TRANSLATION OF EVIDENCE AND APPLICATION
Review the readings in the White, Dudley-Brown, and Terhaar text. With your current health care organization (psychiatric behavioral hospital), or an organization you are targeting for your DNP Project, in mind, consider the area(s) of greatest challenge with regard to translating and applying evidence for a practice change initiative, e.g., leadership, technology, collaboration, stakeholder buy-in. Focus on the relevant text chapter(s) in your Discussion preparation.
Consider theories and best practice recommendations for addressing your identified challenges and barriers to translating and applying evidence that would support practice change initiatives.
Reflect on the philosophy of nursing practice that you developed. Consider your role as a DNP in creating an organizational culture that embraces evidence-based practice and quality improvement.
With these thoughts in mind …
Post an explanation of the challenges and barriers to translating and applying evidence for practice change in your target health care organization (Behavioral health hospital). Briefly explain your issue(s) of concern and describe specific approaches for addressing these challenges. Explain how you view your role as a DNP in creating a health care culture that promotes translation of evidence for quality improvement and explain why. Then, recommend actions and activities you could model and lead, including through an EBP QI project, to advocate for quality improvement and social change in nursing. Be specific and provide examples and at least 3 references.
Sample Solution
Challenges and Barriers to Translating and Applying Evidence for Practice Change in a Behavioral Health Hospital
Challenges
- Leadership: Leadership support is essential for successful implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) initiatives. Behavioral health hospitals often have complex organizational structures with multiple stakeholders, which can make it difficult to build consensus and support for change.
- Technology: Behavioral health hospitals may not have access to the technology needed to implement and sustain EBP initiatives. This can include software for clinical decision support, data collection and analysis, and patient education.
Full Answer Section
- Collaboration: EBP initiatives often require collaboration between different healthcare professionals, departments, and organizations. This can be challenging in behavioral health hospitals, which often have a siloed culture.
- Stakeholder buy-in: It is important to get buy-in from all relevant stakeholders, including clinicians, patients, and families, before implementing an EBP initiative. This can be difficult, especially if there is resistance to change or if stakeholders are not aware of the benefits of EBP.
- Lack of time and resources: Behavioral health hospitals are often understaffed and underfunded, which can make it difficult to implement and sustain EBP initiatives.
- Lack of knowledge and skills: Clinicians may not have the knowledge and skills needed to implement and sustain EBP initiatives. This is especially true for newer clinicians.
- Resistance to change: Clinicians may be resistant to change for a variety of reasons, such as fear of the unknown, lack of trust in leadership, or concerns about the impact on workflow.
- Leadership: DNPs can play a key role in promoting EBP by advocating for leadership support and building consensus among stakeholders. DNPs can also provide leadership for EBP initiatives by developing and implementing implementation plans, monitoring progress, and evaluating outcomes.
- Technology: DNPs can work with IT departments to identify and implement the technology needed to support EBP initiatives. DNPs can also provide training on how to use the technology.
- Collaboration: DNPs can facilitate collaboration between different healthcare professionals, departments, and organizations by building relationships, hosting meetings, and developing communication plans. DNPs can also serve as liaisons between different groups.
- Stakeholder buy-in: DNPs can get buy-in from stakeholders by educating them about the benefits of EBP and involving them in the planning and implementation process. DNPs can also use change management strategies to address resistance to change.
- Advocate for EBP and QI at all levels of the organization.
- Educate clinicians about the benefits of EBP and QI.
- Provide leadership and support for EBP and QI initiatives.
- Develop and implement EBP and QI programs.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of EBP and QI initiatives.
- Model EBP and QI in their own practice.
- Conduct EBP QI projects: DNPs can conduct EBP QI projects to identify and implement best practices in their own setting. This can help to raise awareness of EBP and QI among other clinicians and stakeholders.
- Publish and present research: DNPs can publish their research on EBP and QI in peer-reviewed journals and present their findings at conferences. This helps to disseminate knowledge about EBP and QI and to influence practice change.
- Mentor and coach other clinicians: DNPs can mentor and coach other clinicians on how to implement EBP and QI in their practice. This helps to build capacity for EBP and QI throughout the organization.
- Serve on committees and task forces: DNPs can serve on committees and task forces that are focused on EBP and QI. This helps to influence decision-making and to ensure that EBP and QI are prioritized.