PICOT
Step 1:
State your PICOT question. This should be the PICOT question that you previously developed in NR505 and which you should have continued to build upon in the Nurse Executive track courses. If your PICOT question has changed since NR505, note the changes in this section so it’s clear to the instructor what was original and what has been updated. (SOMETIMES the nurses and doctors fail to identify the patients with the medical record number and date of birth).
Step 2:
Clearly define your PICOT question. List each element: P (problem, population, or problem), I (intervention), C (comparison with other treatment or current practice), O (desired outcome), and T (time frame). Is the potential solution something for which you (as nurse or student) can find a solution through evidence research? Look in your book for guidelines to developing your PICOT question and also read the required articles.
Step 3:
Describe the issue or problem that will be the focus of your CGE evidence-based practice change project.
What have you noticed in your work or school environment that isn’t achieving the desired patient or learning outcomes?
What needs to change in nursing, what can you change with the support of evidence in the literature?
Step 4:
How was the practice issue identified? How did you come to know this was a problem in your clinical practice? Review the listed concerns and check all that apply.
Step 5:
What terms did you use in order to make sure your search is wide enough to obtain required information but narrow enough to keep it focused? How will you narrow your search if needed?
Criteria for Content
1. Access the PICOT worksheet found above.
2. Follow the instructions on the PICOT worksheet and complete the form.
3. Submit the completed PICOT worksheet form.
Example 1
What is the PICO(T) question?
Will influenza immunization compliancy rates increase if flu clinics are provided in flu PODS and immunization clinics at convenient times that cover all shifts?
Define each element of the question below.
P (patient, population, or problem): Require hospital employees and volunteers to have the influenza immunization annually.
I (intervention): Offer multiple flu PODS and immunization clinics to hospital employees and volunteers, making it convenient to receive the required immunization. Offer these at a variety of times, available to all shifts.
C (comparison with other treatment or current practice): Compare analytics showing employees and volunteers who received flu shots prior to 2016, when flu PODS and immunization clinics were not offered, to 2016, when flu PODS and immunization clinics are offered to accommodate shifts. Track the number of employees or volunteers coming at each time frame.
O (desired outcome): The desired outcome is increased employees and volunteer compliance with the flu shot policy.
Example 2
What is the PICO(T) question?
For nondiabetic patients on corticosteroid therapy, does monitoring for headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision hourly versus not observing for signs of hyperglycemia promote improvement of pulmonary complications?
Define each element of the question below.
P (patient, population, or problem): nondiabetic patients on corticosteroid therapy
I (intervention): monitoring for headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision
C (comparison with other treatment or current practice): no observations for signs of hyperglycemia
O (Desired outcome): improvement of pulmonary complications
T (time): 60 days
