Learning Objective #1: Discuss the outcomes of organizational supports for EBP in a rural community hospital

Learning Objective #2: Create and implement similar EBP organizational supports in his/her own health care setting

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Nurse administrators seeking magnet recognition recognize that evidence-based practice (EBP) must be “usual and customary” nursing activity within his/her organization. These nursing leaders seek to develop and implement strategies to educate, stimulate and support nursing personnel in the identification of clinical nursing issues and the search for evidence-based nursing interventions to address these issues. The literature describes positive attitudes toward research, nurses in leadership positions, and organizational supports as factors that encourage EBP and research utilization.

The purpose of this project was to assess and enhance the EBP knowledge, skills and attitudes of nursing personnel in a rural hospital setting. This hospital is located in a community with a state university, and serves as a clinical practice setting for AD, BS and MS nursing education. Using an instrument developed for a previous study, we assessed the knowledge, skills and attitudes of nursing personnel regarding EBP. Subsequently, we implemented a set of EBP organizational supports and evaluated the effects of these supports one year later. We found a significant increase in respondent knowledge about EBP (t=-2.894; p=0.005). Significant differences were also found for nurses with BS and higher degrees and nurses in leadership positions. We also found improved attitudes about EBP, however none were statistically significant.

This session focuses upon the organizational supports for nurses that we implemented, which were a combination of on-site education, process teams, and EBP dissemination activities. These supports were woven into the strategic plan for the nursing services department. Our experience supports existing literature on the knowledge and attitudes of nurses regarding EBP. We believe that these organizational supports are applicable to other health care organizations, and may produce similar outcomes.