The Institute of Medicine has stated a goal that 90% of practice be evidence-based by 2020. According
to HealthyPeople.gov, the United States is currently at approximately 15%. Discuss two barriers that
might hold nursing practice from achieving this goal, and suggest ways in which identified barriers
may be addressed.
Evidence-based practice is the blending of evidence from well-designed studies with clinical
experience and patient preferences to create better and safer outcomes and lower costs (Wallis, 2012).
A 2012 study by colleagues at Ohio State University (Melnik, et al) determined that only about one
third of respondents agreed that they or co-workers consistently adhered to EVP when caring for
patients. This is despite the fact that over three quarters of the same respondents admitting they felt it
was important for best practice to be used. Two frequently cited barriers in this study were lack of time
and organizational culture. Organizational culture meaning the general feeling of staff regarding
proposed changes. In other words, that general attitude that seems to plague even the most open-
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- Winter '18
- Tammy Gray
- Management, Nursing
