Building Evidence-Based Practice Competency Through Interactive Workshops.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Education

Background:

• Consistent evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation enhances care quality, patient outcomes, and cost-efficiency.
• Nurses utilizing evidence report higher job satisfaction, reduced turnover, and increased autonomy.
• Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) are crucial for EBP skill development and dissemination among bedside staff.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of interactive workshops in enhancing nurses' knowledge and confidence in EBP.
• To evaluate the role of CNS in fostering a spirit of inquiry and EBP adoption among bedside nurses.

Main Methods:

• Development and delivery of 90-minute interactive workshops focused on EBP steps.
• Inclusion of bedside nurses as participants, encouraging a culture of inquiry.
• Administration of pre- and post-surveys to measure changes in EBP knowledge and self-perceived confidence.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant overall mean knowledge improvement of 29% (P < .0001).
• Largest knowledge gain observed in the correct identification and use of Boolean operators (71% improvement).
• Moderate to large effect sizes noted across all measured areas, indicating substantial impact.

Conclusions:

• CNS can drive culture change by understanding stakeholder needs and creatively implementing EBP initiatives.
• The developed workshop model is a low-cost, easily replicable method for teaching EBP concepts and fostering culture change.
• Successful implementation of EBP training empowers nurses and improves practice environments.