Evidence-based practice for staff nurses

Barriers to the involvement of staff nurses in evidence-based practice include time commitments, staffing challenges, and limited experience in identifying evidence.

A 1-day, hands-on course focused on small, achievable, evidence-based practice projects; follow-up after the course by a project director; and commitment to implementation of participants' projects by management. Faculty included a librarian who helped with computer searches and a quality assurance representative to facilitate availability of institutional data for project evaluation.

Nine courses held over a 3-year period involved 79 home institution nurses and 76 community nurses. Course evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. Completed projects were displayed on participants' units and circulated throughout the institution. The courses are continuing as part of the regular annual nursing education calendar.

Streamlined approaches to teaching evidence-based practice can be used to involve staff nurses and raise awareness of evidence-based practice across nursing. Key positive findings include achievable projects, provisions for follow-up, and management support.