Create a poster presentation to communicate an implementation plan to bridge the gap between the evidence you will research and clinical practice. NOTE SPEAKER NOTE UNDER THE POSTER Master’s-level nurses need to be able to think critically about the evidence, outcomes data, and other relevant information they encounter throughout their daily practice. Often the evidence or information that a nurse encounters, researches, or studies is not presented in the exact context of that nurse’s practice. A key skill of the master’s-level nurse is to transfer evidence from the context in which it was presented and apply it to a different context in order to maximize the benefit to patients in that new context. Master’s-level nurses understand the importance of utilizing evidence-based practice in their healthcare setting. The challenge is bridging the gap between the evidence and clinical practice. “This is the way we’ve always done it,” is a common response and may not indicate evidence-based practice is being utilized. Furthermore, when a practice problem is identified, what are the steps to communicate the need for change with the interprofessional team? One way to communicate the need for quality improvements, as well as your plans for achieving specific changes, is through a presentation poster. This type of communication tool is used both in the workplace and at professional and academic conferences. Being able to convey the essence and value of a project in a compelling and succinct way is a valuable skill, and it is vital within the constraints of a single poster. You have been asked to give a poster presentation based around your work and research on a clinical problem in your practice setting. The purpose is to lay out the evidence and a potential implementation plan to your colleagues in order to bridge the gap between the evidence and the practice to improve the quality and outcomes of care. Identify a clinical problem (HOSPITAL ACQUIRED PRESSURE ULCER)in your work setting and develop an implementation plan to carry out your evidence-based practice proposal using a poster presentation. You may use the to help structure and organize your assessment submission. Your Implementation Plan should include the following: The bullet points below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Be sure that your poster presentation addresses all of them. If you choose not to use the provided template, there are templates in PowerPoint or on the Internet that can help you get a start designing your poster.

Poster Presentation: Bridging the Gap between Evidence and Clinical Practice in the Implementation of an Evidence-Based Practice Proposal for Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers

Introduction:
Master’s-level nurses are expected to think critically about the evidence, outcomes data, and relevant information encountered in their daily practice (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2011). However, often this evidence is not presented in the exact context of the nurse’s practice, necessitating the transfer of evidence from one context to another to maximize patient benefits (AACN, 2011). Bridging the gap between evidence and clinical practice is crucial to ensure the utilization of evidence-based practice (Denneson et al., 2017). This poster presentation aims to communicate the implementation plan for bridging this gap in the context of hospital acquired pressure ulcers.

Problem Identification:
Hospital acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) are a significant healthcare challenge, causing patient harm, increasing healthcare costs, and prolonging hospital stays (Black et al., 2018). Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention and management, the implementation of these practices into clinical settings remains suboptimal (Black et al., 2018). This discrepancy between evidence and practice indicates the need for quality improvement interventions.

Implementation Plan:
1. Assessing Current Practice:
The first step in the implementation plan involves a comprehensive assessment of the current practice related to HAPUs. This will include an evaluation of pressure ulcer prevalence rates, risk assessment protocols, prevention strategies, documentation processes, and staff knowledge and adherence to evidence-based guidelines. Data collection methods may include chart reviews, surveys, and observational audits.

2. Identifying Barriers and Facilitators:
Identifying barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based practices for HAPUs is essential to develop effective strategies that address the specific challenges in the clinical setting (Titler et al., 2017). This step may involve conducting interviews or focus groups with healthcare providers, administrators, and patients to identify their perspectives and experiences regarding HAPU prevention and management.

3. Developing an Implementation Strategy:
Based on the assessment findings, the next step is to develop an implementation strategy that addresses the identified barriers and leverages the facilitators. This strategy should be aligned with evidence-based implementation frameworks, such as the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) (Titler et al., 2017). Key components of the implementation strategy may include educational interventions, revision of policies and protocols, improvement of documentation systems, and the use of reminder systems.

4. Training and Education:
To ensure successful implementation of evidence-based practices for HAPUs, healthcare providers need to be trained and educated on the latest evidence, prevention techniques, and proper documentation procedures. Training sessions may involve didactic presentations, case studies, role-playing, and interactive discussions. The education plan should cater to the different learning needs and preferences of the interdisciplinary team members involved in HAPU prevention and management.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation:
Monitoring and evaluating the implementation plan is vital to determine its effectiveness and make necessary adjustments. This step involves ongoing data collection on HAPU prevalence rates, adherence to evidence-based practices, and patient outcomes. Quality improvement tools, such as Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, can be utilized to facilitate continuous improvement and ensure sustainability of the implemented changes.

Conclusion:
Bridging the gap between evidence and clinical practice is essential for improving the quality and outcomes of care, particularly in the context of HAPUs. This poster presentation outlined an implementation plan that includes assessing current practice, identifying barriers and facilitators, developing an implementation strategy, providing training and education, and monitoring and evaluating the intervention. By implementing evidence-based practices for HAPUs, healthcare organizations can reduce patient harm, enhance patient outcomes, and optimize resource utilization.