Purpose:  Advanced Practice Nurses are in key leadership positions to promote the adoption of evidence-based practice.  Adoption of a model, allows APN’s to lead practice change, utilizing a systematic process for translating research into practice, while actively engaging staff nurses in the process.
Description:  Unit-based APN’s used the Iowa Model for Evidence-Based Practice to plan and implement an evidence-based practice project focused on the practice of verifying NG tube placement.  Research and practice literature was critically reviewed, and a change in nursing practice was trialed on two units before implementing house wide.  Several organizational factors emerged during the project, which required education and strategic interventions with clinical practice councils and committees, clinical informatics and the laboratory.
Findings:  Results of the trial were consistent with the findings in the literature.  However, resistance to change from both individual nurses and other departments resulted in additional time spent strategizing and work to build consensus, complete audits and education, and other system specific changes.
Conclusion:  While utilizing a model for evidence-based practice provides a systematic process guide, the organizational interdependencies and barriers were not readily apparent.  If the outcome is a change in practice, strategic planning is necessary to address organizational factors and staff perception.
Implications for Practice:  A model for evidence-based practice is an effective tool which advanced practice nurses can utilize to promote translational research.  Attention to organizational factors is imperative during the process because it can directly influence the outcome.

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See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)