Evidence-Based Practice Habits: Transforming Research Into Bedside Practice

The clinical questions and current body of evidence that can assist clinicians in moving research to bedside practice are reviewed and recommendations are outlined.

Actions speak louder than words. If that statement is true clinically, it could be said that nursing practice is more connected to tradition than it is evidence based. Many common practices in critical care nursing continue today despite clear and reliable research that contradicts them. The barriers to research implementation that were identified 3 decades ago—lack of time, insufficient administrative support, and limited access to information—are still daunting clinicians today.¹ The importance of basing practice on research is well understood. The barrier is the actual transformation of research findings into practice.¹ The accreditation bodies starting to mandate and evaluate evidence-based practices may help move the implementation of research forward.² We must create a culture of inquiry in which nurses are not only aware...