Evidence Based Practice

According to Melnyk et al. (2014), Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a lifelong problem-solving approach to the delivery of healthcare that integrates the best evidence from research, patient preference and values, and clinical expertise. Research has shown EBP enhances the quality and reliability of health care, improves outcomes, and reduces variations in care and costs (Melnyk et al., 2014).  Research is creating new knowledge; to have good EBP, good research is required (Laureate Education, 2018).  EBP answers healthcare questions and changes the practices that nurses utilize today.

The organization I choose to review is the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). According to the APNA website, the APNA is the largest professional organization committed to psychiatric-mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems, and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. Throughout the APNA website, EBP practice is in several areas, including the vision, mission, and the most meaningful, in my opinion, was listed under collegiality. The Journal of American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA) is a bi-monthly journal issued to members which provide up-to-date, evidence-based nursing practices, innovative therapeutic approaches, information on treatment approaches, and clinically focused research (APNA, n.d.)

The APNA is grounded in EBP as evidence by its structure to address essential areas with issues in mental health such as nurse practices, education, research, administration, and policy (APNA, n.d.). The APNA also offers a resource for networking, continued education, and dissemination of research.

The information discovered has changed my perception of the organization. I have always felt the cost of being in a nursing organization was far too expensive. However, the APNA seems to well worth the cost of membership with the availability of resources, networking, and ongoing education opportunities. In addition, the bi-monthly evidenced-based peer-reviewed best practices journal will be priceless to my practice. The benefits far outweigh the cost of membership.