Building Evidence-Based Practice Skills and Capacity Through a Collaborative Initiative in a New Graduate Transition Program

The partnership leveraged between a pediatric hospital and the OSU College of Nursing CTEP was designed to enhance an existing on boarding transition program for new graduate professional nurses to develop and sustain a culture of evidence based practice (EBP). Nurse residency programs have been found to be an essential requirement for a successful transition to professional practice and the hospital’s acute care residency program was already successful in improving new graduate retention. The one year program provided content related to: pediatric disease pathophysiology, technology, specialty pediatric care, socialization into the organization and self-reflection on the role of the professional nurse.  The program integrated the organization’s quality and safety programs. The purpose of the new EBP partnership was to: enhance the newly graduated  registered nurses’ evidence based practice knowledge and skills, supply novice EBP clinicians into the organization to positively influence the development of an EBP culture throughout the organization. The EBP initiative resulted in the formation of several teams of new graduates who initiated evidence-based practice changes on multiple medical/surgical inpatient units that resulted in measurable changes in nursing practice.  Areas of improvement in practice included patient education and standardization in the practice of select clinical procedures.  In alignment with the Institutes of Medicine’s and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s 2011  Future of Nursing report that includes the importance of a transition to practice experience, this unique clinical/academic partnership was a strategically planned, evidence-based approach to the on boarding of newly graduated nurses in a nurturing and supportive context. The session highlights EBP project development, implementation, challenges and successes. The administrative and unit-based structures developed to provide support for these young teams leading change in the organization will be presented.