Characteristic 1

Synthesize, apply, and disseminate evidence-based research and practice findings to address gaps in care that meet current and future healthcare needs of diverse patients/populations local to global.

I have always been a big believer in evidence being the basis for our actions in healthcare.  As a young nurse when I asked questions of "WHY?" I never liked the answer "this is the way we have always done it." For me that was a cop out and I needed to know the reason why so I could be a better nurse.  Even though I was a believer, I was never comfortable reading, understanding, or interpreting research.  I was very much intimidated by three classes in this program, NUSC 7113 EBP for DNP, NUSC 7043 Healthcare Analytics for Nursing, and NUSC 7033 Synthesizing Evidence for Nursing.  When adding in I was one of a few of my classmates that were not an APN, that added to my insecurity.  What I gained out of those classes were tools for my toolbox to carry with me as I grow in my practice.  Each class added another layer of comfort in my abilities to read, understand and evaluate the research I was reading.  I do feel like I can take on of the appraisal tools and make a good educated evaluation of the information being presented to determine if in fact it is good evidence that I need to be disseminating to others around me.  Being in a Magnet pediatric facility, I at times feel out of place because my own nursing background is not pediatrics but I have learned that actually gives me a unique perspective to see things through a different lens that can find gaps that might be overlooked by others.  Being very involved with our anesthesia department has allowed me to help them address gaps they faced historically and bring about change within their department.