Exploring the relationship between nursing protocols and nursing practice in an Irish intensive care unit

Nursing practice no longer relies on tradition or ritual; instead, it is based on research and empirical evidence. The emphasis on evidence‐based nursing, as well as standardization of nursing practice, has resulted in the production of policies, protocols and guidelines aimed at directing numerous aspects of nursing care. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between these documents and actual nursing practice. To this end, this...