Design: This study used a pre-test, posttest design.

Population: Fifty-eight university nursing faculty and registered nurse managers and educators from a rural health care facility participated in the initial phase of the project.

Concept: Many nurses are intimidated by the concept of research and have had little or no formal education in the research process and EBP. Successful EBP initiatives benefit from collaboration between academic and practice settings.

Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire on EBP prior to the beginning of the workshop. Using a nautical theme and setting, the participants were asked to complete ‘passports’ and were given ‘boarding passes’ to attend an all-day workshop. Skits, shipwrecks, and treasure maps were utilized throughout the day to represent various stages of EBP. Posttests were distributed three months after the workshop.

Findings: Evaluations of the workshop were overwhelmingly positive. Analyses of the pre- and posttests are currently in progress.

Conclusions: The use of fun, innovative methods in a relaxing setting help make the transition to EBP less frightening. The impact of this approach on nurses’ knowledge and attitudes is still being evaluated and will be available early spring, 2004.

Implications: Support from nurse leaders is critical to the success of introducing EBP to nurses unfamiliar with the concept. Future programs will be conducted with other agencies if final analyses support the positive impact of this innovative program on nurses’ attitudes and knowledge about EBP. Additional programs to facilitate incorporation of EBP will also be developed.

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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 21, 2004