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NURS - Resources for BSN Students

Guide to Library and Information Resources for Nursing Students
Subjects: Nursing & Health

EBNP: Step by Step

  A. There are 5 basic steps in Evidence Based Practice*

  • ASK:  Information needs from practice are converted into focused, structured questions.
  • ACQUIRE:  The focused questions are used as a basis for literature searching in order to identify relevant external evidence from research.
  • APPRAISE:  The research evidence is critically appraised for validity.
  • APPLY: The best available evidence is used alongside clinical expertise and the patient's perspective to plan care.
  • ASSESS:  Performance is evaluated through a process of self reflection, audit, or peer assessment.

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B. The American Nurses Association has developed a Research Toolkit, [geared towards the practitioner, but useful for nursing students] to help you provide evidence-based care that promotes quality health outcomes for individuals, families, communities and health care systems. The Toolkit can also assist you in shaping health policy at the bedside, within an organization, and at the local, state and national level. The toolkit offers an introduction to research and evidence-based practice. It provides access to numerous resources to translate evidence into practice and to support nurse researchers. Members only can log in and have access to a research repository with reviews of research articles. This toolkit will change over time and add new resources to meet your needs. Send your ideas for additions to the toolkit to louise.kaplan@ana.org.

  1. Asking the Question
  2. Acquiring Information
  3. Appraising the Evidence
  4. Essential Nursing Resources
  5. Research Glossaries
  6. Critique a Research Article
  7. Education about Evidence-based Practice and Research
  8. Comparative Effectiveness Research/Patient Centered Outcomes Research
  9. Human Subjects Protection
  10. Research Funding
  11. Research Organizations
  12. ANA’s Research Agenda
  13. National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI®)
  14. International Council of Nurses (ICN) Evidence-Based Practice Resource
  15. Research Repository [Members Only - Login Required]

AJN 12 articles on EBNP