1. Discuss how primary research and evidence based practice (EBP) differ and how they complement each other.
When providing high quality patient care, it is important to use both primary research and evidence based practice. These processes do differ. Primary research involves individual research studies performed to answer specific questions regarding best practice (Polit & Beck, 2012). Evidence based practice (EBP) involves the integration and analysis of primary research findings to make decisions on best practice for effective patient care (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2015; Polit & Beck, 2012). These forms of research complement each other as well. Primary research is the building block for EBP inquiries. EBP research involves the analysis of multiple primary research studies to make decisions about the most effective, highest quality patient care strategies. Numerous primary studies must be completed to generate enough evidence to promote change in practice to affect patient care and contribute to a culture of evidence based practice (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2015).
2. With an understanding of EBP, describe the difference between external and internal data (evidence) in the context of an example (i.e. what are examples of internal and external sources of data related to - patient satisfaction, nurse staffing, turnover, student retention, adherence to clinical guidelines).
External data or external evidence is more broad and generalizable to a large number of facilities across the nation and across the world (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2015). This evidence is collected …show more content…
M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2015). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health.
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2012). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (9th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams &