Science teaches us to look into things and ask questions. In medicine, the same is true. There is always something to examine in medicine, whether it is to design interventions or to understand complex conditions. It was constantly mentioned to me as a nurse and nursing student that in order to be a successful nurse, I would need to pursue continuous education for the remainder of my career. We should always strive to increase our education in order to grow as individuals. Nurses will need to think critically, analyze, and take the initiative in the future in order to make decisions about patient care, interventions, leadership, and public health. Explain the importance of an inquiry-based culture and what you can do as a seasoned registered nurse to support it in your practice or organization. In response to what your peers have said, compare the utilization of EBP in your expert area to that of another advanced registered nursing speciality (National League of Nursing, 2014, para. 1). The COVID-19 pandemic served as a wake-up call for our country to focus on improving nursing practice. Nurses must be encouraged and propelled into positions of leadership, managerial responsibility, and research and development. As the pandemic ravaged hospitals around the country, many nurses took the lead in saving their patients and hospitals. Furthermore, the number of people interested in learning how to work in the medical field has increased (particularly in nursing and nursing research). Epidemiology, public health, and medical research began to intrigue them as more people and nurses were interested in the manufacture of vaccines and the causes underlying sickness and virus outbreaks. As an advanced registered nurse, I would contribute to an evidence-based culture by employing EBP and engaging with other staff members to apply EBP research to real-world scenarios. Because other interventions and strategies were ineffectual during the peak of the epidemic, EBP research was used to assist patients.
Explain the importance of a “spirit of inquiry” in an evidence-based culture and what you can do as an advanced registered nurse to encourage this within your practice or organization. In response to your peers, compare the role and implementation of EBP in your specialty area with another advanced registered nurse specialty.
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Science teaches us to explore and question. In medicine, it the same. There is always something to explore in medicine, whether its to improve upon interventions or to learn complex diseases. Throughout my career as a nurse and nursing student, it was always expressed to me that in order for me to become a successful nurse I would need to engage in continuing education for the life of my career. In life, we should always strive for continuing education for personal development and growth. The future of nursing will require nurses to question, explore and take initiative making decisions on patient care, interventions, in leadership and public health. “Explain the importance of a spirit of inquiry in an evidence-based culture and what you can do as an advanced registered nurse to encourage this within your practice or organization. In response to your peers, compare the role and implementation of EBP in your specialty area with another advanced registered nurse specialty” (National League of Nursing, 2014, para. 1). The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake up call in that we as a nation need to focus on improving our nursing practice. Nurses will need to be encourage and pushed into leadership roles, executive positions and in the areas a research and development. Many nurses took the lead in saving their patients and hospitals as the pandemic ravaged hospitals throughout the country. There was also a spike in people researching how to get into the field of medicine (particularly in nursing and nursing research). There became a fascination into epidemiology, public health and medical research as people and nurses became curious about vaccine development and how outbreaks of disease and virus happen. As a advanced registered I would encourage evidence based culture by being an example of someone who uses EBP and work in collaboration with other staffers to implement EBP research into the real world. During the heigh of the pandemic, EBP research was used to help patients as other interventions and methods failed.
Implementing EBP
In the field of advanced nursing practice, there are various ways advanced nurses implement EBPs. Nurse practitioners implement and EBP “when she/he prescribes a treatment for a patient that is substantiated by scientific research; Often, nurse practitioners look for an experimental study that compares the efficacy of a treatment with an untreated control group” (Nurse Practitioner Schools, 2021).
Certified mid-wifery
For nursing midwives, EBP is are used to enhance the lives of the mother, child and community. Mothers are the backbone of communities and the health and safety of woman determines the health and safety of their respective communities. Areas of challenges are identified and EBP are used to improve the lives of women in order to safely carry, deliver and raise children.
References:
National League of Nursing. (2014). Practical/Vocational Nursing Program Outcome: Spirit of Inquiry. https://www.nln.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/spirit-of-inquiry-final.pdf?sfvrsn=0
Nurse Practitioner Schools. (2021). Guide to Evidence-Based Nursing Practice for NPs. Retrieved from https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/resources/guide-to-evidence-based-nursing-practice/
Spirit of inquiry is defined as a continuous sense of wonder that guides both learning and practices. Nurses can be highly influenced by the spirit of inquiry practices in a beneficial way. In nursing, the spirit of inquiry will raise questions, challenge established and existing practices, and look for new ways to solve problems. When asking the right questions in the right way, obtaining the best available evidence, and determining what practice changes are needed are all part of addressing a clinical problem through evidence-based practice (EBP) (National League for Nursing, 2021). Developing nurses with an inquiry mindset within a culture that promotes a systematic approach to asking clinical questions is a critical component of the EBP journey. When conducting an evidence-based study or question, utilizing the spirit of inquiry supports the ongoing curiosity of evidence that would dictate a clinical decision. As a nurse, it is essential to understand if an intervention is necessary, beneficial for the client, and supported by evidence-based practice. Nurses and collaborative team members work to improve clinical problems by using clinical reasoning or judgment. The spirit of increased exit and the first step of the evidence-based process will begin. The overall outcome or goal in predictable patient care settings, nurses will use evidence, tradition, and patient preferences in collaboration with health care team members to promote optimal health status.
National League for Nursing. (2021). Practical/Vocational Nursing Program Outcome: Spirit of Inquiry. https://www.nln.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/spirit-of-inquiry-final.pdf?sfvrsn=0#:~:text=Spirit%20of%20inquiry%20is%20a
Evidence-based practice for nursing is driven by the influence and motivation to seek more information that would support interventions and practice. The spirit of inquiry is the term given to this motivation as nurses continue to question current practices and knowledge for evidence-based practice. Without it, research would go stale and would not produce any change that could significantly increase positive outcomes in health care or practice. Evidence-based culture is dependent on those who nurses who seek to explore more possibility in practice, patient care and health knowledge so that health care not only constantly improving but also evolving to meet changes in health demands and technologies. Advanced registered nurses can encourage inquiry in their respective areas of practice where they feel that although there is good outcomes, better ones can be produced with a change in evidence-based practice. This would require extensive research which those advanced nurses must have the motivation to thoroughly examine through the evidence-based research process. Giving opportunity to make changes to how they practice and how it affects the patients will produce professional rewarding as well as personal ones too which is why nudging and leading other nurses to participate in change can greatly improve patient outcomes from interventions (Arzouman, 2015).
Nurse Informaticists utilize evidence-based communication and technology integration techniques so that patient care and information systems are beneficial to all parties involved. Utilization of nursing experience in order to enhance communication or health records can streamline patient care so that efficiency can reach maximum potential. Leadership is also important to nursing informatics and communication when implementing evidence-based practice interventions. Having knowledge of communication barriers and having implementing creativity in overcoming them provides valuable resources to patient care and health (Farokhzadian, Jouparineiad, Fatehi & Falahati-Marvast, 2021).
References:
Arzouman, J. (2015). Evidence-Based Practice: Share the Spirit of Inquiry. MEDSURG Nursing, 24(4), 209–211.
Farokhzadian, J., Jouparinejad, S., Fatehi, F., & Falahati-Marvast, F. (2021). Improving nurses’ readiness for evidence-based practice in critical care units: results of an information literacy training program. BMC Nursing, 20(1). https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00599-y
Having an evidence-based culture is important in nursing and having one that possesses a spirit of inquiry is even more important. Having a spirit of inquiry within an evidence-based culture helps to support a systematic process for asking clinical questions related to a clinical problem (Wyant, 2018). Spirit of inquiry is the beginning step in the evidence-based practice (EBP) process. This is where one has the curiosity of what the best evidence is to help guide one in clinical decision making for a problem that they are trying to address (Wyant, 2018). You know when a spirit of inquiry exists within a work culture when you have nurses collaborating on ways to improve clinical problems through using clinical reasoning and judgement (Wyant, 2018). To encourage a spirit of inquiry as an advanced registered nurse within my practice or organization is to model it. By leading and supporting this culture, will help to encourage others to trust each other and encourage the change process. By doing this, it will help get rid of the “it’s the way we have always done it mentality” and move towards the thinking of what does the evidence show when looking at clinical problems. This will help create a collaborative culture among a team and when the team starts seeing the benefits from it, it will be the go-to process when looking into changing clinical processes. It is important that leadership supports implementation research and practice so that it fosters a culture of collaboration and organizational climate for implementation science (Nelson-Brantley & Chipps, 2021).
References:
Nelson-Brantley, H. V., &. Chipps, E. (2021). Implementation science and nursing leadership: Improving the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based practice. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 51(5), 237-239. doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000001006
Wyant, T. (2018, January 18). A spirit of inquiry leads to evidence-based answers to practice questions. ONS Voice. https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/a-spirit-of-inquiry-leads-to-evidence-based-answers-to-practice-questions
Once a search is carried out to find relevant articles within a chosen topic, a literature review helps bring together what is already known about a topic, facilitating new learning opportunities (Watts, 2020). Gaps in current knowledge can be identified, or theories and academic opinions may raise new research areas during critical analyses. The initial question asked may evolve or change altogether when researching a posed question. Other themes or questions that may surface during the research journey, adding curiosity to what should be researched next. This “spirit of inquiry” is essential to our knowledge base and our peers well.
Nurse leaders have considerable influence on implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) in their departments, units, and organizations; however, resistance to change can stall innovations (Tucker & Mazurek Melnyk, 2019). Effective leadership requires an understanding of change theory, how change is facilitated and blocked, successful change steps, and strategies to promote each step. Implementation for promoting EPB falls into seven categories: leadership, coaching, communication, reinforcements, recognition, measurement, and reporting. Different strategies may be needed at each stage of change to promote and sustain the change. Nurse leaders can successfully implement EBP changes by being knowledgeable about a proposed change, partner with staff, engage the help of mentors or change agents, work with senior leaders, thank and celebrate all staff in the process, and disseminate findings.
