Nurses' research capacity and use of evidence in acute care: baseline findings from a partnership study

The aim of this study is to report baseline findings from a research-focused academic-service partnership.

Despite widespread efforts, the research-practice gap remains considerable. A research-focused academic-service partnership may offer a strategy for decreasing this gap.

With the use of a shared model and a descriptive correlational design, 75 acute care nurses were sampled from July to October 2013.

Attitudes toward evidence-based practice (EBP) were favorable, but knowledge of common research language was low and EBP confidence was reported as moderate. Evidence-based practice confidence had the strongest relationship to EBP use and was greatest in those who held professional certification and were more educated.

Findings continue to demonstrate the need for new approaches to reduce the research-practice gap.