Nurses Involved In Evidence-Based Practice

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE 9 Nurses must, at all times, put the wellbeing of the patient at the forefront of care
PONV is an undesired side effect of anesthesia. About 10% of all surgical patients will develop postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (Tinsley & Barone, 2012). It is the nurse?s responsibility to do everything in his or her power to alleviate patients enduring nausea and possible vomiting after surgery. A crucial first step in evidence-based practice (EBP) is converting information into a well-worded question that is answerable with research evidence (Polit & Beck, 2012, p.36). To create an answerable research question, one needs to use a framework. Population (P), Intervention (I), Comparison (C), and Outcome (O),

Long et al., states that numerous studies indicate that a combination therapy with drugs of different classes is more effective than a single dose treatment (2009). Also, Apfel et al., suggest in their study that increasing the number of antiemetics reduces the incidence of PONV from 52% when no medication is given to 37%, 28%, and 22% when one, two, or three anti-nausea drugs are administered (2004). Use of multiple medications to decrease the incidence of PONV will improve patient outcomes thereby reducing anxiety about surgery and increasing all around patient satisfaction. Failing to utilize such evidence could result in increased incidence of PONV; which leads to other postoperative complications. Pulmonary complications due to aspiration, wound dehiscence, hematoma development, will hurt the patient quality of life, and delay discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU); ultimately delaying discharge home (Tinsley, M. H., & Barone,

While instituting change at any facility is an overwhelming task, it can be done. The first step is finding a subject that one believes is essential to improving patient outcomes. The topic of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is good because it is one of the least desired side effects of anesthesia and surgery. On the journey to change protocol, one must construct an answerable question that relates to PONV. Implementing change entails researching the subject matter to create an answerable clinical question. Polit & Beck (2012, p.3) describe research as a systematic inquiry using disciplined methods to answer questions. After creating an appropriate question materials about PONV are found, and the evidence is extrapolated from said articles. One has to perform a literature review of all articles and complete an appraisal of information. To be able to appraise research one must be thoroughly familiar with the evidence (Polit & Beck, 2012, p.95). After evaluating the research and taking the evidence from articles, one must disseminate the information at their organization or facility. This last part is possibly the most difficult, however, creating an outline for ways to translate information into practice is most appropriate way to make change happen. Involving staff in the process of research and discussing all information with them will make