Recall a situation when you were asked to perform a specific intervention and/or practice idea based on authority or tradition. Describe the intervention or practice. Based on your knowledge of evidence-based practice, does this practice still hold value now? Use an Evidence-Based Guideline or nursing specialty organization Standard of Practice to support your answer.
Title: Evaluating the Value of Traditional Nursing Interventions in Light of Evidence-Based Practice
Introduction:
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is an approach that amalgamates the latest research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to guide nursing interventions and improve patient outcomes. In the context of nursing, there are instances where healthcare professionals may be asked to implement interventions or practices based on authority or tradition, without considering the current evidence. This essay aims to recall a situation where a specific intervention or practice was based on authority or tradition and evaluate its value in light of evidence-based practice. The essay will utilize an Evidence-Based Guideline or nursing specialty organization’s Standard of Practice to critically analyze the intervention.
Recollection of Situation:
During my clinical placement in a medical-surgical unit, there was a tradition of applying heat therapy to patients with lower back pain. This intervention involved placing a hot water bag on the patient’s lower back for a specific duration, which was believed to alleviate pain and promote healing. The practice was based on years of experience and authority, as it had been passed down from one generation of nurses to another. I was assigned to care for a patient with lower back pain and was instructed by the senior nurse to perform this traditional heat therapy intervention.
Evaluation of the Intervention:
To evaluate the value of the traditional heat therapy intervention, it is essential to consider the current evidence-based practice standards. The first step is to examine an Evidence-Based Guideline or nursing specialty organization’s Standard of Practice related to the management of lower back pain.
According to the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN), the most recent evidence-based guideline for the management of low back pain emphasizes a multimodal approach, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The guideline suggests that heat therapy, specifically the application of hot packs or heating pads, may provide short-term relief for acute lower back pain or muscle spasms. However, it highlights that heat therapy alone is insufficient and should be combined with other interventions such as exercise, physical therapy, and analgesics for optimal pain control and functional improvement (AANN, 2017).
The AANN guideline supports the idea that heat therapy can be beneficial for the management of acute lower back pain. However, it also emphasizes the importance of combining it with other evidence-based interventions for long-term pain relief and functional improvement. This aligns with the principles of evidence-based practice, as it acknowledges the need to integrate multiple approaches based on the best available evidence.
In the case of the traditional heat therapy intervention practiced in the medical-surgical unit, it is evident that its value is limited when evaluated against current evidence-based guidelines. The traditional practice solely focuses on applying heat therapy without considering other evidence-based interventions. Therefore, solely relying on this traditional intervention may not provide optimal pain relief and functional improvement for patients with lower back pain.
Conclusion:
This essay has examined the value of a traditional heat therapy intervention in the context of evidence-based practice. Despite its historical use and authority, the traditional intervention falls short when compared to current evidence-based guidelines. The American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) guideline highlights the importance of combining heat therapy with other evidence-based interventions for optimal management of acute lower back pain.
In light of this evaluation, healthcare professionals must critically appraise traditional interventions and practices, considering the latest evidence-based guidelines to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care. By embracing the principles of evidence-based practice, nurses can harness the power of research to continually improve patient outcomes and enhance the overall quality of nursing care.