Evidence-Based Practice in Action: Comprehensive Strategies, Tools, and Tips from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

This review is written in support of the text, Evidence-Based Practice in Action. As lead faculty for a DNP course focused on philosophy, foundations, and methods for evidence-based practice, this text works toward transformation, seeking to change not only what we know in practice (and in education) but questioning those practices in clinical settings, as well as education with evidence. The text is built around supporting experiential learning by providing tools for students to systematically and actively learn about implementation of evidence-based practices in their clinical settings. Throughout my DNP course, students are using and applying the tools provided in the text to 1) identify a practice change that their clinical site would like to implement, 2) design implementation strategies for evidence-based practice, 3) develop topic-specific process and outcome indicators, and 4) establish plans for sustaining evidence-based practice. Excellent subject matter on evidence-based practice is provided by a field of experts.The text exhibits originality, reader appeal, academic and scholarly quality, and evidence-based practice content. The text is application-oriented, concrete, and practical, just what students and practicing nurses need to support their learning, knowledge, and professional development and is available online through the University’s library. I enthusiastically support Evidence-Based Practice in Action.Beth Ann Swan, PhD, CRNP, FAAN

Very helpful book for nurses in Magnet organizations who use the IOWA-Revised model for EBP projects.

Helpful

Applicable for theory class

As Director for Nursing Research at a large medical center, I have a shelf and a file folder on my computer full of evidence-based practice (EBP) resources. However, none of these EBP resources are as comprehensive and practical in their guidance for nurses in clinical practice than Cullen, Hanrahan, Farrington, DeBerg, Tucker, and Kleiber’s Evidence-Based Practice in Action. The success of this text is in its clarity of content, design, and tools/worksheets provided. It is truly designed for the adult learner in an operational setting. With the pace and complexity of care today, nurses need to obtain information quickly and the content needs to be easily consumable and flexible for a variety of projects.”Evidence-Based Practice in Action guides the reader from idea to implementation of a practice change. It is framed by the steps of the Iowa Model Revised: Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Excellence in Healthcare. In doing so, readers can readily anticipate the location of information and are able to place each chapter within the “big picture” of a systematic method to implement and sustain EBP. This format makes the text more approachable – allowing busy clinicians to consume the most pertinent information on an as-needed basis, rather than trying to take on all of the content at once – or flip through multiple chapters for pertinent information. Tables, figures, and call-outs provide practical tips to clarify content and provide examples of how the steps may vary for different types of clinical questions. Further, worksheets provided allow readers the opportunity to apply information immediately to their own project.The quality and practicality of information in Evidence-Based Practice in Action is likely due to the diverse expertise of the authors, including a librarian, and PhD-, DNP-, and BSN-prepared nurses who have lived the EBP process in their clinical practice and while mentoring others. The text not only encourages rigor in approach to EBP, but also consideration of organizational needs and priorities.Since its arrival at our institution Evidence-Based Practice in Action has quickly become our “go-to”, not only to provide training to our nursing staff – but also to guide our clinical nurse specialists and clinical nurse educators as they lead and mentor others in EBP. Within a large academic medical center, it is vital for our staff to not only learn the steps of EBP (retrieving, appraising, synthesizing literature, and implementing a practice change) – but to also be aware of the teamwork and alignment of projects with institutional priorities necessary to be successful within a busy healthcare system. Evidence-Based Practice in Action provides this guidance.-Cynthia LaFond PhD, RN, CCRN-K

“As a Nurse Practitioner Program Director and DNP Project Advisor, I require that our DNP students use the book Evidence-Based Practice in Action to help them develop, implement, and evaluate their DNP Projects. The book includes a clear description of the Revised Iowa Model that assists students or clinicians to identify needs and opportunities for practice change and guides then on how to formulate questions using the PICO framework. One of the most helpful areas of the book is the information on team development and communication. Students or clinicians often have a hard time creating teams and learning how to work through a practice change with the team. The text provides a framework for how to do this effectively. The section on appraising the evidence provides students with excellent resources on how to select, critique, and synthesize evidence. Piloting, implementing and evaluating a practice change is covered in depth, guiding the student or clinician on how to do this using a step by step process. Sustainability of the practice change is emphasized in the text and includes strategies for how to hardwire the change into the system. Recommendations on how to disseminate findings within and outside the organization is described and a variety of examples are included.I have taught nurse practitioners for over 25 years, and this book is one of the most user friendly and helpful texts I have used to guide evidence-based practice change.”