Systematic Review of Studies of Nursing Education Outcomes: An Evolving Review

The systematic review is an integral part of evidence-based health care. One of the best definitions of evidence-based medicine (which can be applied to health care in general) is “...the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values” (Sackett, Straus, Richardson, Rosenberg, & Haynes, 2000, p. 1). This is a comprehensive definition that doesn’t just include the results of the best studies, but it also considers clinical expertise and the patients’ needs. When applying evidencebased health care to nursing education, we should employ the best studies available, integrated with the expertise of qualified and experienced nursing faculty and the values and needs of our students.