NURS-FPX4030 Assessment 1 Locating Credible Databases and Research SOLVED Example 2

Healthcare professionals need to be able to locate credible databases and research sources to access the most current and accurate information to inform their practice and improve patient outcomes. Choosing which sources of online information are relevant and credible can be challenging due to the proliferation of online information (Weathers, 2021). In addition to finding credible sources, the reputation of the journal or organization publishing the research, funding sources for the research, and the rigor of the methods can also be used to evaluate their credibility (Katowa-Mukwato et al., 2022). This paper aims to identify information sources, suggest the best communication strategies, and explain my role as a baccalaureate-prepared nurse in communication and collaboration for a case study that required evidence-based practice.

Case Scenario

A new nurse has been hired to offset the imbalance in the nurse-patient ratio in the medico-surgical unit of my facility. On her first day, the unit’s nurse manager assigned her to a patient who had sepsis. The patient developed borderline low blood pressure, slightly elevated heart rate, and slight confusion. Even though the nurse knew that her patient had sepsis, she was unsure what nursing diagnosis to assign her patient because of the risk of fats deterioration, multiple symptoms, and signs that the patient has her lack of knowledge of the protocols in the unit and limited time within which she had to perform full body physical examination. Within her hypothetical setting, various resources exist, such as nurse works station computers and hospital internet connection.

My Role as Baccalaureate-prepared Nurse

In my role as a baccalaureate-prepared nurse supervising this nurse, I would assist and guide her in locating evidence for application to her nursing practice. A primary objective of this approach would be to provide education and training in how to find, evaluate, and apply evidence-based research and other sources to the care of this patient, as well as to offer guidance on how to use these sources in clinical practice.

Additionally, to support the nurse in finding evidence, I would facilitate communication and collaboration between members of the interdisciplinary team. Facilitating team meetings or rounds could be one way of discussing the patient’s case and identifying relevant evidence to inform care. It might also be helpful for the nurse to seek feedback from colleagues and other healthcare providers as necessary.

Communication Strategies to Encourage the Nurse to Look up her Diagnosis

This nurse will require to make a well-informed decision before providing care for this patient to ensure patient safety and care quality. These are some of the communication strategies that I would use to support and encourage the nurse to look up her diagnosis and access the resources and guidance needed to provide the best care for the patient. I will offer to help this client locate the best evidence to access evidence-based information on how to make appropriate diagnoses by offering to demonstrate the process in the unit. In the process, I would communicate to her through motivation by explaining to her the benefits of looking up the diagnosis from literature and how this would help her in future practice. This strategy would alleviate anxiety (Vnenchak et al., 2019). 

I would reassure her that it is normal to be frustrated and at a crossroads with certain patient cases. I will also encourage the nurse to collaborate with other nurses, both senior and junior, whenever facing challenges with care plans and diagnoses. This collaboration will ensure patient safety through shared decision-making and consultation as key collaborative approaches (Larsen et al., 2019). In the process of facilitating this nurse’s quest for clinical evidence, I will also explain to her the best resources and sources to complete her search.

Best Places to Complete the Search

The nurse has various areas in the workplace where she can find evidence-based information. The library is the first place she could go for this information search. The library has hardcopy guidelines and books. The hospital’s library also contains practice guidelines and hospital protocols for care for common conditions such as sepsis. Therefore, the library would be the first helpful database. However, there are alternatives to this because the physical library may be located far from the medico-surgical unit, or the search process for hardcopy information would be tedious an