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Evidence-Based Practice for Infection Control Practices

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Evidence-Based Practice for Infection Control Practices

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the process of utilizing clinical research to identify

optimal methods of treatment. Nurses can deliver superior patient care by analyzing data from
studies, interviews, and other sources. Applications of EBP are not limited to the medical field.
The use of EBP has spread throughout the healthcare industry to formulate policies that improve
the quality of care provided to patients and the efficiency with which they are provided.
Organizations should use EBP when making decisions about things like clothing codes and how
to help nursing staff deal with alarm fatigue (Melnyk & Fineout-Overhold, 2022).

Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcers Control

The medical-surgical unit's wound nurse, nurse manager, and nurse educator collaborate
to assess the prevalence of pressure ulcers among their patients. The task force first assesses the
available research by reading the evidence-based literature. The wound nurse incorporates
evidence-based practice research into an annual educational activity and competency based on
the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel's prevention regimen. All nurses on the ward must
retake the competency exam and training every year to prove their expertise (Beal & Smith,
2016). Using the data gathered from the literature review, nurses can develop their pressure
wound assessment and staging interventions, (I) deploy instructional materials, and achieve
annual competency. Intervention, independent variable, and indicator are all examples of the
letter "I" in a PICOT question. Medication, surgical procedures, educational initiatives, and
policy shifts are all examples.

Comparison

In order to have a control group, the study would need to exclude half of the nurses from
the competencies for the allotted time. The wound nurse selects to compare pressure wound rates
before and after the intervention. Therefore, the PICOT would ask, "How does the introduction
of a yearly competency for pressure wound evaluation and staging (I) compare to no yearly
competency for pressure wound assessment and staging (C)?"
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Questions

• What are the study's actual findings?

• Are the outcomes reliable and credible?
• Will the findings assist in caring for the patient population?
• What are the interventions that can help in the prevention or management of pressure
ulcers?

Acquiring

In a large hospital, a wound care nurse working in the medical-surgical unit knows that
pressure ulcers are both expensive to treat and harmful to the patient. Acute discomfort, poor
health outcomes, higher medical expenses, a higher risk of infection, and extended hospital stays
are all associated with hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPU). The nurses have observed an
uptick in the number of patients presenting with pressure ulcers on the floor (Young, 2021).
Nurses in an acute care context formulate a clinical question to address discrepancies in the
reporting, staging, and management of pressure ulcers among patients in the medical-surgical
specialty group (P). When broken down into its parts, the PICOT question from the case study
reads as follows: "How does the implementation of a yearly competency for pressure wound
assessment and staging (C) compare to no yearly competency for pressure wound assessment
and staging (O) and affect HAPU rates (T) within three months?"

Appraisal

When the pre- and post-survey results were compared, it was clear that performance had
increased across the board. The intervention boosted committee members' assurance in the
procedure and ability to take the helm on EBP projects. The project's instructional bundle can be
replicated by other groups who want to train influential EBP mentors.

Application

High-quality healthcare that provides patients with the best outcomes at the lowest cost
relies heavily on EBP (Stucky et al., 2020). Enhancing the nurse's independence and sense of
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agency is another benefit of evidence-based practice (EBP). The first step in EBP is for nurses to
question established procedures using their clinical knowledge. In order to achieve optimal
healthcare and patient outcomes, EBP incorporates nurse expertise, patient preferences, and the
most substantial evidence currently available. Educating future nurses on evidence-based
practice (EBP) at the undergraduate level will help to increase the proportion of nurses who feel
at ease using it in their daily work. Attending workshops and continuing education units (CEUs)
devoted to EBP might help practicing nurses better grasp the process. To better think about and
formulate clinical issues, it is helpful to subscribe to nursing publications and engage in
discussions of the relevant research literature. EBP rounds, journal clubs, mentorship programs,
and task groups are all effective strategies for spreading evidence-based practice throughout an
organization. Pressure ulcers are preventable and more quickly healed with specialized support
surfaces (such as mattresses) and dressings (Kasem Al Shibli et al., 2021). The risk of a patient
acquiring a pressure ulcer can be mitigated using specific mattresses and static support surfaces.
There is substantial evidence supporting dressings, as they have been successful in multiple
randomized controlled trials.

Assessment

Reducing population-wide pressure-related injuries was a priority, and adopting this

quality improvement effort did just that. According to the case study, HAPU rates dropped
precipitously once the yearly competency and training were implemented. The HAPU rate in the
medical-surgical unit dropped from 4% to 0% within six months of implementing this policy.
Pressure ulcers in all stages can be correctly identified upon admission provided they are
assessed and staged at the outset. The wound nurse and the task force may achieve long-lasting,
significant organizational changes and enhance patient outcomes by employing the EBP
approach. Integrating medical evidence with nursing experience, clinical decision-making, and
patient preferences is the foundation of evidence-based nursing care. Consequently, many nurses
feel more at ease with evidence-based practice (EBP) after ten or more years of experience
(Rudman et al., 2020). An individual's level of nursing experience over time is a strong indicator
of their ability to make sound clinical decisions and exhibit critical thinking.
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References

Beal, M. E., & Smith, K. (2016). Inpatient pressure ulcer prevalence in an acute care hospital
using evidence‐based practice. Worldviews on Evidence‐Based Nursing, 13(2), 112-117.

Kasem Al Shibli, N., Albilasi, M. N., Alruwaili, T. Y., Alazmi, A. D., Alazmi, M. D., Almadi, B.
A., ... & Alsharari, A. S. (2021). An Overview on Pressure Ulcers: Prevention and
Management.

Loversidge, J. M. (2016). An evidence-informed health policy model: Adapting evidence-based

practice for nursing education and regulation. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 7(2), 27-33.

Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overhold, E. (2022). Evidence-based practice in nursing &

healthcare: A guide to best practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Rudman, A., Boström, A. M., Wallin, L., Gustavsson, P., & Ehrenberg, A. (2020). Registered
Nurses’ Evidence‐Based Practice Revisited: A Longitudinal Study in Mid‐Career.
Worldviews on Evidence‐Based Nursing, 17(5), 348-355.

Stucky, C. H., De Jong, M. J., & Rodriguez, J. A. (2020). A Five‐Step Evidence‐Based Practice
Primer for Perioperative RNs. AORN Journal, 112(5), 506-515.

Yoder-Wise, P. S., Waddell, J., & Walton, N. (2019). Leading and Managing in Canadian
Nursing E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Young, J. S. (2021). Trauma Center Performance Improvement. Springer International

Publishing.