A nurse wants to understand the effectiveness of a new treatment. Which approach is warranted?

The approach of reviewing past studies for insight into the treatment is warranted because it allows the nurse to base their understanding of the new treatment on existing research and evidence. This method provides a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment by considering previous findings, methodologies, and outcomes reported in scientific literature. By engaging with peer-reviewed studies, the nurse can identify patterns, potential efficacy, and safety profiles associated with the treatment. This enhances the foundation for making informed clinical decisions and helps ensure that the approach taken aligns with best practices and evidence-informed guidelines.

In contrast, implementing the treatment without inquiry skips essential steps of evaluation, which could lead to suboptimal patient care and safety risks. Gathering personal opinions lacks the systematic rigor that scientific evidence provides and may lead to biased perspectives. Focusing solely on anecdotal evidence is similarly problematic, as anecdotes can be unreliable and do not provide the comprehensive understanding necessary for assessing treatment effectiveness.