Problem Identification: The First Step in Evidence‐Based Practice

• Published in: AORN journal Vol. 113; no. 4; pp. 377 - 378
• Main Author: Stannard, Daphne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Evidence-based medicine; Evidence-based nursing; Medical research; Nursing; Surgery
• ISSN: 0001-2092; 1878-0369
• DOI: 10.1002/aorn.13359

There are many definitions of evidence-based practice (EBP), including the oft-cited Sackett et al definition that states, "Evidence-based medicine is the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values."1(p1) As I have reasoned elsewhere,2 this definition is more aligned with the discipline of medicine and associated provider-related activities, such as ordering diagnostic tests and therapeutic remedies based on a differential diagnosis. This classic definition does not represent the broad and varied experiences of the professional nurse. As such, I offer the following more nursingcentered and practical definition: EBP for nursing is a way of entering the situation with curiosity and engagement that follows the nursing process by responding to the issue or problem using the best available evidence. This definition is general enough to include perioperative nurses who work in a variety of roles and in a variety of settings, ranging from surgical suites to academia, but it is also specific enough to name the practice that provides an evidenceinformed response to an emerging issue or problem.