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Active educational programs facilitating evidence-based practice are key to its success in clinical practice. Through collaborations with the University of Alaska-Anchorage, nursing students in Anchorage are learning these concepts in their undergraduate programs. All new graduate RN's receive education in EPB has part of their nursing internship. Clinical nurses are learning about EBP from the time that they enter the organization, building a strong culture for evidence-based practice.

The Evidence-based Practice Staff Nurse Internship, however, provides the tipping point to move ANMC to be recognized as a Center of Excellence in EBP. ANMC, working collaboratively with the University of Iowa, assessed the knowledge of and interest in EBP and demonstrated the need for a dynamic educational program that provides staff nurses and nurse leaders with knowledge and skills necessary to deliver evidence based nursing care. Implementing EBP within a clinical setting is complex and requires organizational support, active mentoring and resources as well as expertise. The bedside nurse takes the lead in project development and works with their nurse manager and a masters prepared nurse mentor, in applying EBP to address a clinically relevant issue. The Iowa Model of EBP is used as the framework for guiding the processes of promoting adoption of EBP for clinical decision-making. Each staff nurse works with their unit peers to develop, implement and evaluate a change of practice in their clinical area. Each area develops a core group of change champions to facilitate diffusion and integration. A competitive application process resulted in four staff nurse led projects. The 18-month internship includes coursework, team meetings and project work time. Current work to date will be featured.

Using evidence to advance nursing practice demonstrates our commitment to our professional role, its value and quantifies nursing's contributions to quality patient care.