Evidence-Based Education as a Foundation for Advanced Nursing Practice

Advance practice nurses (APNs) need advanced knowledge and skill in finding appropriate sources of evidence, critical appraisal and synthesis of evidence, and the clinical implementation of evidence-based practices.  An understanding of the methods of process improvement, outcomes evaluation, and research are also critical for the APN to complete the cycle of enhancing patient care through evidence-based practice (EBP). The preparation of APNs as leaders of EBP begins in the classroom. In addition to teaching the methods of EBP, nursing faculty members should model EBP for these students by using an evidence-based approach to both teaching and practice. This presentation will describe strategies for incorporating evidence-based content and evidence-based teaching methods into nursing curricula, as well as identifying critical content needed by APNs to prepare them to meet these role expectations. Sources of support for evidence-based teaching, including print media, internet resources, professional organizations, collaborative networks, and funding sources, will be discussed. Exemplars of collaboration across institutional, regional, and national borders will be shared as a strategy for increasing EBP knowledge and competency. Finally, participants will be encouraged to discuss the use of evidence in academic decision-making and program development.