Evidence-Based Nursing Research Guide: Evidence-Based Nursing Definitions

Evidence-based practice is a process of making clinical decisions based on 3 components:

1. Patient Perspectives & Preference
2. Clinical Expertise 
3. Best Research Evidence

Best Research Evidence requires the clinician to search for the best research evidence available, which may come in the form of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical controlled trials, and other types of studies.  This research is most often published in peer-reviewed journals.

DePaul University Library's databases provides you with access to thousands of high quality, peer-reviewed journals.

Some definitions of Evidence-Based Nursing Practice:

• "the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of theory-derived, research-based information in making decisions about care delivery to individuals or groups of patients and in consideration of individual needs and preferences." Ingersoll, G. (2000). Evidence-based nursing: what it is and what it isn't. Nursing Outlook, 48(4), 151-152.
• "an ongoing process by which evidence, nursing theory and the practitioners’ clinical expertise are critically evaluated and considered, in conjunction with patient involvement, to provide delivery of optimum nursing care for the individual."  Scott, K., & McSherry, R. (2009). Evidence-based nursing: clarifying the concepts for nurses in practice. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 18(8), 1085-1095.
• "an integration of the best evidence available, nursing expertise, and the values and preferences of the individuals, families and communities who are served."  Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, Evidence-Based Nursing Position Statement (Revised 7-6-2005)

A definition of Evidence-Based Medicine:

• “Evidence based medicine is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.”  Sackett, D. L. (1996). Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't.  BMJ, 312, 71-72.

Find explanations of 'evidence-based' concepts in nursing practice & medicine: