This domain articulates the requirement that the CNS should practice incorporating best available evidence to provide quality health care and contribute to the creation and/or implementation of knowledge through active participation.
Evidence-Based Practice
Critically appraises and integrates evidence and research findings into practice.
Performance Criteria:
- Promotes the development, critical analysis, interpretation and dissemination of evidence-based findings.
- Participates in the academic community by providing education, clinical supervision and mentorship through university cross-appointment.
- Identifies research opportunities.
- Develops, participates in and promotes research in collaboration with others to improve, enhance or benefit care of the patient/family, nursing practice and/or the organization/health system.
- Identifies and implements new research/evidence- based treatments to improve patient care, organizations or health systems.
- Critically reviews, analyzes, interprets and applies evidence to clinical practice.
- Acts as a change agent through knowledge translation and dissemination of new knowledge that may include formal presentations, publication, informal discussions and the development of best practice guidelines and policies.
- Chooses, applies, or withholds interventions in a manner that is substantiated by relevant research and appropriate to the needs of the patient or system.
- Analyses research findings and other evidence for their potential application to clinical practice.
- Designs programs for effective implementation of research findings and other evidence in clinical practice.
- Cultivates a climate of clinical inquiry across spheres of influence.
Using data and information systems
Uses data systems to enhance the quality and delivery of patient care.
Performance Criteria:
- Acquires the information technology skills needed to inform and provide optimum health care and document accurately outcomes of interventions.
- Understands how to use technology and data to assist in problem identification and identification of deficiencies that can be remediated to enable improvements in patient care.
- Analyzes data accurately and comprehensively leading to appropriate interpretation of findings and development of implementation plans.
Research Participation
Uses research, evaluation, service improvement and audit findings to enhance the quality of patient care and protect the rights of those participating.
Performance Criteria:
- Participates in activities that disseminate research findings such as, publications, journal clubs, grand rounds and presentations.
- Promotes research, evaluation, service improvement initiatives and audit designed to improve healthcare practice and disseminate findings to colleagues, patients, families, communities, and society.
- Undertakes appropriate development to ensure competency to recruit, ensure informed consent is obtained, support involvement, facilitate, monitor and where appropriate advocate withdrawal of individuals participating in clinical research and evaluation.
- Collaborates with senior investigators and/or members of the interdisciplinary team in research relevant to practice.
