An evidence-based approach toward addressing health-related issues in the clinical and nursing settings has become an inseparable part of contemporary healthcare. However, the role and weight of evidence-based decision-making for healthcare workers could use further explanation due to the misunderstandings and misconceptions surrounding the issue of EB in some healthcare and nursing staff members (Woo et al., 2017). By promoting an EB approach toward making decisions in the nursing or clinical context, healthcare professionals will be able to select the option that will benefit their patients specifically and will be tailored to meet the latter’s needs.
Allowing to update and improve clinical practice, an evidence-based approach will help nurses and healthcare experts to connect theory to practice and implement theoretical frameworks and models to address patients’ needs. Namely, the inclusion of an evidence-based approach will allow collecting information about the essential external and internal factors determining the progression of a patient’s disease or condition (Woo et al., 2017). Consequently, applying an EB-based approach, a nurse or a healthcare expert will have an opportunity to transfer from the theoretical understanding of a specific health issue to the practical analysis of a specific case.
Additionally, the use of the evidence-based strategy in nursing and healthcare will create opportunities for addressing the needs of patients that have low health literacy or face difficulties communicating with a healthcare provider. Specifically, any cases that imply a language barrier, cross-cultural issues and misunderstandings, or the lack of crucial knowledge concerning a specific health issue in the patient will require a unique approach that the EB decision-making will provide. Specifically, by grounding the solutions to a specific healthcare issue in the specific circumstances and factors affecting a case in point, a healthcare provider or a nurse will be able to select the option that will meet a patient’s needs best.
Finally, the adoption of an EB approach will help a nurse or a healthcare provider minimize the costs for the treatment. The described outcome is especially important in the context of the current economic and resource-related constraints inflicted on the healthcare industry by the coronavirus (Woo et al., 2017). Namely, the use of an EB strategy when tending to the needs of a patient will help to tailor the recommended treatment approach to the specific needs of the patient in question (Woo et al., 2017). As a result, the threat of using an excessively large amount of resources will be avoided, therefore, preventing resource waste. Apart from being vital for healthcare providers and nurses, the described outcome is also essential for patients, who are also likely to have experienced significant financial challenges due to the recession caused by COVID-19 (Woo et al., 2017). Thus, the application of the EB framework in the clinical and nursing environments is beneficial both for the patient and the healthcare expert. With an EB approach, one can improve the quality of care substantially by adjusting it specifically to the needs and unique characteristics of the target population.
The incorporation of an EB approach into the decision-making process in the nursing and clinical settings will lead to a better understanding of patient-specific needs and will help healthcare experts communicate to patients from diverse backgrounds, therefore, improving health literacy and the quality of care. Therefore, EB-based approaches to providing healthcare and nursing services must be viewed as a default framework for meeting patients’ needs. Apart from managing short-term tasks, the EB approach to nursing and healthcare will lead to a long-term improvement in the quality and efficacy of care.
Reference
Woo, K., Milworm, G., & Dowding, D. (2017). Characteristics of quality improvement champions in nursing homes: A systematic review with implications for evidence‐based practice. Worldviews on Evidence‐Based Nursing, 14(6), 440-446. Web.