Collaborative Nursing: Evidence-Based Practice and Interventions

Running head: NURSING
Collaborative nursing
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Introduction
Inter-professional teamwork has been indicated to be a key approach to ensuring optimal
and safe quality healthcare service delivery in healthcare settings. Nurses play a prime role in
such collaboration where they are to demonstrate appropriate skills and competencies. A key
challenge faced by an inter-professional team within the organization is lack of evidence-based
practice among the team members. Evidence-based practice has been denoted as the approach for
making appropriate decisions regarding patient care and providing care on the basis of clinical
expertise together with relevant research existing on the topic. The present paper discusses the
highlighted problem and its impact on the organization, patients and the nursing profession. It
then outlines possible evidence-based interventions for the problem. The potential barriers to
change that might come from the organization, patients and colleagues are also highlighted.
Strategies to overcome barriers and resistance to change are pointed out successively. Lastly, a
plan to implement the evidence-based interventions is described.
Problem and how it impacts the organization, patients, and/or the nursing profession
Lack of competency and determination to adhere to evidence-based practice guideline
has become a crucial concern for the proper functioning of the inter-professional team in the
organization. Evidence-based practice involves the collection, evaluation and implementation of
evidence for improving patient care and the consecutive outcomes (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber,
2017). In an inter-professional team, it is expected that the members would work in collaboration
to implement best care strategies for benefits of the patients. Such a practice respects the
patient’s preferences, values and unique situation. The impact of lack of evidence based practice
is far-reaching, encompassing the organization and patients. The most distinct result is poor

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patient outcomes, less patient safety and decreased quality of life of patients. Since patients are
health consumers in the contemporary era, there is a demand for improved treatments together
with enhanced safety. Evidence-based practice ensure both and strives to standardize practice,
delivering predictable outcomes. Providing the best care is the hallmark of an inter-professional
team, where nurses are to direct care as per scientific research. In the absence of such a practice,
patients do not receive the consistent interventions that are aligned with recent research
recommendations (DiCenso et al., 2014). In addition, lack of evidence-based practice leads to
increased healthcare costs and increased chances of medical complications. If evidence-based
practice is applied, then the demands on care resources are less, thereby lowering healthcare
costs.
Possible evidence-based interventions for the problem
The theory of evidence-based practice is to be perceived as an inter-disciplinary approach
aiming at the high quality care and improving accountability for health practices. Such a practice
also promotes lifelong learning (Fleiszer et al., 2016). Each member of the inter-professional
team must come forward to promote evidence-based practice at the organizational level. The first
step would be to cultivate a spirit and enthusiasm for inquiry. The existing practice guidelines are
to be challenged to seek better possible procedures and clinical methods. Questions are to be put
forward the answer to which can lead to better patient outcomes. The next step would be to
search for the best available evidence that addresses the research questions. Evidence are to be
availed from the large pool of resources available in the electronic databases and library.
Critically appraising the evidence is then crucial. Integration of the evidence gathered with care
expertise, and patient values are important. Evidence alone would not be adequate for justifying