Nurses' experience of integrating evidence-based changes into their practice: A qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Pain Management

Background:

• Implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial for improving patient care in neonatal and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
• Understanding nurses' experiences is key to successful EBP integration in neonatal pain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of neonatal and NICU nurses during the implementation of evidence-based changes in neonatal pain management practices.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative conventional content analysis using the Elo and Kyngäs model.
• Data collected via 11 semi-structured interviews, 5 focus group discussions, and observations.
• Purposive sampling of nurses working in neonatal and NICU settings.

Main Results:

• Four emergent themes: 'supportive and encouraging atmosphere', 'journey from resistance to adherence', 'achieving multi-dimensional improvements', and 'facing obstructive challenges'.
• Nurses' experiences encompass initial resistance, adaptation, and eventual acceptance facilitated by a positive environment.
• Successful implementation involved overcoming various obstacles to achieve enhanced pain management outcomes.

Conclusions:

• A supportive work environment and addressing challenges are vital for successful EBP implementation in neonatal pain management.
• Nurses' journey through EBP adoption highlights the need for tailored support and strategies to overcome resistance.
• Facilitating adherence to evidence-based neonatal pain management leads to significant improvements in care quality.