The process of becoming a DNP-prepared nurse cannot be completed without learning about research and its use in a practice setting. New studies emerge every day, and they provide a foundation for practice standards, change projects, and interventions that aim to improve patient outcomes. However, with the help of the course, I realized that nurses face many difficulties and obstacles when using theoretical findings and ideas in practice. For example, a theory can be helpful for one population but prove ineffective for another. Similarly, some programs are complex and meet significant pushback from nurses or other professionals. Translation science is a sphere that deals with such problems and helps bridge a gap between clinical scholarship and practice.
Understanding the value of theory and literature is essential for DNP-prepared nurses. Practice takes up most of the nurses’ time when they are working at a hospital or another healthcare organization. Therefore, some specialists may undervalue the role of clinical research in daily activities. Nevertheless, DNP-prepared nurses act to change policy and improve practice – these areas cannot exist without clinical research (Edwards et al., 2018). Improving healthcare requires a scientific basis to show and measure the improvements brought on by different interventions and experiments. This impact of theory on practice becomes apparent during the completion of the DNP project that every nurse has to do for this degree. By going through the steps, one can see how an idea based on previous research and an identified need becomes a basis for change in practice.
Evidence-based practice is one of the foundational blocks of nursing and healthcare in general. Studies that show improving patient outcomes are a call for change – they introduce new ideas to nurses and urge them to review their current activities and knowledge. Translation science aims to make this process simpler and more effective (Titler, 2018). For example, such theories as the Knowledge to Action (KTA) Framework consider the steps necessary for disseminating knowledge and using it in real life (Titler, 2018). According to this model, information should be tailored to the specific context based on the existing gap or problem. Then, during the implementation of the new data, the nurse leader must monitor this process and evaluate its outcomes. Translation science helps researchers and practicing nurses to see these steps clearly and use them in their work.
During this course, I also reviewed the levels of evidence depending on its quality. Evidence-based practice can exist only with studies of the highest quality to ensure the lack of misinterpretation, bias, and unconfirmed findings. Randomization, double-blind studies, and peer-reviewing are not always easy to implement. Still, these and other strategies are essential because they ensure that the most thoroughly investigated findings reach the practice setting. The best studies include systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials. Research impacts population health, so its quality is important for improving patient outcomes.
The materials from this course about the scientific underpinnings of practice and different translation science models help me reach my qualification as a DNP-prepared nurse. This information corresponds to the DNP essentials of scientific research and the use of scholarship in practice. A nurse leader needs to know how to use research and why it is vital to base decisions and actions on evidence. Moreover, the knowledge acquired from this course shows how to appraise evidence and determine whether it can help improve practice outcomes and change the quality of health.
References
Edwards, N. E., Coddington, J., Erler, C., & Kirkpatrick, J. (2018). The impact of the role of Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurses on healthcare and leadership. Medical Research Archives, 6(4), 1-11. Web.
Titler, M. G. (2018). Translation research in practice: An introduction. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(2), 1. Web.