Yes, there is a significant difference between “common practice” and “best practice”:

• Common practice: This refers to how things are typically done within an organization or field, even if there isn’t necessarily strong evidence supporting it. It’s often based on tradition, habit, or what’s “always been done.”
• Best practice: This refers to approaches or procedures that have been demonstrably shown to be most effective through research and evidence. They are data-driven and aim to achieve the best possible outcome.

Here’s an analogy: Imagine a maze representing patient care.

• Common practice:Everyone navigates the maze the same way they’ve always done, even if it’s a winding path with dead ends.
• Best practice:Research identifies the most efficient route through the maze, considering factors like minimizing risks and reaching the goal (positive patient outcome) faster.

Clinical inquiry is crucial because it encourages nurses to move beyond “common practice” and seek out “best practices.” By questioning existing procedures and actively searching for research evidence, nurses can:

• Improve patient care: By ensuring practices are based on the latest evidence and proven methods.
• Reduce risks: By identifying and addressing potentially ineffective or even harmful practices.
• Promote innovation: By encouraging continuous improvement and exploration of new approaches.

The scenario you described perfectly illustrates this concept. As a new nurse, you initially focused on learning the “common practices” to perform your role effectively. However, with experience, you can delve deeper and ask questions like:

• Is there research supporting this procedure?
• Are there alternative methods that might be more efficient or beneficial for patients?

This critical thinking and pursuit of evidence-based practice are essential for nurses to provide the highest quality of care.