Week 9: Components of Evidence-Based Practice: Appraising the Evidence
Is all evidence alike? Is some stronger or weaker or clearer or less clear? In truth, these are rhetorical questions. Everything about your patient experiences in health care confirms that evidence varies greatly in quality and potency. Symptoms, tests, monitoring—all of the means by which to understand a patient’s condition may point to a clear path for response and treatment, or not.
The act of gathering evidence through a literature search is also only the place to begin in finding answers to a critical practice question. Appraising the evidence is required to determine its value, just as tangible objects are appraised to gauge their worth. Analysis and evaluation are the intellectual resources to marshal for this next component of evidence-based practice.
This week your attention will be fully on your Module 4 Assignment as you appraise the evidence in the scholarly articles you have selected. Keep in mind your goal is to determine whether the evidence justifies a practice change and how it informs the specific outlines of a new or improved practice. This process is very much connected to your future leadership as a DNP and your role as a social change advocate. Leading with powerful evidence will promote your success, and that of others, for positively impacting patient outcomes and influencing stakeholders.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Evaluate scholarly articles for a literature review
- Analyze scholarly literature for evidence
- Evaluate quality of evidence to inform practice changes
- Synthesize research to support nursing practice problems
- Justify quality improvement/practice change initiatives
Learning Resources
Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)
Optional Resources (click to expand/reduce)
Module 4 Assignment: Investigating a Critical Practice Question Through a Literature Review
- Continue to develop your literature review of at least 10 current (published within the last 5 years) scholarly articles from the Walden Library with evidence that addresses your critical practice question. This week, review the Learning Resources for guidance in appraising the research in the articles you select. Keep in mind you must complete and submit the Individual Evidence Summary Tool, available in the Learning Resources, and will be graded based on the quality of information and thought captured in this matrix document.
When you complete your analysis and evaluation of the evidence, begin your critical assessment paper in which you synthesize evidence from your literature review. This paper is also due by Day 7 of next week. Plan your time accordingly.
Review the Module 4 Assignment Rubric for the grading points and expectations of this two-part Assignment.
There is no submission due this week.
Submit your Module 4 Assignment by Day 7 of Week 10.
Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-20293632). All papers submitted must use this formatting.
