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Breanne Mateko is an R.N. finishing her BSN at California State University Northridge. Even with a congested schedule of work and school, she was able to respond to the call from the American Red Cross (ARC) after hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. She was sent to the ARC National Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia and volunteered as a Disaster Services Human Resource Nurse. She worked at a call center and guided clients to the appropriate resources, triaged, and gave medical management advice. Breanne will appreciate this experience for a lifetime because she was able to help many people less fortunate than herself. Although the volunteer experience was more stressful and emotionally exhausting than she expected, she would do it again. Breanne would also recommend and encourage others to volunteer with the American Red Cross. With many recent natural disasters, there are countless opportunities for a nurse to volunteer.Anyone interested in volunteering for the American Red Cross please refer to this web site: Red Cross Volunteer Services.
A recent research article from American Journal of Nursing explores the readiness of U.S. nurses to use and apply research evidence to support patient care practice. The design was a descriptive, exploratory survey. A geographically stratified random sample was used, and of that, 77% of the respondents were clinical RNs and the focus of this research article. The results of the study suggest that U.S. nurses are not ready for evidence-based practice for a culmination of reasons. Barriers to evidence-based practice included lack of computer or literacy skills, access to up to date literature, and attitudes toward research. The most concerning barrier to evidence-based practice is the “lack of value for research in practice” (Pravikoff, Tanner, & Pierce, 2005, p.49). Nursing is headed in a new direction that requires validation for our clinical practice and decisions. It is paramount that nurses incorporate research finding into the clinical practice. Perhaps some of these barriers could be overcome by incorporating use of research and evidence based practice into ALL nursing curriculum.Pravikoff, D.S., Tanner, A.B., & Pierce, S.T. (2005, September). Readiness of U.S. Nurses for Evidence-Based Practice. American Journal of Nursing, 105(9), pp. 40-51.
How do you disseminate research based-practice in your place of work?
Please respond to Erin Core.
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