Running head: EFOLIO - ESSENTIAL III

eFolio - Essential III

Naomi Everett
Frostburg State University

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eFolio - Essential III

Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice

The essence of the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing
Practice Essential III is to ensure that the baccalaureate prepared nurse has a basic
understanding of how evidence is developed, including the research process, clinical judgment,
interprofessional perspectives, and patient preference as applied to practice (American
Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2008, p. 16). Baccalaureate prepared nurses must
be able to integrate researched-based knowledge into their practice clinical decision making. In
addition, baccalaureate prepared nurses utilize ethical and legal precepts [to] guide research
conduct to protect the rights of patients eligible for, or participating in, investigations (AACN,
2008, p. 16).
Exemplar
Of all the work I completed for this course, the evidenced-based practice research project
best incorporated the requirements of Essential III. The essence of this project was to identify a
clinical issue that nursing has the power to affect, formulate a research question, conduct
research utilizing various online databases, critically review and rate the research, and finally
formulate practice recommendations based upon the evidence.
Reflection
This assignment deepened my knowledge of nursing research. I now have a better
understanding of the process, how nursing theory drives nursing research, and eventually
influences evidence-based nursing practice. I now possess the skills to navigate the research
process, to apply evidence to my own clinical practice, and to implement new policy within my
facility. One of the elements of Essential III states that a baccalaureate prepared nurse

EFOLIO - ESSENTIAL III

participate[s] in the process of retrieval, appraisal, and synthesis of evidence (AACN, 2008, p.
16). A considerable part of the project was constructing the research paper itself. Using a stepwise process, focusing on each section of the paper over the course of the semester allowed for
meaningful contemplation of Essential III concepts.
Essential III also states that a baccalaureate prepared nurse describe[s the] mechanisms
to resolve identified practice discrepancies between identified standards and practice that may
adversely impact patient outcomes (AACN, 2008, p. 16). The area of research I selected was
driven by the discrepancy between Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
pressure ulcer prevention recommendations and the current practice at my facility. I was able to
conclude that although more research needs to be done our facility is using best practice based
upon the evidence currently available.

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References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2008). The essentials of

baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice. Retrieved from
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/baccessentials08.pdf