Learning Objective #1: Recognize key indicators of institutional readiness for implementing evidence-based nursing practice in a rural community hospital setting

Learning Objective #2: Describe a methodology for measuring knowledge, attitudes, and abilities of nurses for adoption of evidence-based practice

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Research evidence is vital to best practice in any health care field and supports the formation of current clinical guidelines that ensure quality patient care and patient safety. The disparity between research dissemination and adoption of timely practice changes remains, however, despite a wealth of research-generated knowledge and models for practice. This disparity is especially evident in rural practice settings since evidence-based practice (EBP) has been viewed as an academic pursuit and nurses in these settings are often isolated from nurse researchers. Furthermore, EBP investigations have been conducted predominantly in urban settings. Yet, there are similar numbers of rural (2,116) and urban (2,729) community hospitals in the United States. The challenge for nursing leaders becomes creating effective strategies for implementation of EBP in rural practice settings. This presentation will describe the initial stages of a translational research initiative established between a University school of nursing and three rural health systems including a hospital linked to an academic center; a hospital with access to a satellite campus of the school of nursing; and, a small, non-affiliated hospital facility. The initiative was guided by the mentoring model proposed by Darling and Rogers' Theory of Innovation Diffusion. A strategy for implementing EBP in a rural hospital setting, identification of key indicators of institutional readiness, and nurse administrators' views on institutional readiness in this setting, will be presented. Results of a survey of nurses (n=800 RN and LPN) will be shared including demographics, institutional infrastructure, research processes, and staff EBP abilities. Additionally, a survey tool measuring nurse attitudes, knowledge, beliefs, and skills for providing EBP will be discussed. This EBP implementation initiative, used in a rural setting, is intended to serve as a template and will be adapted for use in other healthcare settings in future project phases of the translational research partnership.