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At the end of this section, you will be able to:

‹ Identify evidence-based practice (EBP) models

‹ Discuss barriers to application of evidence to practice

Transitioning Evidence to Practice

Maria Young

16.1 Evidence-Based Practice

Models to Overcome Barriers

By now you should have an understanding of EBP. As you recall, trial and error, educated guesses, and
intuition are all useful in contributing to a nurse’s experience that guides practice, but these processes
or behaviors do little to provide the stronger evidence needed to achieve positive patient outcomes. In
today’s rapidly changing, highly complex healthcare environment, patient outcomes based on evidence
provide the foundation for safe, quality patient care. So, how do we take the evidence and apply it to
the point of care? What EBP models have the potential to increase our use of research to guide care?
What are the barriers to applying evidence to practice? What elements are necessary if nurses are to
create a practice culture that is committed to and supports evidence-based processes, policies, and
actions? Answers to these questions are examined in this chapter as well as strategies to create an
EBP setting.

CHAPTER 16