How can you begin to incorporate evidence-based research into your nursing practice vs. "we have always done it that way"?

1. Understand Evidence-Based Research: The first step is to understand what evidence-based research is. It is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.

2. Education and Training: Get the necessary education and training on how to conduct and interpret evidence-based research. This could be through seminars, workshops, or online courses.

3. Identify Areas of Improvement: Look at your current nursing practice and identify areas where you think improvements could be made. These could be procedures that you feel are outdated or not as effective as they could be.

4. Conduct Research: Look for the latest research and evidence related to these areas. This could involve reading medical journals, attending conferences, or even conducting your own research.

5. Evaluate the Evidence: Critically evaluate the evidence you find. Not all research is created equal, and it's important to be able to distinguish between high-quality and low-quality evidence.

6. Implement Changes: If the evidence supports it, implement changes in your nursing practice. This could involve changing the way you perform a certain procedure, or it could involve implementing a new procedure altogether.

7. Monitor and Adjust: After implementing changes, monitor the results and adjust as necessary. Evidence-based practice is not a one-time thing, but a continuous process of improvement.

8. Advocate for Evidence-Based Practice: Finally, advocate for evidence-based practice within your organization. This could involve educating your colleagues about the benefits of evidence-based practice, or it could involve advocating for organizational policies that support evidence-based practice.

Remember, the goal of evidence-based practice is to provide the best possible care for patients, and that should always be the guiding principle in any changes you make.