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Debate the Connection Between Nursing Theory and Evidence-Based Practice.

Nursing has long been conducted through the implementation of nursing theory, but evidence-based practice has been recommended by nursing authorities as far back as Florence Nightingale. Evidence-based practice is simply the implementation of nursing practices that research evidence demonstrates to be effective, and "studies have supported that patient outcomes are substantially improved when health care is based on evidence from well designed studies versus tradition or clinical expertise alone" (Melnyk, Fineout-Overholt, Stone, & Ackerman, 2000, as cited in Melnyk, 2002, p. 1).

It seems logical that nurses would want to use practices that have been demonstrated successful, yet there are a number of barriers to evidence-based practice. Theory is easy to obtain, but "many nurses are struggling or lack the knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based care" (Melnyk, 2002, p. 1). In addition, there is often resistance to change in many healthcare organizations. In fact, "It has been argued that the dominant factor in clinical effectiveness, practice development and successful outcome achievement (for example) is that of culture" (McCormack, Kitson, Harvey, Rycroft-Malone, Titchen, & Seers, 2002, p. 97). Culture is what "creates the context for practice," and when the culture is locked in an old paradigm informed by theory alone, there is little room for evidence-based practice (McCormack, Kitson, Harvey, Rycroft-Malone, Titchen, & Seers, 2002, p. 97). Leadership can be another barrier (McCormack, Kitson, Harvey, Rycroft-Malone, Titchen, & Seers, 2002, p. 98). Traditional leaders often impose their own favorite theories on practitioners, and unless the leader is a transformational leader that "can alter the prevailing organizational culture and create a context that is more conducive to the integration of evidence and practice," theory is more likely to prevail as the standard (McCormack, Kitson, Harvey, Rycrof...

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Debate the Connection Between Nursing Theory and Evidence-Based Practice. . (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 04:47, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/2001256.html