Evidence-based practice and the management of risk in nursing

Abstract

This paper examines how nurses manage research evidence of risk in practice policy. Groups of specialist nurses were observed during the construction of consensus guidelines for three common nursing tasks. The process of interpreting and using research evidence included perceiving and prioritizing outcomes, evaluating their likely impact for patients and staff, and determining an acceptable balance of risk, cost and benefit for multiple contexts and stakeholder groups. The study illustrates some of the unarticulated rules of risk management in nursing, which were powerful mediators in the uptake and interpretation of research. The implications of these frames of reference are discussed in relation to the promotion of evidence-based nursing practice.

Keywords:

• Nursing
• evidence-based practice
• risk management
• nursing outcome
• research utilization

Acknowledgement

The writer wishes to acknowledge the support of a Research Fellowship from the Smith and Nephew Foundation for the completion of this research.