Introduction: It is well known that evidence-based practice improves healthcare quality and patient outcomes as well as reduces costs. However, it is not practiced consistently by clinicians across the globe. As an effort to enhance quality in healthcare systems and improve the work environment for nurses, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) launched its Magnet Recognition Program in 1993. Although a recent study reported that nurses in Magnet hospitals reported fewer barriers to and a higher desire for EBP, research has not focused specifically on EBP culture, knowledge, implementation and competencies of nurses in Magnet versus non-Magnet hospitals.
Purpose: The aim of this secondary data analysis was to describe differences in EBP culture, knowledge, beliefs, implementation and competency between nurses employed in Magnet and non-Magnet healthcare institutions.
Methods: The data used for this secondary data analysis was drawn from a sample of 2,344 nurses from 19 hospitals/healthcare systems who completed an on-line survey about their knowledge, beliefs, implementation and competency in EBP.
Findings: Nurses in Magnet hospitals reported higher EBP culture, knowledge, and mentoring than nurses in non-Magnet hospitals although there were no differences between the two groups in EBP implementation and competency. There also were no differences between the groups in job satisfaction and intent to stay.
Conclusions: Although nurses in Magnet institutions reported higher EBP culture, knowledge, and mentorship in EBP, it did not translate into increased implementation of evidence-based care, a higher level of EBP competency, and greater job satisfaction. Although it is well known that knowledge alone does not translate into behaviors, such as EBP implementation, further research is needed to explain these findings.