Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: Applications and Implications

This essay discusses the application of evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing, emphasizing its patient-centered approach rooted in clinical experience, healthcare professional expertise, and scientific research. It highlights the evolution of EBP since the 1960s, noting its integration into nursing curricula to advance knowledge and ensure professional accountability. The essay also touches on the application of EBP in nursing research and its role in preparing nurses for diverse career paths. Furthermore, it addresses the complexities of healthcare coverage in the US, particularly concerning Medicare and Medicaid, including enrollment periods, provider networks, and qualifying events. It also briefly mentions the importance of Social Security in providing stability to retired Americans, children, widows, and the disabled.

Running head: NURSING 1
Student name
Student No.
Unit
Title: Application of Evidence Based Practice

NURSING 2
According to the Mississippi College (2017), evidence based practice is a nursing
approach whereby the patients are the main focus (every nursing decisions must involve the
patients) and it is based on the clinical experience of the patient, the expertise of the health care
professionals and scientific research. When nurses are using this approach, they are to refer from
the most recent research as pertains the treatment and care. Evidence based practice began in the
1960s but it was until 1990s when health care professionals and scholars realized that new
knowledge in health care alone could not impact much on the outcomes of the patients. They
discovered there was need for transformation (on this new knowledge) in to a more useful form.
Then it was to be implemented in the health care setting and its impact measured according to
the outcomes and performance (Stevens, 2013).
Evidence based practice has had a lot of application in the health care sector. Different
universities and colleges have altered their curricula to include the evidence based practice. This
is because this practice advances the knowledge-base of the nurses and also crucial in offering
professional accountability. Evidence based practice is built on skills such as critical thinking
and puts the nurse in a position to consider factors such as the religion, culture, socioeconomic
status of the patient and also the relevant and appropriate scientific research and theories
(Jolinda, Rita, Charlotte and Wanda, 2014). Evidenced based nursing has been applied in nursing
research. There are little research tasks in the nursing entry level, but it is important for the
nurses to know emerging and new scientific information which could be of great influence in
their nursing practice, both present and in the future. Evidence based practice prepare nurses for
careers far beyond the bedside according to Townsend and Morgan (2017).
For long health insurance has been an important and a great issue to the US government,
with the first efforts to build this insurance beginning in 1915 but did not succeed. Due to health

NURSING 3
care coverage being more complex and much involving most people have turned to CPAs for
advice. The people must be aware of the three main components of the Medicare and Medicaid
programs. These include; enrollment periods, whereby Medicare is said to have different moving
parts, with each part having its enrollment issues. Considering hospital insurance, it is
straightforward, and premium free. According to the IACPA (2015), the general enrollment
period inflict punishment with a gap of coverage and life time penalties. It is therefore important
to meet the deadline and also understand the rules so as to avoid the penalties. Here individuals
lack flexibility and are unable to change health care carriers for a year. When the enrollment
period ends, one is locked into the plan (Terence, Harrington and Kitchener, 2010).
The second one is the provider networks, with Medicare providing a wide range of
providers, though in some areas nurses prefer cash payment. Provider networks has limited
networks for hospitals and nurses and favor those dealing with serious diseases. Finally is the
qualifying events. Qualifying events affect the coverage and give different choices of coverage.
Some of the qualifying events could be job loss, marriage, retirement relocation and divorce
(IACPA, 2015). Medicare advantage enrollment is affected by relocation of a client. About
social security, it is an important program as it provides stability and benefits to the retired
Americans, children, widows and the disabled. In fact most Americans are willing to pay more to
improve and preserve this program (Kotlikoff, Moeller and Solman, 2015).

NURSING 4
References
AICPA. (2017). Key health care components explained. Retrieved from:
https://blog.aicpa.org/2015/07/3-key-heath-care-components-
explained.html#sthash.NHIrbeGE.dpbs
Jolinda, C., Rita, J., Charlotte, D. and Wanda, W. (2014). Exploring evidence based
practice research. Nursing made incredibly easy, Vol. 12, No, 4. Doi:
10.1097/01.NME.0000450295.93626.e7
Kotlikoff, L. J., Moeller, P. and Solman, P. (2015). Get what’s yours: The secret to
maxing out your social security. New York: Simon & Schuster Publishers.
Mississippi College. (2017). Role of evidence based practice in nursing. Retrieved from:
https://online.mc.edu/articles/nursing/role-of-evidence-based-practice-in-
nursing.aspx
Stevens, K., (2013) "The Impact of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing and the Next
Big Ideas" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 18, No. 2,
Manuscript 4. DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol18No02Man04
Terence, N., Harrington, C. and Kitchener, M. (2010). Medicare and Medicaid in Long-
Term Care. Health Affairs, Vol. 29, No. 1. Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0494
Townsend, M. C., & Morgan, K. I. (2017). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts
of care in evidence-based practice. FA Davis.

NURSING 5