Collaboration yields cost-effective, evidence-based nursing protocols

Educators and clinicians need to incorporate the results of research into their teaching and practice because they are responsible for facilitating evidence-based practice. Advantages include blended insight for clinical relevance and theoretical conceptualization, sharing of perspectives on identification of significant findings, joint decision making on patient outcome evaluation, and improved access to patient data, library sources, and statistical analysis. After a comprehensive needs assessment was conducted, an evidence-based practice Pin Site Care Quality Improvement Protocol was developed. The nursing staff on this orthopaedic unit identified pin site care as their need for further study. The Quality Improvement protocol developed consists of assessment, patient preparation, ongoing nursing management, comfort, safety, reportable concerns, and documentation.