EBP is a systematic, step-by-step approach to healthcare decision-making incorporating the best available evidence, clinical judgment, and patient preferences.
The general steps of EBP can often be remembered by the 5 A's: Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, & Assess.
Listed in this box are the general steps of the EBP process, or the 5 A's. Supplementary article readings are included for each step, including those from the classic American Journal of Nursing series of EBP. While this series was published 15 years ago, it is a seminal resource on EBP and its principles can be applied today.
All EBP projects begin with a spirit of inquiry and a burning clinical question that will drive the entire project:
Searching the literature to acquire research evidence is an essential step in EBP. It's puts the "evidence" in evidence-based practice!
For help with your literature search, contact your Nursing Librarian Jodi Jameson. Your librarian is a partner in the EBP process.
After you acquire research evidence, the next step is to critically appraise the studies that you found. See the Critical Appraisal LibGuide for critical appraisal tools and more information.
Implementation involves applying the evidence to practice. This is when you plan and launch the EBP project.
Please also see the "EBP 2.0" articles published in 2019 in the AJN Collection on EBP. These articles provide real-world examples of implementation.
After implementing your EBP project, it is necessary to assess the outcomes and disseminate your findings.
The Network of the National Library of Medicine has made it's 3-part Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice webinar series freely available for viewing:
Many students ask, "How does evidence-based practice differ from quality improvement projects and original research?"
The following articles succinctly explain the key differences: