Evidence-Based Practice Attributes Among Specialist Nurses in Acute Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Quality
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial for high-quality acute care.
• Limited evidence exists on how specialist nurses engage with EBP.
• Understanding EBP engagement is vital for advancing acute care nursing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine EBP beliefs, organizational culture, and self-reported implementation among specialist nurses in acute care.
• To assess associations between EBP engagement and professional characteristics like specialist certification and academic qualifications.
• To identify factors influencing EBP adoption in high-acuity nursing settings.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study design.
• Data collected from 510 specialist nurses in acute care roles (June-November 2023).
• Validated instruments measured EBP beliefs, organizational culture, and implementation; multivariable regression analyses were used.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported strong EBP beliefs, moderately positive organizational culture perceptions, and variable implementation levels.
• Specialist certification was significantly associated with higher EBP implementation (β=0.24) and better organizational culture perceptions (β=0.19).
• Higher EBP engagement was noted in critical care and advanced practice roles; emergency care settings reported lower organizational culture scores.

Conclusions:

• Positive EBP beliefs are common among specialist nurses, but implementation is inconsistent.
• Specialist certification and organizational context are key drivers of EBP implementation, more so than experience or academic qualifications.
• Certification pathways and supportive organizational environments are essential for enhancing EBP in acute care settings.