1. ASSESS the patient | Start with the patient; determine a clinical problem or question that arises from the care of the patient. | |
2. ASK a focused clinical question | Construct a well-built clinical question derived from the case. | |
3. ACQUIRE evidence to answer the question | Select the appropriate resource(s) and conduct a search. | |
4. APPRAISE the quality of the evidence | Appraise that evidence for its validity (closeness to the truth) and applicability (usefulness in clinical practice). | |
5. APPLY the evidence to patient care | Return to the patient; integrate the evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences; apply it to practice. | |
6. EVALUATE | Evaluate the patient's outcome and your own performance. |
The following guides offer more information about the steps in the EBP process:
The following articles are included in the American Journal of Nursing's 12-part Evidence-Based Practice, Step by Step series: