Putting Evidence Into Nursing Practice: Four Traditional Practices Not Supported by the Evidence

Evidence-based nursing practice involves integration of a problem-solving approach within the context of caring, considering best evidence from studies, patient care data, clinical experience and expertise, and patients’ preferences and values.¹  Health care agencies, government agencies, and national professional organizations such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses have all been supporters of evidence-based practice (EBP) as studies continue to show improved outcomes when best evidence is used in the delivery of patient care.^2,3  Despite the awareness of the importance of practice being based on best evidence, achieving and sustaining EBP within practice environments can be challenging, and research suggests that integration of EBP into daily clinical practice remains inconsistent.⁴ 

Barriers to and facilitators of practicing on the basis of best evidence have been well documented^4–6  but can be categorized into several themes, one of which is the perceived peer emphasis...