Literature Review for Mental Health Nursing: An Evidence-Based Approach

The purpose of this assignment is to allow you to demonstrate your ability to actively engage with the best available evidence related to a specific area of clinical practice. It should be relevant to mental health (psychiatric) nursing. You will undertake a literature review mirroring the first five steps of the evidence-based 1 practice (EBP) process . You should frame your work.

Introduction 
•    Identify an issue directly related to your clinical nursing practice which is of interest to you. Please ensure that the topic is directly linked with nursing practice. It should fall within the scope of the nurse or within a context where nurses have a direct role or contribution to make to the issue. Provide background information/contextual detail and reasons why you are interested in the topic. 

•    Develop a searchable, answerable (burning/compelling) question relating to the topic of interest. Identify a population of interest (P); an issue or intervention of focus (I); the context of interest or comparison (C); and the anticipated/desired outcome (O) i.e. what is to be achieved ultimately. You need to produce a clearly written question articulating all four elements. Full guidance will be given. 
Main body 
•    Provide specific details of your search strategy (e.g. databases/sources, keywords (or variables), limiters, difficulties encountered). Sufficient detail should be provided to enable the search to be replicated. Include your literature Matrix/Synthesis table as an appendix. Rate the quality of evidence amassed using a hierarchy of evidence table. 

•    Critically appraise the material you have collected. Your analysis and synthesis of material should be clear for the reader. What does it tell you, what are the strengths and limitations in relation to answering the question you originally posed? You should present the material in a logical way using sub-headings or ‘themes’ to organise your discussion. 
Recommendations and conclusion.

• Based on your review of the literature, and considering patient/family preferences (factors) and values (where appropriate/applicable) and clinical expertise, what is your recommendation going forward? Does the literature make a compelling case for a change to current practice? Does the literature identify a gap in the existing knowledge base on the topic? Alternatively does the literature support existing practice within the field indicating it is based on the best available evidence. Your recommendations should clearly emerge from/be based upon the evidence presented. Provide a clear concise summary of the main points presented to conclude. 

•    Cultivate a spirit of inquiry 
•    Ask the burning clinical question 
•    Search for and collect the most relevant evidence 
•    Critically appraise the evidence 
•    Integrate the best evidence with one’s own clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values in making a practice decision or change.

1.Demonstrate a spirit of inquiry - Provides clear introduction to topic under review. Identifies an issue directly related to clinical nursing practice which is of interest. Background information, context specific detail and reasons for interest in the topic outlined.     15% 
2. Formulates a burning clinical question - Develops a searchable, answerable question relating to the topic of interest. Identifies population of interest (P), issue or intervention of focus (I), the context of interest or comparison (C) and the anticipated/desired outcome (O), within the question. Clearly articulates each element of the question. 
    10% 
3.Search for and collect the most relevant best evidence. Provide specific details of search strategy (e.g. databases/sources, keywords (or variables), limiters, difficulties encountered). Details should enable the search to be replicated. Include your literature Matrix/Synthesis table as an appendix. Rate the quality of evidence amassed using a hierarchy of evidence table. 
    15% 
4. Critically appraise the evidence- Provides analysis and synthesis of key pieces of evidence related to topic. Interrogates the contribution of the evidence to answer the initial question raised. Presents the material is a logical coherent fashion. Engages with the literature. The reader can clearly follow the line of discussion. Key points/themes are presented in a logical fashion. 
    30% 
5.Recommendations and Conclusions – Provides clear recommendations for future practice based on literature reviewed. Incorporates clinical /practice expertise & patient/family preferences (factors) or implications for clients in discussion. Recommendations are clearly rooted in the findings of the literature appraisal. Provides a clear concise summary of the main points to conclude.     20% 
6. Academic writing /Presentation - Clear coherent structure overall (introduction, main body, and recommendation/conclusion) with logical development and progression of the case. Referencing technique (Harvard style of referencing) applied correctly. Good presentation overall (proof reading, justified text/formatting, editing, spelling and grammar). Presentation consistent with level of study.