Ep. 3: Evidence Based “Icks”: The Things That Make Us Pause

Every specialty has its “icks”—and labor and delivery research culture definitely has a few.

In this episode, Jen and Heidi talk through some of their biggest research and evidence-based practice “icks” in perinatal nursing: from oversimplified interpretations of studies to rigid protocol thinking, black-and-white social media takes, and the pressure to treat research like a mic drop instead of a tool.

We unpack the difference between understanding research vs weaponizing it, why nuance matters in labor and delivery, and how evidence can lose meaning when it gets separated from physiology, context, and clinical judgment.

This conversation is thoughtful, probably a little too relatable for anyone who has ever rolled their eyes during an “evidence-based” debate online.

🔥 Why This Matters

Research is incredibly important—but how we interpret and apply it matters just as much.

When evidence gets oversimplified, stripped of context, or used to shut down discussion, nurses can lose the ability to think critically and adapt care to the patient in front of them.

👉 Evidence-based practice supports clinical and critical thinking– it can’t replace it.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro + defining “research icks”
02:30 – Oversimplifying studies
05:00 – Social media evidence culture
08:00 – Protocols vs thinking critically
11:00 – Losing context and nuance
14:00 – Why physiology still matters
16:00 – Final thoughts + biggest takeaways