Current literature is abounding with support of the need to integrate evidence based practice (EBP) into care delivery systems citing benefits such as improved patient outcomes, enhanced nursing job satisfaction and staff retention as rationale for the effort.  Faced with a financial bottom line, employers cannot negate the value of EBP but are challenged to define sound workplace strategies to allow clinicians to operationalize the concept.  This presentation will address the approaches used to achieve operational acceptance of the need to test a model of EBP integration and evaluate the impact of this work on agency resources.  It will also describe how VNSNY's  voluntary participation in the Advancing Research Through Close Collaboration (ARCC) pilot study offered profound insights into infrastructure requirements an organization must meet to allow clinicians to act as integral members of an EBP work group.  This valuable experience led to the decision to devote tangible agency resources in the form of a Visiting Faculty position in the Clinical Education Department.  The purpose of the role is to educate, mentor and facilitate evidence based practice in every aspect of clinical development in the organization.