxygen can increase their respiratory drive,
causing more distress, but some oxygen is key to helping
improve the patients’ status.
Reference:
Arkansas State University (2016, December 20). 4 Examples of
Evidence-Based Practice in

2. Nursing. Retrieved from
https://degree.astate.edu/articles/nursing/examples-of-
evidence-based-practice-in-nursing.aspx
5-Evidence-based practice is something that is embedded into
our minds. During my first quarter of nursing school we were
required to write down interventions for all nursing diagnoses
and were required to cite evidence as to why we do the nursing
interventions that we do. As nurses it is important to know the
WHY as to why we do what we do. Evidence-based practice
changes everyday because science and studies are frequently
changing.
As nurses, we practice numerous nursing interventions daily.
For bedridden patients who cannot move on their own, we are
required to turn them at least every 2 hours because research
shows that by turning these patients, the chances of developing
bed sores are greatly decreased. We had a patient on our unit for
about 6 months who was not able to move on his own and he did
not develop a single bed sore because frequent turning was
practiced. Other common evidence-based practice interventions
include scrubbing the IV and central line hubs with alcohol for
10-15 seconds to prevent CLABSI. Washing your hands with
soap and water before and after entering a patient's room is the
number one method of preventing the transmission of disease.
We practice evidence-based interventions numerous times a day
and we probably do not even realize that we are doing it
because it becomes second nature to us such as something as
simple as raising the head of the bed, picking out the correct
blood pressure cuff, or grabbing some ice to apply to our
patient's knee, etc.
Arkansas State University states that nurses have room for
improvement when it comes to EBP. They state the follo wing

3. are some areas where nurses could better adhere to EBP:
Communication involving changes in a patient’s status.
Soft skills that improve patient interaction.
Training and onboarding new nurses.
Shift scheduling and the effect on care.
References:
Arkansas States University. 2018.
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
. Retrieved from
https://degree.astate.edu/articles/nursing/examples-of-evidence-
based-practice-in-nursing.aspx
6-From the perspective of a nurse, research or
evidence based practices are of vital importance when it comes
to determining
the best course of action to take with clients, and determining
which route to
take with an intervention plan. For instance, when examining
an individual's
symptoms or ailment, using evidence based practices can show
the best steps to

4. take in order to provide the patient with the most in depth and
intensive
treatment options which can be afforded to them (Melnyk &
Fineout-Overholt,
2011).
When
treating a patient with a number of symptoms which do not
have an immediately
known cause, using evidence based practices can assist in
determining which
specific ailment the patient is suffering from. By using research
that
highlights similar symptoms the specific condition can be
examined in more
detail which could lead to new treatment methods being
devised (Koehn &
Lehman, 2008).
The
benefits of evidence based practice are not limited only to the
treatment of
patients, but can also be utilized in how to properly
communicate and interact

5. with patients, and can prove vital in establishing connections
with them as
well (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). For instance, when
handling a
patient who is being difficult in their treatment methods, using
the best
evidence based practices can give insight into ways to interact
with the client
that can lead to more positive breakthroughs in their recovery
(Koehn &
Lehman, 2008).
Overall,
evidence and research based practices give nurses the ability to
utilize a wide
range of resources to determine which course of action is the
correct step to
take in ensuring that their patients receive the best cares
possible (Koehn
& Lehman, 2008).
'
References
Koehn, M. L., & Lehman, K. (2008). Nurses' perceptions

6. of evidence-based nursing practice.
Journal of Advanced Nursing
,
62
(2).
Retrieved from
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-
2648.2007.04589.x
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011).
Evidence-based
practice in nursing & healthcare:
A guide to best practice
. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.