Sunday, 30 October 2011: 3:05 PM
Karin C. S. Minnie, PhD, RN, RM1
Christa Van der Walt, PhD, MEd, MSocSc, BArtSc, BEd, RN, RM2
Heather McConnell, RN, BScN, MA (Ed)3
Hester Klopper, PhD, MBA, RN, RM, RPN, FANSA4
Welma Lubbe, RN, BSocSc (Nursing), BCur (Hons), MTech (Nursing)4
Irmajean Bajnok, RN, MSN, PhD5
(1)School of Nursing Science, North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Potchefstroom, South Africa
(2)School of Nursing Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa, Potchefstroom, South Africa, South Africa
(3)International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines Programs, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), Toronto, ON, Canada
(4)School of Nursing, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
(5)International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines Programs, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
Learning Objective 1: Describe elements of a partnership that builds capacity related to the implementation and evaluation of best practice guidelines to foster evidence based nursing cultures.
Learning Objective 2: Discuss strategies to spreading and sustaining efforts to support nurses as knowledge professionals through the establishment of a knowledge translation network in South Africa.
Quality nursing care based on best evidence requires development and implementation of effective knowledge translation strategies for practitioners, innovative approaches in the education of students, practice-relevant research and closer working relationships between clinicians and academics. A university school of nursing in South Africa and a professional nursing association in Canada have partnered to combine their expertise related to best practice guidelines, practice change, evidence-based education and research in order to support knowledge translation, within academic and service settings. This collaborative initiative has been established as a strategy to promote excellence in nursing care through the advancement of nursing science, practice and education. The initial goal is to raise awareness and build capacity in South Africa related to the implementation and evaluation of evidence-based approaches in nursing practice and education, with the ultimate aim of enhancing nursing care and improving patient outcomes.
The presentation will describe the evolution of this collaborative partnership, and emphasize the key elements and important networking opportunities that provided the foundation for this relationship. This session will also highlight the early outcomes of this international connection, which to date include the delivery of a week-long Best Practice Guidelines Learning Institute and the establishment of a South African Network of academic and service partners focused on knowledge translation in nursing. This has resulted in the engagement of nursing leaders in academia and service from across South Africa who are committed to facilitating the widespread uptake and sustained use of best practice guidelines, the creation of evidence-based practice cultures and supporting nurses as knowledge professionals.
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