Background: Although evidence-based practice (EBP) has a large body of research to support its positive effects on healthcare quality, patient outcomes, costs and clinician empowerment, it is not consistently implemented in healthcare systems across the globe. Barriers continue to persist in healthcare systems, including misperceptions that EBP takes too much time, inadequate EBP knowledge and skills in clinicians, nurse leader/manager resistance, and cultures that continue to focus on “this is the way it is done here.” Multiple models of EBP exist, however, the majority of them are EBP process models and are not models that guide system-wide implementation and sustainability of evidence-based care.
Aim: The purpose of this presentation will be to describe the development and body of evidence to support the use of the Advancing Research & Clinical practice through close Collaboration (ARCC) Model for system-wide implementation and sustainability of EBP.
Methods: Evidence from multiple studies that have supported the positive effects of the ARCC Model on clinicians’ EBP beliefs, EBP Implementation and job satisfaction as well as patient outcomes will be synthesized and highlighted.
Findings: Results of multiple studies indicate that EBP mentors, typically advanced practice nurses who work with point of care providers to implement evidence-based care, have been a key strategy in the ARCC model that has influenced positive clinician, healthcare, and patient outcomes.
Implications for Practice and Future Research: In order to advance and sustain EBP, hospitals and healthcare systems should create a critical mass of EBP mentors as a key strategy in implementing the ARCC Model. Future research should further explore what specific characteristics of EBP mentors are most predicative of positive clinician, healthcare and patient outcomes.