Keeping it real: evidence-based practice in home healthcare.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a vital element of home health nursing. As healthcare becomes more costly, and more complex care is rendered in the home, the need for systematic inquiry to address the needs of clients and families is imperative. This essential systematic inquiry into nursing interventions and evaluation of clients' responses to those interventions may well transform the home health industry.The ultimate goal of nursing care is to optimize quality outcomes for patients, families, and populations, as well as healthcare providers and systems. Using a clinical case study, the authors discuss a step-by-step EBP process incorporating the nursing process from assessment of current practice to formulating a well-defined clinical question that addresses an identified problem through evaluation of the selected interventions effectiveness and efficacy.