Evidence-Based Practice Proposal – Section D
The increase in mortality rate among patients in medical-surgical units is alarming. Thus proper interventions should be implemented to control the death rate. To reduce the mortality rate among patients in the medical-surgical unit, the proposed solution is the use of evidence-based practice. The solution requires integration of individual clinical expertise with the available clinical evidence from research when making decisions regarding patient care. Proper clinical care that incorporates both clinical expertise and evidence from research studies is proposed as one of the solutions to reduce the mortality rate among patients in medical-surgical wards and improve their health outcome. To reduce the total length of stay of patients in medical-surgical units, continuous monitoring of patients on the medical-surgical unit was essential as it also lowers the intensive care unit days for the transferred patients as well as reduces code blue rates. Besides, interventions such as healthcare campaigns, improvement of healthcare facilities as well as health education can also be employed in reducing mortality rates among patients in medical-surgical units. Also, increased access to healthcare facilities as well as political will by the government to promote surgical infrastructure will also benefit surgical patients and reduce mortality rates (Chukuezi & Nwosu, 2010).
The intervention is realistic to the healthcare facility since it is not expensive and within the availability of surgical infrastructure, the intervention is likely to be successful. The government is also willing to support the training of medical practitioners and promoting collaboration among them so that they can ensure the continuous monitoring of patients while in the medical-surgical units. The solution is evidence-based thus it is the most appropriate for reducing the mortality rate among patients in medical-surgical units.
The proposed solution is in line with the organizational culture and the resources within. The workers in a healthcare facility have strongly held and widely shared set of beliefs which are guided by the structure and strategy of the organization. Evidence-based practice allows all healthcare professional to rely on clinical expertise as well as the available research literature in making decisions regarding patient care. The culture of healthcare allows health practitioners to work collaboratively in the provision of care. In medical-surgical units, the nurses and medical practitioners work together in the monitoring of patients in those wards. The implementation of health education program and health campaigns unites healthcare workers and increases their knowledge of making decisions using evidenced-based research literature.
The expected outcome of the solution is that there will be reduced mortality rate among patient in the medical-surgical wards. Also, total patient length of stay will be reduced due to proper clinical care and frequent monitoring of patient’s progress. Besides reduced mortality, the intervention will improve the quality of life for patients in surgical wards. Frequent monitoring of patients in those units allows identification of any complication that might have occurred during the surgical procedure or a drug repercussion. Management of such complications improves the quality of life.
To achieve the outcome, the nurses and other health professionals will work collaboratively to ensure that evidence-based practice is employed as a culture of an organization. Clinicians will not only employ their expertise but will include evidence-based research in the treatment and management of patients in medical-surgical wards. Clinicians and nurses will ensure the proper care and management of these patients so that they can reduce the length of stay and mortality rate among patients in surgical wards.
The barriers that require be assessing and eliminating while achieving the outcome including employees resistance to the evidence-based practice. Nurses, clinicians, and managers should be included in the implementation of evidence-based practice so that they can fully participate in evidence-based practice. The readiness and willingness to implement EBP is low among many healthcare workers, creating a barrier for successful implementation of EBP. Behavior change of healthcare workers can be a barrier to the implementation of EBP. Employee’s resistance should be addressed to ensure successful implementation of EBP in the treatment and management of medical-surgical patients.
The outcome of the study will promote the quality of care given to these patients due to frequent monitoring and care of there patients. Evidence-based practice will offer a platform where patients can contribute to their care since they use available information to facilitate care. The use of evidence-based practice enhances processes due to a collaboration of nurses and other healthcare practitioners in the management of patients in surgical wards. Environmental changes are expected where nurses will have new workplaces to exercise their expertise. With evidence-based practice, healthcare practitioners will have added skills to besides their expertise since the use of research literature offer them more knowledge about managing surgical patients. Therefore, the implementation of EBP in healthcare will be significant in reducing the mortality rate among male patients in medical-surgical wards.