The Institute of Medicine has stated a goal that 90% of practice be evidence-based by 2020. According to HealthyPeople.gov, the United States is currently at approximately 15%. Discuss two barriers that might hold nursing practice from achieving this goal, and suggest ways in which identified barriers may be addressed.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The Institute of Medicine’s goal to have 90% of practice to be evidence-based by 2020 is a critical aim that requires the active involvement of all healthcare professionals. However, nursing practice may face some barriers that might hold them from achieving this goal. In this response, we will discuss two potential barriers and suggest some practical ways that might address these barriers.
Answer:
Barriers:
1. Insufficient Research Skills:
One of the significant barriers that can limit the achievement of evidence-based nursing practice is a lack of adequate research skills. Most nurses are not adequately trained to evaluate research information, critically appraise the evidence presented, and apply the findings in their clinical practice.
2. Time Constraints:
Nurses are already overloaded with the responsibilities of patient care, administrative duties, and other miscellaneous tasks. It is difficult for them to find the time to research and critically appraise the available evidence and integrate it into their daily practice.
Suggested Ways to Address Barriers:
1. Improvement of Nursing Research Skills:
Nurses should receive training on research principles and be equipped with the skills to evaluate and apply research evidence effectively. Nursing schools can help to achieve this by making research methodology courses mandatory within the nursing program. Nurses should also be encouraged to attend workshops, attend relevant conferences, and enroll in continuing education classes.
2. Collaboration with Other Healthcare Professionals:
Collaboration with other healthcare professionals like pharmacists, physicians, and other medical specialists can help to ease the burden of research and can increase the likelihood of successful implementation of evidence-based nursing practice. With such collaborations, nurses can access the wider knowledge base and can leverage the research skills of other healthcare professionals.
Conclusion:
There is no doubt that evidence-based nursing practice brings a lot of benefits to both patients and healthcare providers. However, improving research skills and overcoming the time constraints will be a significant challenge for nurses. By collaborating with other healthcare professionals and improving the preparedness of nursing students, we can start to overcome these barriers and work towards achieving the Institute of Medicine’s goal of 90% evidence-based practice by 2020.
