What are some of the obstacles or barriers to implementing EBP in nursing?

What are some of the obstacles or barriers to implementing EBP in nursing? Provide a rationale for your answer. Since there are numerous topics on the issue, it is not appropriate to repeat one that has already been mentioned unless providing new information."

1. limited access to research evidence.

 Rationale: Nurses may not be able to afford journals or even databases which they use in updating their knowledge base. This reduces the possibility of practicing in accordance with the latest evidence.

 Example: If a hospital does not take a subscription to some basic medical databases, then a nurse will be lacking some of the newer studies that can help in practicing.

 2. Lack of Time

 Rationale: Most nurses are working under tight schedules carrying heavy work loads, whereby there is little time to devote in re-visit of literature and incorporation of identified research findings.

 Example: In clinical practice environments, a nurse might fail to undertake the time-consuming activity of scrutinising and assimilating research findings into practice due to the flurry of obligations for his/her patients.

 3. Insufficient Training in EBP

 Rationale: Because of this, nurses may be deprived of adequate formal education or training in EBP methodologies which will make it hard to make sense of the research literature.

 Example: Without research knowledge a nurse is very likely to find it difficult in the appreciation of study quality, or synthesis of the findings to practice.

 4. Resistance to Change

 Rationale: Certain practitioners of HCPs may not be willing to adopt newer models or principles of practice or even guidelines which have been produced from current research.

 Example: A unit may stick to the previous concepts because of their past practices or due to questioning of new findings.

 5. Inadequate Support from Leadership

 Rationale: Leadership support or resource providing and encouragement is usually expected to contribute to the success of EBP implementation. Again the process may be hampered in the absence of support.

 Example: A lack of support for EBP from the hospital’s administration or a lack of resources for EBP will lead to inefficiency of the effort made by the nurses to take change the practices.

 6. Limited Collaboration and Communication

 Rationale: EBP is a process that involves a number of members of the health care fraternity. For example, if there are misunderstandings between employees on what exactly needs to be done or if there is little or no cooperation to achieve intended objectives, it will hinder the change.

 Example: However, when there is no proper coordination between the nurses and the physicians implementing EBG to the patient care may be difficult.

 7. Cultural and Organizational Barriers

 Rationale: This is due to barriers of organizational culture and practice which may go against the recommended guidelines or embrace them slowly due to a number of reasons.

 Example: Credence-belief culture: An organisation that relies heavily on its staff’s experience will have a challenge in embracing EBP.

 8. Financial Constraints

 Rationale: Applying evidence to practice changes may involve a cost implication of training, additional personnel or technology acquisition which is often a limitation.

 Example: Implementing the new technologies or buying effective tools may be expensive hence challenging.

 9. Complexity of Evidence

 Rationale: Most of the time the findings of a research may be complicated, and one may need to have some understanding of research so as to be in a position to apprehend it appropriately.

 Example: Such translation of results of statistical analyses to more doable interventional approaches that can be implemented by the nursing profession may be tasking especially if the researchers lack other supports or resources.

 10. Lack of Standardized Guidelines

 Rationale: Some of the challenges of accessing EBP include: The standards for implementing EBP may not be properly developed or are not well outlined; because of this, nurses may find it hard to put EBP into practice in various health-care facilities.

 Example: The guidelines of different institutions are usually not set at the same level; this causes disparity in the way that evidence-based interventions are practiced.

 References:

 Melnyk, B. M. , & Fineout-Overholt, E. The Role of Evidence-Based Practice in Comprising the Next Generation of Quality and Safety Leaders Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing , 22(1) , 3–5. Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: The establishment of the benchmark for effective practices is therefore documented as A Guide to Best Practices. Wolters Kluwer.

 In their paper, Melynk, B. M & Fineout-Overholt, E (2011) Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: , popularly referred to as OCR (Optical Character Recognition): A Guide to Best Practices. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.