Introduction
Application of Evidence-based practice (EBP) gives nurses a chance to be of fundamental influence on making decisions in healthcare and partners with other healthcare givers to improve the quality of services given to patients. EBP goes beyond professionalism because it gives nurses an opportunity to make practice more realistic as well as adding value to the experience of patients. Based on the identified issue of poor hand hygiene among healthcare workers, two models will apply in providing intervention to the problem. One such model is the Iowa Model of Evidence Based Practice meant for promoting quality care among nurses. The second model preferred is the John Hopkins Nursing Evidence Based practice. The John Hopkins Nursing Model is one of the most powerful problem-solving tools utilized in clinical decision-making (Boyce & Pittet, 2002). In addition, it has user friendly accompaniment tools that help in providing individual or group utilities. Similarly, Iowa Model of Evidence Based Practice is also a tool that can be used in the provision of guidelines for clinical decision-making. Iowa Model also bridges the gap that exists between acute-care nurse practitioner education and the nursing field demands.
Application of Iowa Model towards Research Utilization Project
There are three steps that help in the application of the Iowa model in EBP. For instance, the first step requires formulation of a research question which will guide nurses in provision of better healthcare (Brown, 2014). Setting of the question takes the PICO format, which involves identifying the population of interest, the interventions applicable, comparison of possible interventions with other applicable solutions, and defining the outcomes. Therefore, this step will help in identification of the problem of improper hand hygiene and utilizing the best interventions to curb it.
The next step of the model identifies how appropriately the study question suits the priorities of the organization (Brown, 2014). In this context, hand hygiene should be one of the priorities of the hospital because it is evident that most nurses and other healthcare providers wash their hands on rare occasions. Consequently, such unhygienic practices put the lives and health of patients at higher risks of infections and re-infections. The Iowa model gives a central focus on the need for a holistic consideration of the healthcare system regarding the identified problem. As a result, the model may apply research available within the context of patient, care provider, and infrastructure to guide healthcare practice decisions.
The third step of application of the model is determination of the most relevant answers to the study question (Brown, 2014). For this case, the nurses have a wide data base for their research, which means that this stage entails a literature review of the applicability of findings. For instance, some healthcare workers argue that the problem of poor hand hygiene is not their nature, but artificially created through the bulk of work they handle. Consequently, the nurses do not find ample time to clean their hands. Such nurses opt for supplies of sufficient gloves to enable them maintain high hygienic levels even if they do not wash their hands while serving patients (Nazarko, 2009).
The Iowa model proposes that Evidence Based Practice goes beyond the patient and NP. The model proposes that Evidence Based Practice should remain a part of the organizational culture. The model will help in ensuring that the hygienic standards maintenance cuts across multiple system levels from the top level management to the lowest clinician. In this regard, the management in the healthcare sector should be at the front line to facilitate training and feedback intervention among healthcare nurses and workers (Bischoff et al, 2011).
Application of John Hopkins Model towards Research Utilization Project
There are three fundamental elements that the model considers as aids to the success of EBP. Firstly, the model will help in the process of researching the dangers and problems of poor hand hygiene practices (Bischoff et al. 2011). For this case, research findings indicate that such a practice exposes patients to the risk of infection and re-infection of diseases. Using the model is a practical experience for both the nurses and patients because it utilizes scientific research models to prove the risks of clinical factors such as improper hand hygiene. There is also a highlighted finding that some nurses prefer using protective gears such as gloves instead of regular hand-washing practices.
Secondly, the model will help in education of nurses about the implications of research findings realized from the first step (Bischoff et al. 2011). At this stage, the model will help nurses to internalize the conceptual elements of EBP and incorporate them into practice. Education will help nurses in acquisition of relevant skills required for management of the project and teach them on how to participate actively in EBP. Nurse education will also help in defining the role that each nurse will play in dealing with the clinical problem such as that of improper hand hygiene.
Lastly, the model requires nurses to incorporate learning outcomes into practice (Bischoff et al. 2011). There is a need to consider that the model implements successive approaches that allow care givers to initiate best practices in healthcare provision. The John Hopkins model will help nurses to realize implications of the external environment on the quality of healthcare. For instance, nursing standards set by other institutions could provide a challenge to the organization, which will then cause healthcare practitioners to apply EBP. Therefore, it implies that nurses will learn to adopt changes to their working cultures in a manner that will improve their effectiveness towards patient outcomes.
Conclusion
The two models chosen, Iowa Model and John Hopkins model, are perfect and will help comprehensively in changing the hygiene of the healthcare sector. For instance, Johns Hopkins model has effective evaluation tools that can assess the levels of evidence in the research, the categories employed, as well as an evaluation of the viability of evidence. Similarly, the Iowa model will also compel the healthcare sector to accept that there is dire need to change the health care delivery system. A combination of the two models will help to produce the best outcomes because the Iowa model will review as much literature as possible to help complement the research process of the John Hopkins model. Success of the two models will also arise from the fact that both of them consider organizational cultures as fundamental to patient outcome and attempts to make them suit the objective of the study. Additionally, both models put nurses at the forefront in the process of implementing healthcare projects and the patients as the beneficiaries. In this way, EBP will be applicable and practical because of nurse education concerning patient care and dedication to finding the best practices for healthcare.
References
Bischoff, W. E., Reynolds, T. M., Sessler, C. N., Edmond, M. B., & Wenzel, R. P (2011). Hand washing compliance by health care workers: The impact of introducing an accessible, alcohol-based hand antiseptic. Archives of Internal Medicine, 160(7), 1017-21
Boyce, J. M., & Pittet, D. (2002). Guideline for hand hygiene in health-care settings: recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. American journal of infection control, 30(8), S1-S46.
Brown, C. G. (2014). The Iowa model of evidence-based practice to promote quality care: an illustrated example in oncology nursing. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, (2). 157.
Nazarko, L. (2009). Potential pitfalls in adherence to hand washing in the community. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, (6). 107.