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EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a management approach where decisions are made
based on adequate and most recent research findings. It promotes careful, precise and judicious
healthcare choices when taking care of the patients (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2017). The
incorporation of the patient expectations, the individual skills, and knowledge together with the
available evidence promotes a patient and outcome dominant approach and allows the provider
to reflect on the healthcare interventions. The day to day healthcare activities is based on
guidelines which rely on research findings. Consequently, EBP becomes an essential technique
while handling patients since it is the only way that gives room for assessing and justifying our
actions while managing the patients (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2017).
Evidence-based practice involves the active implementation of research findings in
practice. It is, therefore, a valuable skill for all nurses to be in a position to analyze every
research. In as much as the focus remains on the research findings, it is vital to consider the rigor
of the research, a step that is achieved by measuring validity and reliability (LoBiondo-Wood &
Haber, 2017). Validity is the extent to which an idea has accurately been measured in a study
while reliability is the accuracy of the used instrument. The two, therefore, demonstrate the
consistency extent of results if they are used in the same situation on many occasions.
In the initial discussion, an observation was used as a data collection tool. Selecting a tool
for research is one of the most critical steps, and the researcher has to ensure that the chosen
instrument is valid and reliable. The appropriateness of instruments informs in no small extent
the validity and reliability of any research. Observation as an instrument of collecting tool is
often subjective. There is a possibility of someone trying to prove a point, and it is an essential
process for each observer to be aware of his or her interests and biases for the information
observed to be as reliable and valid as possible (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2017). If research