APRN Toolkit

If you are currently employed in a healthcare setting in the State of Alaska, you can register with the AK Medical Library to receive access to databases such as Natural Medicines and the Nutrition Care Manual. Access these and other evidence-based resources through the AK Medical Library!

As stated by Melnyk et al.:

EBP is a problem-solving approach to the delivery of health care that integrates the best evidence from well-designed studies and patient care data, and combines it with patient preferences and values and nurse expertise (pg. 51).

Melnyk, B. M., Fineout-Overholt, E., Stillwell, S. B., & Williamson, K. M. (2009). Igniting a spirit of inquiry: An essential foundation for evidence-based practice; how nurses can build the knowlede and skills they need to implement EBP. The American Journal of Nursing, 109(11), 49. www.jstor.org/stable/25734232

In evidence-based practice, nurses use levels of evidence to evaluate and assess a study's strengths and weakness. This can lead to evidence-based changes to clinical practice. 

Level 1     Systematic reviews or meta-analyses
Level 2     Randomized controlled trials
Level 3     a. Cohort studies (with control group)
                  b. Case-controlled 
                  c. Observational studies (without control group)
Level 4     Expert opinion, physiology bench research, or consensus

PETERSON, M. H., BARNASON, S., DONNELLY, B., HILL, K., MILEY, H., RIGGS, L., & WHITEMAN, K. (2014). Choosing the Best Evidence to Guide Clinical Practice: Application of AACN Levels of Evidence. Critical Care Nurse, 34(2), 58–68.  doi:10.4037/ccn2014411