To make the right decisions regarding patient care, it is indispensable that the current best evidence is used. Such is what constitutes the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP). This practice integrates patient values, clinical expertise, as well as the best research evidence into the process of decision making for patient care. Moreover, the practice significantly improves patient care and involves a number of strategies and steps. On the other hand, a capstone project inquiry entails culminating, intellectual academic work. It may involve presenting findings of an independent research or tests around a particular problem. Consequently, the seven steps of evidence-based practice (EPB) inquiry and the PICOT format can be applied to a capstone project inquiry in the following significant ways:
Step One
The first step would involve cultivating a spirit of inquiry within an EPB culture and environment (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). The culture of EPB must be cultivated to stimulate the asking of burning clinical questions to improve patient care. Notably, in order to effectively complete a capstone project inquiry, appropriate questions should be asked.
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Step Two and PICOT Format
The next step would involve asking the burning clinical question in PICOT format (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). The capstone project is meant to take into account the patient population, intervention or interest area, comparison intervention, outcome, and time. In particular, the format ensures the questions are exhaustive and well ordered.
Step Three
The preceding step involves searching for and collecting the most relevant and best evidence (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). A keyword from the PICOT question is fed into the database being searched and after that, the research words are combined. This reveals essential capstone studies that may answer the question. Systematic reviews, studies from journals, and pre-appraised literature are reliable sources that could explain the capstone project question.
Step Four
After the above, the fourth step involves appraising the evidence (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). A critical and rapid appraisal of studies from the capstone research is conducted.
Step Five
The evidence obtained is then integrated with clinical expertise as well as the preferences and values of a patient to decide whether a practice change should be made. This sums up as the fifth step.
Step Six
The next step evaluates the outcomes of the practice decision or change (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). During the capstone project, outcomes should be measured in order to determine the positive results of the change.
Step Seven
Finally, the consequence of the practice change should be disseminated to allow others benefit from the process.
Overview
The seven steps of EPB form a simple step-by-step process that can serve well as a capstone framework. These steps provide a process whereby the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) can find the best evidence to answer clinical practice questions, apply what has been learned to the clinical setting, and measure and evaluate the outcomes of a practice change based on the best evidence (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). Given that these steps form a framework for the capstone project, they are easily integrated and applied as explained above. This goes a long way in improving the healthcare system through the presentation of reliable capstone project inquiry data.
References
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (Eds.). (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice . Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
