Use of Evidence‐based Practice Models and Research Findings in Magnet‐Designated Hospitals Across the United States: National Survey Results

Abstract

Background All nurses have responsibilities to enculturate evidence‐based practice (EBP) and translate and implement research findings into nursing care, practices, and procedures. Aims To report EBP‐related findings from the national Hospital‐Based Nursing Research Characteristics, Care Delivery Outcomes, and Economic Impact Survey questionnaire. Methods In this cross‐sectional survey research study of 181 nursing research leaders, 127 responded to these questions: “Has your hospital adopted or does it use a model of evidence‐based practice?” “If yes, what is the name of the model and how is it used?” “Does your hospital implement (translate) findings from nursing research into clinical practice?” “Describe how your hospital implements these findings and whose responsibility it is.” “What factors do you believe facilitate the implementation of findings from nursing research into clinical practice at your hospital?” Qualitative content analyses were used. Results Over 90% of nursing research leaders specified that their hospital used an EBP model and implements findings into practice. The most frequently reported models were the Iowa Model of Evidence‐Based Practice, Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence‐Based Practice Model, and Advancing Research and Clinical Practice Through Close Collaboration Model. EBP models were used most frequently for education and training, nurse residency programs, and EBP and research fellowships. Findings were implemented through policy and procedure committee processes, shared governance structures, and EBP processes. Those responsible for implementing findings were project leads, nursing professional practice councils, and clinical nurse specialists and advanced practice nurses. Implementation facilitators were nursing leadership, dissemination of findings, and engaged and educated nurses. Linking Evidence to Action These new findings report >90% EBP model use and implementation. All nurses, especially our leaders, have responsibilities to evaluate EBP and how nursing research findings are implemented (translated) into practice. Ideally, engaged and educated nurses who enculturate, support, and sustain EBP will facilitate advancing nursing practice to improve patient and work environment–related outcomes.

Evidence‐Based Practice Culture and Mentorship Predict EBP Implementation, Nurse Job Satisfaction, and Intent to Stay: Support for the ARCC© Model

“…Rather, job satisfaction is a result of an organizational culture supportive of EBP. A culture supportive of EBP means the organization provides needed resources (e.g., educational skills‐building programs), protected time to implement EBP, and EBP mentors for nurses to successfully engage in EBP (Li et al, 2018; Melnyk & Fineout‐Overholt, 2019; Speroni et al, 2020), as well as leadership support. In turn, culture then indirectly impacts nurses’ intent to stay through job satisfaction and EBP mentorship.…”

“…Some are process models that focus on the specific steps of EBP (e.g., Iowa Model [Iowa Model Collaborative et al, 2017] and Johns Hopkins Model [Dang & Dearholt, 2017]), while others focus on system‐wide models for implementation of EBP (e.g., the ARCC © Model and the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services [Harvey & Kitson, 2016; Kitson & Harvey, 2016]). The ARCC © Model (Figure 1) is one of the three most commonly used frameworks for guiding the implementation of EBP (Speroni, McLaughlin, & Friesen, 2020). ARCC © was created in 1999 to integrate research with clinical practice within an academic medical center to ultimately improve healthcare quality and safety, population health outcomes, and costs (Melnyk & Fineout‐Overholt, 2002, 2019).…”

Psychometric Properties of the Short Versions of the EBP Beliefs Scale, the EBP Implementation Scale, and the EBP Organizational Culture and Readiness Scale

“…One such system‐wide model, developed over two decades ago by Melnyk and Fineout‐Overholt, is the Advancing Research and Clinical practice through close Collaboration (ARCC © ) Model (Figure 1; Melnyk & Fineout‐Overholt, 2019). The ARCC © Model has been implemented in hospital systems across the USA and the globe (Melnyk & Fineout‐Overholt, 2019; Speroni, McLaughlin, & Friesen, 2020). A formal educational and skills‐building program using the ARCC © Model develops a cadre of EBP mentors who then foster the implementation and sustainability of EBP in clinicians across the hospital system.…”

A Five‐Step Evidence‐Based Practice Primer for Perioperative RNs

“…Nurses have developed several EBP models to help demystify the translation of scientific evidence into clinical practice 23 . Many health care organizations have adopted EBP models that align with their organizational goals, fit their clinical context, and guide a systematic approach to implement and sustain practice changes collaboratively 24 .…”

“…Many health care organizations have adopted EBP models that align with their organizational goals, fit their clinical context, and guide a systematic approach to implement and sustain practice changes collaboratively 24 . The predominant EBP models are the Iowa Model of Evidence‐Based Practice to Promote Quality Care, the Advancing Research and Clinical Practice Through Close Collaboration Model, and the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence‐Based Practice Model 23 . Although EBP models have distinct differences that hinder their application within some settings, 24 they share similar steps.…”