Mentoring Undergraduate Nursing Students for Evidence-Based Practice to Improve Quality and Safety in Long-Term Care Settings

This presentation will describe a project to mentor undergraduate nursing students and clinical staff in Evidence-based Practice (EBP) to improve quality and safety in long-term care (LTC). The project has been mutually beneficial to the Nursing Program and clinical settings involved. The goals of this project are: 1. To involve students in evidence-based initiatives in the long-term care setting, 2. To increase the knowledge and use of EBP in the LTC setting, and: 3. Improve quality and safety in the LTC setting. The project began five years ago when a Nursing faculty member from the University functioned as an EBP mentor in an acute care hospital, providing education on EBP and assisting hospital staff in the identification of evidence-based questions with subsequent evidence reviews and recommendations. Undergraduate Nursing students were involved in this EBP initiative by doing EBP reviews, making recommendations, and participating in a variety of EBP initiatives in the clinical setting. Six months ago this project extended to the long-term care (LTC) setting where the faculty member and a undergraduate Nursing student have been working with LTC staff. The faculty member and student work with the LTC staff to identify clinical problems, complete a EBP review, make recommendations, and assist with implementation if needed. Both the faculty member and student serve as mentors, helping nurses in LTC (at all levels) who are often unaware of EBP, integrate evidence into practice. This is especially relevant in LTCs which have a very low percentage of Registered Nurses, let alone nurses with baccalaureate degrees that are knowledgeable about EBP. The project will include multiple Nursing students and extend to a total of three LTC facilities over the next two years. This project has benefited the Nursing program, Nursing students, and the agencies involved in a variety of ways. The clinical agencies have increased the use of EBP and improved quality and safety. Nursing students have increased their competency in EBP and seen firsthand the importance of EBP in the clinical setting. The Nursing program have benefited by the increase in the collaborative relationships with the agencies and opportunities for students.