The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness, relevance, and impact of a learning/practice evidence-based quality management (EBQM) project executed among nursing students, nursing staff members and members of the quality management department of a local hospital.

The purposes of the Evidence Based Quality Management project are twofold. The first is to develop a greater understanding of the ways in which client care can be improved using evidence-based nursing research. The second is to investigate the way in which a theory of planned change can be applied to quality management programs to support quality outcomes.

The project is part of a baccalaureate nursing course which focuses on management and leadership for professional nursing. Nursing practice, today, calls for the identification, application and integration of evidence-based nursing knowledge into practice.  Staff nurses often are unfamiliar with the concept of “evidence-based practice” and how to apply it nursing practice.  At the same time, nursing students need to be able to learn about evidence-based practice and apply it to relevant situations in their clinical courses as students. Students and faculty meet with the hospital QM director and nursing staff about the hospital/unit current QM plan, QM structures and processes, and needed QM projects. Students choose a problem or clinical practice question identified by the hospital, nursing unit, or nursing student and implement an EBQM project in concert with nursing staff.

Evaluation of the projects is done in three areas. Measurements of effectiveness are attained by identified objectives; relevance is determined with a Clinical Practice Relevance Scale; and impact is elicited from nursing students, nursing faculty, staff nurses, nurse managers and QM personnel by a questionnaire.

Examples of student projects and their effectiveness, relevance and impact on student learning and staff awareness of evidence-based practice implementation will be given.