Description/Overview: In the practice of nursing, rather than providing patient care based on tradition which may be unsupported or outdated, organizations with progressive evidence-based practice programs implement structures and processes whereby nurses are engaged in the review of existing research to better align nursing practices with the best available scientific knowledge. Our academic medical center took the lead to transform their traditional practice committee to a staff-led Clinical Practice Committee (CPC) that ensures evidence-based practices are reflected in the organization’s practice documents for the provision of patient care. The CPC fosters exemplary patient care through the development, review, and dissemination of clinical nursing policies, guidelines, and “clinical alerts” and ensures that these are based on the latest research and evidence. Staff nurses representing each unit on the committee participate in the development and review of delegated nursing policies, guidelines, and clinical alerts. The monthly committee meetings promote active, exciting, and innovative sharing of ideas. Involvement with the committee facilitates recognition of the staff nurses’ clinical expertise and influence to guide clinical practice. Moreover, staff nurses’ involvement stimulates innovative and thoughtful consideration of practices that are efficient and effective in improving patients’ outcomes, and encourages accountability, ownership and promotion of unit policies, procedures, and competencies. Collaboratively, all unit representatives engage in disseminating and communicating policies, pertinent practice documents, and changes in practice to their respective units and throughout the hospital. The development of a Clinical Practice Council has progressed systematically over a period of five years. This progression and process of change has not been entirely without its obstacles, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned. This three-part symposium will address the design, implementation, and outcomes of an effective Clinical Practice Committee that successfully engages frontline clinicians in promoting nursing care that is evidence-based and produces better patient outcomes.

Learner Objective #1: The learner will be able to describe strategies to transform traditional clinical practice committees to identify and incorporate evidence-based practices.

Learner Objective #2: Recognize that efforts to implement and sustain research-based practices improve markedly when staff nurses are involved in the process from the beginning.