AANA Puts Evidence to Practice
The AANA recognizes the importance of evidence-based (EB) practice and its role within the larger environments of healthcare and society. The AANA realized the need to establish a systematic evidence-based process to analyze and resolve issues of import to the profession and clinical practice as the body of knowledge affecting nurse anesthesia continued to grow. Based on the work of Sackett et al. (2000), the AANA adopted the definition of evidence-based nurse anesthesia practice as "integration and synthesis of the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values" in order to optimize the care of patients receiving anesthesia services.
Key Components of Evidence-based Practice
- Patient preference/values
- Clinical expertise
- Best research evidence
Five Steps of the Evidence-based Process
- Ask a clinical question
- Obtain the best research literature
- Critically appraise the evidence
- Integrate the evidence with clinical expertise, patient preferences
- Evaluate the outcomes of the decision
As evidence-based practice is increasingly adopted, so are the available resources to assist with putting evidence to practice. Browse the AANA Professional Practice website for information and resources to assist CRNAs and others interested in learning more about evidence-based practice.