Comparison of two breast carcinomas: ductal carcinoma in situ and lobular carcinoma in situ.

The incidence of breast carcinoma in situ is increasing, yet poorly understood. Diagnosis and management of two types of carcinoma in situ are addressed. Nurses are in key positions to educate and support patients for informed decisions about their treatment.

Evidence-based practice: collaboration between education and nursing management.

AIM: To examine practicing nurses' attitudes and knowledge of evidence-based practice. BACKGROUND: Health care providers acknowledge that health care decisions should be grounded in current evidence. Limited evidence documents practicing nurses' attitudes and knowledge regarding evidence-based practice. METHODS: A descriptive survey was administered to 286 practicing nurses. Demographics of educational preparation, area of practice, years in practice, age and gender were collected. RESULTS: The largest number of respondents held an associate degree (30.6%) or baccalaureate degree (29.5%). Thirty-seven per cent reported over 15 years experience in nursing. Forty-three percent reported 61-100% of their practice was evidence based. Fifty percent reported an ability to determine the validity of evidence, and 58% rated an ability to apply findings to individual cases positively. Administrative support of evidence-based practice was reported by only 5.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses voiced agreement that their practice was evidence-based; however, they reported only an average ability to retrieve or critically analyse evidence. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The findings support the need for an educational intervention for practicing nurses regarding evidence-based practice. Role modelling and collaboration of nurse managers and educators will promote transition of evidence into clinical practice.