Developing an evidence-based procedure: maintenance of central venous catheters

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Healthcare Guideline Development

Background:

• Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) require practical skills in evidence-based guideline creation.
• Integrating guideline development into CNS education enhances practical application of research.
• A structured learning experience is crucial for developing clinical expertise in evidence synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the process of creating an evidence-based guideline within a CNS learning experience.
• To share the key recommendations derived from the integrated literature review.
• To identify factors influencing the successful development and implementation of clinical guidelines.

Main Methods:

• A utilization-focused integrated review of the literature was performed.
• Guideline development was guided by a nurse researcher.
• The process involved a group of clinical nurse specialists as learners.

Main Results:

• An evidence-based guideline was successfully created as a product of the educational initiative.
• Key recommendations for practice were identified and documented.
• Facilitating and hindering factors encountered during the process were cataloged.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based guideline development can be effectively integrated into CNS educational programs.
• Collaboration with nurse researchers is vital for rigorous literature synthesis.
• Understanding facilitators and barriers informs future guideline implementation efforts.