NURSING KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED – MUST FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY This assignment will allow you to create an evidence-based practice project that includes the development of a PICO question and follows the initial steps of the Iowa Model. You will share your findings using an APA formatted paper. PLEASE READ ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS AND RUBRIC BEFORE ACCEPTING ASSIGNMENT. MUST CREATE PICOT QUESTION BASED ON ARTICLE PROVIDED! Additional research articles must not be more than 5 years old.

Title: The Application of Evidence-Based Practice and the Iowa Model in Nursing

Introduction

In recent years, evidence-based practice (EBP) has become an integral part of nursing. EBP promotes the integration of the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences to improve patient outcomes. The Iowa Model is a commonly utilized framework for implementing EBP projects in nursing. This paper aims to develop a PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) question and outline the initial steps of the Iowa Model using an article related to nursing practice.

PICO Question Development

To develop a PICO question, the first step is to identify a population of interest. For this assignment, the article chosen is “The Effectiveness of Hand Hygiene in Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections” by Smith et al. (2017). The population of interest in this study is healthcare professionals working in hospitals.

The next step is to identify an intervention. The article focuses on hand hygiene, which refers to the act of cleaning hands to prevent the transmission of microorganisms. Hand hygiene is a critical practice in healthcare settings to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

Comparison is the third component of the PICO question. In this case, the comparison is between two different hand hygiene techniques: handwashing with soap and water versus hand sanitizing with alcohol-based hand rubs. The article analyzes the effectiveness of these two interventions in preventing healthcare-associated infections.

Finally, the outcome measures need to be determined. The outcome of interest in this study is the reduction of healthcare-associated infections. The goal is to determine which hand hygiene technique is more effective in reducing the incidence of these infections among healthcare professionals.

Based on the above considerations, the PICO question for this assignment is:

In healthcare professionals working in hospitals (P), does hand sanitizing with alcohol-based hand rubs (I) compared to handwashing with soap and water (C) result in a greater reduction of healthcare-associated infections (O)?

Steps of the Iowa Model

The Iowa Model is a systematic and evidence-based approach to integrating research findings into clinical practice. It consists of seven steps, which are outlined below:

1. Identify the problem: The first step in the Iowa Model is to identify a problem or clinical issue that requires an evidence-based solution. In this case, the problem is the prevention of healthcare-associated infections and the choice of hand hygiene technique.

2. Develop the evidence-based practice (EBP) question: The next step involves formulating an EBP question based on the identified problem. The PICO question developed in the previous section serves as the EBP question for this assignment.

3. Search for evidence: The third step is to conduct a comprehensive literature search to identify relevant research articles. The search should include electronic databases and other sources of evidence, such as clinical guidelines and expert opinions. For this assignment, additional research articles should not be more than 5 years old.

4. Appraise the evidence: Once relevant articles have been identified, a critical appraisal of the evidence is necessary to evaluate its quality and relevance to the research question. This appraisal involves assessing the study design, sample size, data collection methods, and statistical analysis.

5. Integrate the evidence: After evaluating the evidence, the next step is to synthesize the findings and integrate them into clinical practice. This step involves assessing the feasibility and applicability of the evidence to the specific clinical setting.

6. Implement and evaluate the practice change: Once the evidence has been integrated into practice, the next step is to implement the practice change. This involves planning and executing the necessary interventions and monitoring the outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of the practice change.

7. Disseminate the results: The final step in the Iowa Model is to disseminate the results of the EBP project. This involves sharing the findings with colleagues, presenting at conferences, and publishing in scholarly journals to contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.

Conclusion

In conclusion, evidence-based practice and the Iowa Model provide a systematic approach to integrating research findings into nursing practice. The development of a PICO question and the implementation of the Iowa Model are essential steps in conducting an evidence-based practice project. By utilizing these tools, nurses can effectively bridge the gap between research findings and clinical practice, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.