Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is one of the most important factors in improving the quality of healthcare delivery and patients’ health outcomes (1). Thus, many healthcare leaders are interested in finding ways to support EBP. In recent years, utilization of research has become an accepted responsibility of point-of-care nurses (2). Nurses’ involvement in research can promote EBP in various practice settings. However, nurses commonly report barriers to EBP and their involvement in research, and training programs have been shown to overcome some of those barriers. (3, 4, 5). We developed a research training program that contributes to a healthy workplace culture by supporting and mentoring nurses to conduct research. The program’s model of mentorship, training and funding has encouraged 550 point-of-care staff, including registered nurses, nurse-practitioners and advanced practice nurses, to embark on small research projects over the past six years, in their own clinical setting, leading to important patient care improvements. Evaluation of such programs is necessary to justify sustainment and spread.
Design: Six years after implementation of a research training program for point-of-care nurses and other clinicians, we conducted a long-term impact evaluation of the program. From May to July 2016 we conducted surveys and interviews to explore the effect of the research training program on nurses’ and other clinicians’ clinical practice, understanding of EBP, interest in advanced education and future research involvement. We also asked open-ended questions about participants’ overall experience with the program. Survey results were analyzed and summarized; interviews were recorded, transcribed and themes were identified. The organizational Research Ethics Board provided a letter of acknowledgement designating this project an evaluation study, and therefore exempt from the requirements of research ethics review.
Results: Twenty-six participants completed the evaluation survey and 11 participated in interviews. A significant and positive long-term impact was found. Participants reported examples of sustained practice changes, enhanced EBP, heightened interest in graduate education and strong interest in future research engagement. Participants also expressed appreciation for the opportunities to shape organizational programs and culture that the program offered them.
Discussion: As healthcare leaders seek to increase EBP, improve patient care and strengthen organizational culture, successful models for nurse engagement in research and EBP are critically important. Support for EBP requires ensuring the commitment of individual nurses to EBP (2). Research has indicated that allowing nurses to choose a topic in which they have a personal interest, and pursue research in that topic area, helps affect genuine change in nursing practice (2). Organizational support for programs such as the research training program outlined here indicates to staff nurses that their employer is committed to a culture of EBP and nurse involvement in practice change. The research training program allows staff nurses to determine the focus area for their research project, thus enhancing nurses’ commitment to completing their projects and disseminating project findings to improve nursing practice and patient care.
This research training program is one promising method for supporting nurses’ and other clinicians’ EBP, engaging them in research, and building a culture of collaboration and leadership in the healthcare workplace. Healthcare leaders can adapt programs like this to fit their own context. Our evaluation suggests that point-of-care nurses will step forward to participate in research training programs, and that such programs lead to positive outcomes for staff, patients, and the workplace environment.