Statement of the Problem
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a paradigm shift that has been identified in health care as a vital tool for research utilization. The impetus for incorporating evidence-based practice into nursing care must begin with the education process.
Purpose
The purpose of this presentation is to explore methods of integrating EBP into nursing curriculum that will ultimately enhance the link between research outcomes and application to everyday practice.
Significance and Justification
As an educator, the CNS provides clinical expertise and is equipped with the knowledge to bridge research outcomes to guide everyday patient care. One of the priority goals of evidence-based practice is to educate nurses to advance the profession by disseminating research findings to improve patient outcomes.
Practice Innovation
In the past, nursing research findings have not been adequately utilized as a basis to guide nursing practice. The challenge for educators is to make the topic of research "come alive" in the classroom so that the students will have a desire to seek research outcomes for answers to questions in the clinical setting.
Methods
Teaching EBP is actually a problem-solving skill that integrates literature searches, evaluation of research findings, and utilization of unique interventions to improve patient outcomes.
Evaluation
The health care environment itself has an immense influence on nursing education. The responsibility in health care today is to continually validate the care and interventions implemented for patients. The utilization of research findings from EBP will support the momentum of improved patient outcomes and savings in medical costs.
Implications for Practice
Evidence-based practice is the future of the nursing profession. Utilizing findings from research can have a direct impact on the way health care is delivered. CNSs are a vital link to implementing research findings to improve patient care outcomes.
Section Description
This year's annual NACNS conference is planned for Orlando, Fla, March 9-12, 2005. Over 300 clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are expected to attend, and as with past conferences, attendees will also include graduate faculty from CNS programs, nurse administrators, and nurse researchers. The theme of the conference, CNS Leadership: Navigating the Healthcare Environment Toward Excellence, was selected to showcase the many ways CNSs acquire and disseminate knowledge and innovative practices in their specialty areas. Two preconference sessions are scheduled. One session, sponsored by NACNS Legislative/Regulatory Committee, targets information for CNSs interested in understanding the legislative/regulatory process as it deals with the practice of nursing, and will also help build skills CNSs need to engage in the process. The second session, sponsored by NACNS Education Committee, focuses on CNS education issues, and as with the education preconferences of past years, anticipates informative dialogue and much sharing among CNS educators around curriculum design, teaching strategies, and indicators of quality in the curriculum that link to the NACNS education standards to program review and excellence. The conference planning committee is proud and pleased to have Jeanette Ives Erickson, MS, RN, CNA, Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nurse Executive of Massachusetts General Hospital as the opening keynote speaker. She will begin the conference by highlighting the importance of CNS practice on patient safety. The planning committee is equally proud and pleased to have NACNS past-president Rhonda Scott, PhD, RN, Chief Nursing Officer of Grady Health System as the closing speaker. Dr Scott will challenge attendees to use the information from the conference to shape quality care delivered in a safe environment and to advance the profession of nursing through direct care to clients, influencing standards of care delivered by other nurses, and influencing the healthcare delivery system to be to support innovative, cost-effective, quality nursing care. A total of 64 abstracts for podium and poster presentations were selected in addition to graduate student posters. The abstracts address the 3 spheres of CNS practice with a strong emphasis on clinical practice improvements. As you will note from the abstracts published in this issue of the journal, specialty practice areas represented in the abstracts include children, adults, and gerontological patient groups; hospital, outpatient, and home care settings, and community health. In addition, a wide variety of specialty topics including smoking cessation programs, end-of-life care issues, and protocols outlining nursing approaches to improved diabetes, cardiovascular and ventilator management. A number of the abstracts described hospital and healthcare system level innovations that resulted from CNS practice. Collectively, these abstracts reflect the breadth, depth, and richness of CNS contributions to the well-being of individuals, families, groups, and communities. The following abstracts are from those presenters who elected to have their work published in the journal so those who are unable to attend this year's conference can share in the knowledge of the conference. As you read each abstract, consider the talent and clinical scholarship of your CNS colleagues who are advancing the practice of nursing and contributing to improved outcomes for patients and healthcare organizations. You may want to contact individual presenters to network, collaborate, consult, or share your own ideas about these topics. Watch for next year's call for abstracts and consider submitting an abstract for presentation at NACNS's next conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 15-18, 2006.