EBP Literacy: An Innovative and Simplified Inquiry Process for Point of Care Evidence-Based Decision-Making

Sanares-Carreon, Dolora

Monday, July 11, 2011: 4:05 PM

Dolora Sanares-Carreon, RN, MPA
Nursing Service, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX
Odette Comeau, RN, MS
Nursing Service, University of Texas Medical Branch @ Galveston, Galveston, TX

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify the components of the EBP Literacy Program

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to describe the elements of the EBP Literacy learning pathways

An academic medical center in southeast Texas has demonstrated how its EBP model (Disciplined Clinical Inquiry-DCI ©) generated systems’- nurses’- patients’-centered initiatives that promoted practice changes grounded on evidence of efficacy and safety¹. This program largely attracted advanced practice and expert-level nurses. The challenge was to reach the tipping point of EBP as the normative culture. Hence, the agenda was to develop a program that fosters sustained engagement of frontline nurses with diverse experiences and/or education. A novel point of care inquiry process, called EBP Literacy, was incepted based on the conceptual framework, principles, and the decade-long experiences on the application of the DCI model. With the goal of incorporating evidence-based processes in nurses’ daily workflow, EBP Literacy was pilot tested using a focus group approach. Three levels of evaluation were used: assessment of learning, case-based applications, and qualitative analysis of focus groups data. The major outcomes were: (1) integration of a newly developed team of EBP advocates who serve as role models with a previously established network of EBP Culture Keepers; (2) learning components with a menu of asynchronous learning pathways that match the requirements of nurses’ level of practice; (3) visually re-formatted links dedicated for point of care applications; and (4) re-configured EBP competencies congruent with the expectations of the clinical ladder. EBP Literacy offers a fresh approach to embed evidence-based decision-making in nurse’s daily workflow, a strategy with potential applications across settings.

¹Sanares-Carreon, D., Waters, P. & Heliker, D. (2010). Chapter 2: Framework for Nursing Clinical Inquiry: Pathway Toward Evidence-Based Nursing Practice. In K. Malloch & T. Porter-O'Grady (eds.). Introduction to EBP in Nursing & Health Care, 2^nd ed. Boston: Jones & Bartlett, 31-56.

See more of: Instruments Used for Creating Evidence
See more of: Evidence-Based Practice Sessions: Oral Paper & Posters