Champions for evidence-based practice: a critical role for advanced practice nurses

Evidence-based practice is emerging as a widely accepted paradigm for contemporary professional nursing practice. Institutions and providers of healthcare services are adopting this framework to guide the structure, process, and outcomes of patient care delivery. Advanced practice nurses are ideally prepared and positioned within healthcare delivery systems to champion the integration of this practice as a model for evidence-based patient care. This article highlights opportunities and suggests strategies for advanced practice nurses to serve as catalysts for optimizing patient care through evidence-based practice.