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School of Nursing: Evidence-Based Practice

An overview of evidence-based practice resources for Nursing students.

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

David Sackett defined evidence-based medicine as "the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients."

The Center for Evidence-Based Medicine

Evidenced-based practice (EBP) is applying or translating research findings in our daily patient care practices and clinical decision-making.

It is the framework for your clinical decision-making process.

It is the integration of:

  • your knowledge, skills, and past experience (Clinical Expertise);
  • the unique preferences, concerns and expectations of your patient (Patient Characteristics); and
  • valid and clinically relevant research (Best Evidence).

When making clinical decisions it's important to consider the 5 A's:

  • Assess: Review the Situation
  • Ask: Define the clinical problem as a question
  • Acquire: Select resources, design a strategy, and search for the answer
  • Appraise: Summarize the evidence yield
  • Apply: Apply the evidence

Videos

Interactive Tutorials

Articles & Guides