Strategic Outcomes and Moving Forward

Purpose

This session will provide participants with outcomes based on strategic planning for the development of an evidence-based practice culture within a pediatric healthcare setting.  Outcomes for targeted interventions based on initial study findings will be discussed.  The link between vision, leadership, implementation and outcomes will be noted as essential to the successful development of an evidence-based practice program leading to best outcomes for patients, families and staff within the organizational system.

Methodology

A 4 hour workshop on the EBP process was presented by 2 EBP Mentors from the academic collaboration in conjunction with the organization’s EBP mentor group.  Identification of a leader for the EBP mentor group provided structure for group members as well as a link to nursing leadership.  Structure within the group in terms of group processing was essential for the conduct of business at weekly meetings.  Timelines for workload and expectations of group members were established for forward cultural movement.  EBP mentor presence in shared governance councils was noted within the work of the council to advance EBP.  A plan to participate in the annual Nurses Week was integrated into the mentor dissemination efforts.  Planning for the internal, formal EBP education program was a focus of the group’s outcome measurement plan.

Results

Outcomes of the group’s efforts included:

Attendance of more than 40 members of the Shared Governance Councils, Nursing Leadership, Nurse Managers, Chief Nursing Officer, and the Director of Nursing Excellence at the 4 hour Evidence Based Practice workshop. 

Ten posters at the hospital’s annual Nurses Week poster presentation highlighted the EBP work done in the past year and offered contact hours for nurses who reviewed the posters and completed the questionnaire.  More than 25 RNs took advantage of contact hours for continuing education, and the posters were viewed by hundreds of multidisciplinary staff over the week. 

Six unit based educational programs were held that highlighted the Spirit of Inquiry and basics of EBP. 

Eight unit specific EBP projects were led by the EBP mentor group, and included mentoring staff nurses in the EBP process. 

There is an EBP Mentor presence in shared governance councils, with EBP Mentors as co-chairs of the Evidence Based Care and Outcomes Council, Patient and Family Experience, and Governance Council, and membership on other councils. 

The EBP Mentor group has planned a program to further progress in a formal education program for staff nurses.  A staff nurse will be placed with each EBP Mentor in a formal mentoring relationship and will attend monthly eight hour classes for a calendar year.

Conclusion

Success within the organization with the development of an EBP mentor group leading efforts for cultural change has occurred since the initiation of the collaboration with an academic expert in EBP.  Future endeavors will continue to accelerate the uptake of EBP within the pediatric healthcare setting.