Best practices derived from valid and reliable research studies—which also take into account healthcare settings, patient preferences and values, and clinical judgment—are known as:?

1. A

   Holistic nursing

2. B

   Evidence-based practice

3. C

   Standard practice

4. D

   Telehealth

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025

Explanation

• Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a problem-solving approach that integrates the best evidence from research with a clinician's expertise and the patient's preferences and values.
• The question directly describes the three core components of EBP: 1) valid research, 2) clinical judgment, and 3) patient preferences.
• This approach moves nursing care away from decisions based solely on tradition or convenience toward a systematic process that improves quality and safety.
• EBP is considered a core competency for nurses to ensure they provide effective, timely, and appropriate clinical care.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: Holistic nursing focuses on treating the whole person (mind, body, spirit), which is a philosophy of care. While it complements EBP, its primary definition is not the integration of research evidence.
• Option C: Standard practice refers to the routine procedures and protocols used in a healthcare setting. These may be based on tradition and are not always aligned with the most current research evidence.
• Option D: Telehealth is a mode of delivering healthcare services using telecommunications technology. It describes how care is delivered (remotely), not the decision-making framework behind the care itself.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Definition of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• Applying EBP is a professional standard that leads to improved patient outcomes, enhanced patient satisfaction, and reduced healthcare costs.
• Nurses use EBP to make daily decisions, such as selecting the most effective wound care dressing, implementing fall prevention strategies, or educating patients about their conditions.
• What if? If a nurse relies only on 'standard practice' and ignores new evidence, they might continue using an outdated, painful procedure when a newer, evidence-based method is proven to be more effective and comfortable for the patient.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the key components in the question's definition: 1) valid research, 2) clinical judgment, and 3) patient preferences.
• Recognize that this three-part structure is the classic definition of a specific nursing concept.
• Evaluate each option to see which one matches this definition.
• Eliminate 'Holistic nursing' as it's a philosophy of care, not a decision-making model based on evidence.
• Eliminate 'Standard practice' as it refers to routine care, which may not be evidence-based.
• Eliminate 'Telehealth' as it's a method of delivering care, not a framework for making decisions.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Definition of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
• Stem keywords: best practices, valid and reliable research, patient preferences and values, clinical judgment
• Lead-in keywords: are known as

Question ID

QS4PaO2Xb2l5XdV_Y39SsH

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 1 pp. 74-76, 73-75

E6 NursingResearch Polit 11e Part 1 p. 35-37