NURS-FPX4030 Locating Credible Databases and Research
Research is a vital tool in the ongoing effort to improve the quality and safety of patient care. Patient care is continually improving, thanks to the efforts of healthcare staff and researchers in discovering new methods to improve treatment and putting the findings into practice.
However, before applying the evidence into practice, there is a prodromal period of significant effort to find appropriate resources, sift through for credible material, and choose which one best meets the patient’s requirements. Baccalaureate nurses get training in nursing research to equip them with skills in obtaining and putting evidence into practice to prepare them for a dynamically changing healthcare environment.
Recognizing the significance of research in patient care, the purpose of this paper, which employs a nursing practice scenario, is to emphasize the importance of obtaining credible databases and information, as well as fundamental communication and collaboration tactics, to solve a nursing practice situation.
The Role of a Baccalaureate-Prepared Nurse in Supervising Clinical Staff Nurses
Summary of the Nursing Practice Scenario
As a registered nurse (RN) in the medical-surgical ward of a local teaching hospital, I am bestowed with the task of overseeing three nurses. One day, after giving the nurses their patient assignments and completing the shift report, a new nurse who had just completed orientation and training a week before approaches me and says he has encountered a patient with a diagnosis he is unfamiliar with and thus lacks the confidence to continue the assessment and treatment. Knowing the importance of using the best evidence to improve patient outcomes, my role as a supervisor is to help the nurse locate research and reliable material that may be used to deliver the best care for the patient.
Communication and Collaborative Strategies
Healthcare values communication and collaboration as essential cornerstones of the industry. People go from amateurs to connoisseurs in the healthcare industry, just as they do in any other subject. The trip is worthwhile, even if it is a long road, especially in health, to become an expert. As a supervisor of nurses in the medical-surgical ward, one of my responsibilities is to assist them in identifying areas of weakness and developing suitable ways to improve them.
A nurse encounters a 57-year-old male patient on the ward who has a longstanding history of smoking and now has dyspnea, chronic productive cough, and physical examination reveals increased bilateral resonance on percussion, diminished breath sounds, and crackles at the lung bases on auscultation. The nurse suspects the patient has a chronic respiratory condition but is unclear whether it is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or another diagnosis.
I would dedicate time to teaching the nurse about taking a comprehensive patient history and doing a physical examination on individuals suspected of having respiratory diseases. The education would take the form of a bedside tutorial in which the nurse would be able to ask the patient pertinent questions and execute the different procedures for a focused respiratory exam.
Regardless of the healthcare hierarchy, everyone is regarded as a colleague, whether junior or senior (Parkinson, 2018), and so talking with the nurse most respectfully sustains the relationship as well as professionalism. I would also educate the nurse on credible medical and nursing databases where relevant information may be found. This training will take place in the hospital’s computer lab, which gives free access to medical research databases.
The many reputable databases, what sources to look for, and tactics, such as key phrases, to access the articles will be among the instructional subjects. To establish a collaborative atmosphere, treating lower-ranking professionals with the decency and respect they deserve, recognizing where they have done well, and continuing medical education are all effective strategies.
Best Places to Complete Research and Types of Resources to access to find Pertinent Information
Besides being a teaching and a leading hospital in education, the institution is proud to have one of the nationally known computer laboratories, which enables access to vast resources that may influence clinical decision-making. The computer lab offers free internet access and free logins to different credible medical databases, which any healthcare professionals, students, and trainees linked with the organization may use to obtain pertinent information.
Aside from the computer lab, other areas of the hospital with computers and reliable internet access that can be used to access relevant data include the research department, medical-surgical floor, nurses and physician workstations, theatre, IT/health informatics room, patient monitoring room, and imaging department.
According to Kim et al. (2020), the search for credible information starts with knowledge of the relevant databases and the subject or healthcare issue in question. As a result, the first step necessitates considerable work in obtaining evidence from appropriate databases, and it determines whether the subsequent stages of evidence application into practice will be productive.
Five Sources of Online Information that provide the Best Evidence for the Chosen Diagnosis
CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library are among the medical databases that will be useful. The search terms will include “epidemiology of COPD,” “risk factors of COPD,” “clinical features of COPD,” “assessment and evaluation of patients with COPD,” and “management of COPD.” Journal articles, guidelines from national ministries or health organizations such as WHO, and data from credible websites such as the CDC will be utilized. Utilization of the aforementioned search techniques generated the five articles listed below.
- Ruvuna, L., & Sood, A. (2020). Epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clinics in Chest Medicine, 41(3), 315–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccm.2020.05.002
- Celli, B. R., & Wedzicha, J. A. (2019). Update on clinical aspects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The New England Journal of Medicine, 381(13), 1257–1266. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1900500
- Safiri, S., Carson-Chahhoud, K., Noori, M., Nejadghaderi, S. A., Sullman, M. J. M., Ahmadian Heris, J., Ansarin, K., Mansournia, M. A., Collins, G. S., Kolahi, A.-A., & Kaufman, J. S. (2022). Burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its attributable risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 378, e069679. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-069679
- Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. (2018). Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2018 Report. Goldcopd.org. https://goldcopd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GOLD-2018-v6.0-FINAL-revised-20-Nov_WMS.pdf
- Mirza, S., Clay, R. D., Koslow, M. A., & Scanlon, P. D. (2018). COPD guidelines: A review of the 2018 GOLD report. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Mayo Clinic, 93(10), 1488–1502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2018.05.026
Why the Sources provide the Best Evidence for the Chosen Diagnosis
The sources cited are from the most credible medical databases and were authored by medical cognoscenti. Furthermore, some of the sources are published by globally known health organizations that have long been relied on to give credible medical information.
Moreover, the sources obtained were published within the previous five years, guaranteeing that the information is current and practical. The reasons given above forecast the reliability and credibility of the sources and, hence why they were selected to influence practice in relation to the nursing practical scenario provided
Conclusion
Healthcare research has been around since antiquity, and if anything has changed, it has only become better and more advanced. Healthcare practitioners are urged to apply research-based findings to provide consistently improved patient care. This demands the ability to search credible medical and nursing databases to obtain relevant information that can be applied in practice.
To foster research competence, baccalaureate curricula have included nursing research into the pedagogy, preparing nurses for dynamically evolving patient care. While significant progress has been made, there is still a gap, particularly in the treatment of chronic illnesses such as COPD, where many specialists may provide opposing views on care.
The competing viewpoints highlight the importance of a healthcare professional’s ability to acquire reliable resources and sift through them to discover the best justified research-based conclusions that match the requirements of their patients.
Locating Credible Databases and Research References
Celli, B. R., & Wedzicha, J. A. (2019). Update on clinical aspects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The New England Journal of Medicine, 381(13), 1257–1266. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1900500
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. (2018). Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2018 Report. Goldcopd.org. https://goldcopd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GOLD-2018-v6.0-FINAL-revised-20-Nov_WMS.pdf
Kim, M., Mallory, C., & Valerio, T. (2020). Statistics for evidence-based practice in nursing (3rd ed.). Jones and Bartlett. https://books.google.at/books?id=5LEEEAAAQBAJ
Mirza, S., Clay, R. D., Koslow, M. A., & Scanlon, P. D. (2018). COPD guidelines: A review of the 2018 GOLD report. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Mayo Clinic, 93(10), 1488–1502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2018.05.026
Parkinson, M. D. (2018). The healthy health care workplace: A competitive advantage. Current Cardiology Reports, 20(10), 98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-018-1042-3
Ruvuna, L., & Sood, A. (2020). Epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clinics in Chest Medicine, 41(3), 315–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccm.2020.05.002
Safiri, S., Carson-Chahhoud, K., Noori, M., Nejadghaderi, S. A., Sullman, M. J. M., Ahmadian Heris, J., Ansarin, K., Mansournia, M. A., Collins, G. S., Kolahi, A.-A., & Kaufman, J. S. (2022). Burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its attributable risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 378, e069679. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-069679
Assessment 1 Instructions: Locating Credible Databases and Research
Create a 2-4 page resource that will describe databases that are relevant to EBP around a diagnosis you chose and could be used to help a new hire nurse better engage in EBP.
Instructions
The purpose of this assessment is to understand where to find evidence that can be applied to clinical scenarios and to learn effective communication and collaboration with clinical staff during the process of evidence location. As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you will not only use research for self-improvement in your clinical role, but you will also serve as a mentor to supervised nursing staff. Therefore, you will need to be able to communicate and collaborate effectively to guide them toward resources to find research, as well as support them through the initial evidence location process. In doing so, nurses can gain access to evidence that can be analyzed and utilized to stay current on best practices. This allows them to provide safe, patient-centered care and improve patient outcomes.
For this assessment:
- Describe your role as a baccalaureate-prepared nurse supervising clinical staff nurses with regard to communication and collaboration in locating evidence for application to a nursing practice scenario.
- Compile a list of five online databases or other online sources (that is, websites, journals, facility policies or guidelines, et cetera) that can be used to research evidence to apply to this scenario or clinical practice issue/diagnosis and describe to which of these you would direct a nurse colleague to search for evidence.
- Describe where you might go in the work place to complete this research and how you would access the desired, relevant research within research databases or other online sources.
Be sure to address the following in this assessment, which correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Please study the scoring guide carefully so that you will know what is needed for a distinguished score.
- Describe communication strategies to encourage nurses to research the diagnosis/practice issue, as well as strategies to collaborate with the nurses to access resources.
- Describe the best places to complete research and what types of resources you would want to access to find pertinent information for the diagnosis/health care issue within the context of a specific health care setting.
- Identify five sources of online information (medical journal databases, websites, hospital policy databases, et cetera) that could be used to locate evidence for a clinical diagnosis/practice issue.
- Explain why the sources of online information selected should provide the best evidence for the chosen diagnosis/health care issue.
- Communicate using writing that is clear, logical, and professional with correct grammar and spelling using current APA style.
Locating Credible Databases and Research Example 2
Introduction and Overview of the Case Study on Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
In my capacity as a nurse supervisor, I place great importance on evidence-based practice and its positive impact on patient outcomes. One of my team’s new nurses expressed concerns about caring for a patient diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as she was unfamiliar with the condition. Recognizing the importance of providing care that is focused on the patient, I aided this nurse by directing her toward evidence-based resources to ensure that the care provided was appropriate for the patient’s condition. We utilized various databases and online resources provided by the hospital to research the most effective practices for treating patients with COPD. Through the use of hospital-provided online databases, including CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library, as well as online sources containing hospital policies, procedures, and guidelines, we were able to gather valuable information.
Communication Strategies to Encourage Diagnosis-Based Research
As a nurse supervisor with a baccalaureate degree, it is my responsibility to promote communication and collaboration among clinical staff for evidence-based practice. The best available evidence must be the basis for patient-centered care, which requires effective communication and teamwork. My priority, therefore, would be to educate the new nurse on how to perform a literature search and urge them to learn more about the diagnosis. I would advise the nurse to perform their search using the hospital’s computer lab, which has access to databases like CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library.
Not all information sources are created equal; thus, while performing a literature search, it is crucial to utilize reputable and relevant sources. For instance, Li et al.’s (2019) systematic review found that healthcare practitioners have to base their decisions on the best available research. However, the capacity to sift through the overwhelming bulk of the data available and acquire the best evidence to guide clinical practice is what counts most. As a result, I would advise the nurse to use credible sources, including systematic reviews, peer-reviewed publications, and evidence-based practice guidelines.
In addition to offering advice on how to conduct a literature search, I would also promote clinical staff nurses’ cooperation. Collaboration is necessary for information and skill exchange, which may improve patient outcomes. According to research by Schot et al. (2020), teamwork among healthcare personnel improves patient outcomes by fostering a culture of safety and lowering medical errors. As a nurse supervisor, I would instruct and teach clinical staff nurses in literature searches and the value of evidence-based practice. In research by D’Souza et al. (2021), the knowledge and attitudes of nurses toward evidence-based practice were dramatically enhanced by providing them with education and training in this area. Implementing evidence-based knowledge into clinical practice becomes a fluid procedure when using the above-emphasized effective communication and cooperation tactics.
Recommended Online Databases for Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Nursing: Rationale and List of Top Five
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse supervisor, I would advise my clinical staff nurses to use the following five internet databases or other online sources to look out for research to apply to the situation or clinical practice problem/diagnosis stated above:
- Cochrane Library: The Cochrane Library is a repository of independent, high-quality research that may be used to guide healthcare decisions. The most trustworthy data on which to base clinical treatment choices is found in Cochrane systematic reviews. Systematic reviews on the specified diagnosis or healthcare concern may be found in this database, which is ideal for nurses.
- PubMed: PubMed is a free database with over 30 million citations for biomedical literature drawn from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. For nursing research, it is a highly dependable and effective resource to utilize
- CINAHL: The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) is a nursing and allied health periodicals database that offers details on research papers, evidence-based care sheets, and more. For nurses looking for information on evidence-based practice, it is a crucial resource.
- The National Guidelines Clearinghouse is a free online database of evidence-based clinical practice recommendations. It gives nurses a single spot to obtain reliable, up-to-date clinical practice guidelines.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): The AHRQ is a federal organization that creates practice recommendations and evidence-based research. Systematic reviews, recommendations, and research reports are just a few of the evidence-based nursing practice tools offered by the AHRQ.
These online information sources are the best for obtaining evidence to utilize with the scenario or clinical practice problem or diagnosis indicated above since they are all credible and up-to-date. They provide nurses access to a variety of resources so they may locate data that supports their clinical decisions. Additionally, the search criteria in these databases make it simple for nurses to get the information that best suits their requirements. By introducing them to these sources, I can ensure that my clinical staff nurses have access to the greatest research to guide their practice and provide high-quality patient care.
The Best Places to Complete Research
The ideal venues to do research for COPD on the medical-surgical floor of a teaching hospital would be online databases, medical publications, and hospital policies and guidelines. A good place to start would be the hospital’s computer lab, which has access to internet databases, including CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library. These databases include current, evidence-based, high-quality peer-reviewed literature. Additionally, these databases include a broad variety of materials, including protocols, systematic reviews, and clinical practice recommendations, which help direct clinical decision-making.
Another resource to take into account is the hospital’s online library, which offers access to medical articles like the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention and the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. These reputable publications routinely release papers on the treatment of COPD. The nurse may use the hospital’s online resources for policies and guidelines pertaining to the treatment of patients with COPD. These policies and guidelines may serve as a guide for interventions, including pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, and bronchodilators. Moreover, consulting with specialists such as pulmonologists, respiratory therapists, and other members of the multidisciplinary team may help in finding relevant information for the treatment of COPD patients.
Conclusion
The case study presented emphasizes the value of using evidence-based practices in nursing and explores how nurse supervisors may help their staff members provide patient-centered care. The clinical staff must employ good communication, teamwork, and collaboration to advance evidence-based practice and improve patient outcomes. The paper also provides information about the best online resources, including databases like Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, National Guidelines Clearinghouse, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, that nurses can use to access relevant, authentic, and up-to-date information for clinical practice. As a result, nurses are advised to only utilize reliable and relevant materials and to evaluate the dependability of online sources by considering their currency, relevance, authority, and purpose.
Locating Credible Databases and Research References
D’Souza, P., George, A., Nair, S., Noronha, J., & Renjith, V. (2021). Effectiveness of an evidence-based practice training program for nurse educators: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 18(4), 261–271. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12521
Li, S., Cao, M., & Zhu, X. (2019). Evidence-based practice: Knowledge, attitudes, implementation, facilitators, and barriers among community nurses—systematic review. Medicine, 98(39), e17209. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000017209
Schot, E., Tummers, L., & Noordegraaf, M. (2020). Working on working together. A systematic review on how healthcare professionals contribute to interprofessional collaboration. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(3), 332–342. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2019.1636007
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