Evidence-based practice for nurse practitioners with clinical pathways.
Evidence-based practice is essential for clinical excellence for nurse practitioners (NPs). Client outcomes must be measured and clearly linked to measurable nursing interventions. To ensure evidence-based practice, clinical pathways can be used as a vehicle to implement care. Clinical pathways track outcomes and interventions, and provide a means for accurate documentation. This article discusses evidence-based practice and the use of clinical pathways by psychiatric NPs in two settings: home care and an outpatient psychiatric clinic.
Dykes
P C
PC
School of Nursing, Fairfield University, Connecticut, USA. Critpathpatti@hotmail.com
Wheeler
K
K
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004282:Documentation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009736:Nursing Process; D015399:Nursing Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration