Background: Clinical nurses are in a unique position to identify gaps in practice, develop innovative solutions, and implement Evidence Based Practice (EBP). When EBP is consistently integrated, patie..
more »Background: Clinical nurses are in a unique position to identify gaps in practice, develop innovative solutions, and implement Evidence Based Practice (EBP). When EBP is consistently integrated, patient and organizational outcomes improve resulting in a safer practice environment. The literature identifies that participation in EBP increases nurse satisfaction, decreases turnover, and advances nursing science. Despite the known benefits a chasm continues to exist between knew knowledge and clinical practice.
Purpose: The Research and Evidence Based Practice Council (REBPC) designed and implemented a structured project development pathway for clinical nurses. The goal was to foster the conduct and dissemination of nurse led research, EBP, and innovation in a Magnet organization.
Implementation Plan: The PARIHS framework was utilized to evaluate the evidence and context plus develop approaches to facilitate this change. Best practice recommendations to engage and mentor nurses were applied and a project development pathway was created. REBPC partnered with other shared governance groups including the local ExPERT panel. The pathway included open office hours where nurses could present projects at all phases of development or engage in brainstorming with council members. REBPC provided peer feedback, resources, mentorship, protected time, and removed barriers.
Outcomes: Pathway implementation required a phased approach; establishing a structure, developing a process, and setting outcome measures. In 2021 two clinical nurses came to REBPC for brainstorming sessions and the pathway was utilized for 6 scholarly, and 7 clinical projects. The projects included 4 EBP implementation and 9 quality improvement initiatives, all led by nurses in the organization. The REBPC provided all levels of support to the nurses engaged in innovative solutions to organizational priorities, this included establishing 8 mentoring relationships. Three completed pathway projects ended with internal and external dissemination.
Implications for Practice: The REBPC can provide evidence-based structure, support, and mentoring needed to engage clinical nurses in research, EBP and innovation.
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