PICOT Case Study

PICOT is a series of questions used to assess and formulate a plan of care for a patient. There are many assessments used to create an individualized plan of care for a patient. “PICOT” is one evidenced based practice that has been proven effective. The “P” stands for Population/Patient problem, “I “ refers to Intervention or Variable of Interest, “C” is used to for Comparison, “O” is the Outcome, and “T” stands for Time (Koshar, 2013, figure 1). I currently work at St. Joseph Hospital of Orange, my area of care is Behavioral Health, While on a shift, I utilize evidenced based practice daily although I have never attempted to use the PICOT template. The population of patients that I would like to see change the most is the chemically dependent individuals. I look forward to researching, discussing, and implementing PICOT into my nursing practice to enhance patient care and avoid reoccurring relapse.

PICOT is an acronym for a step-by-step process that is used by nurses as a framework, and a guide to develop clinical questions that enhance a patient’s personalized plan of treatment. If PICOT is properly utilized by a nurse, he/she will find that it is a simple and effective way to deliver appropriate care to a patient seeking improvement health or well-being. According to an article, titled Guide to Nursing Research (2014), “PICOT helps the clinician in finding the information needed to answer questions and decrease uncertainty” (Young, table 5). The framework for PICOT provides questions in the sequential order of the acronym. P – is used to identify the patient/population of interest and the problem the individual is currently facing. I – is the intervention used to recognize what will be done for this patient to solve the immed...

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...aling with the aspect of chemical dependency. I have recognized that the main focus of this type of patient is not only medical care, but also the psychosocial aspect of the patient that is in acute crisis. If this type of patient receives medical and emotional therapeutic care, the goal is more attainable.

I will bring PICOT into my nursing practice, I find the template of questions a good guide. I am assigned five to six patients for primary care every day that I am on a shift. I can utilize PICOT on my admissions, as I am responsible for formulating a valid plan of care for the patient being admitted. As for other patients that have already completed initial admission, a plan of care is in place. Considering each shift must assess if that plan of care could improve, changes are encouraged assuming the change will enhance the patient’s health while on the unit.