Other Titles
Pioneering Practices: The Journey to EBP Excellence in Healthcare [Symposium Title]
Abstract
Aims: To examine relationships between nurse characteristics and evidence-based practice (EBP) competency, beliefs, organizational culture and readiness, implementation self-efficacy, and mentors access to inform implementation of EBP.
Background. An abundance of literature demonstrates the beneficial effects of using EBP in clinical care and return on investment. Many hospitals continue to struggle with EBP adoption, and literature demonstrates that many nurses express lack EBP competence. In a healthcare system, with different organizational culture, resources, and nurses, an assessment of the current state of nurses’ EBP competency and their perceptions of support for EBP is needed to identify potential interventions to implement and sustain EBP.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study of nurses spanning 6 states and 36 hospitals from a large healthcare system in Western United States participated in a survey that included demographic questions and instruments that measured EBP competencies, beliefs, organizational culture and readiness, implementation self-efficacy, and access to mentors.
Assessment of Findings: 1468 nurses participated in the study. Of these, 881 were frontline nurses, followed by nurse leaders (n = 201) and had an average of 15.2 years of experience. Nurses rated themselves competent in only one basic competency (Asks Clinical Questions). Years of experience and higher education were statistically significant factors in EBP competency. Organizational Culture and Readiness was the lowest scoring scale, with participants rating having access to mentors only a little bit of the time. Job satisfaction positively correlated with EBP Beliefs, Organizational Readiness, and Access to Mentors (p <.001) and intent to leave was negatively correlated with Access to Mentors (p <.001). In addition, Magnet status didn’t have a statistically significant effect on individual competencies; however, it did have a statistically significant effect on Beliefs, Implementation, Organizational Culture and Readiness, and Access to Mentors.
Conclusions and Implications: Nurses lack confidence in their EBP competency. Although EBP is embedded in baccalaureate and DNP programs, there continues to be a need to improve EBP competency. Improving culture by encouraging leadership support for EBP and embedding formal structures such as providing EBP mentors could make a significant difference in EBP competency, and EBP implementation self-efficacy.
Notes
References:
Connor L, Dean J, McNett M, et al. Evidence based practice improves patient outcomes and healthcare system return on investment: Findings from a scoping review. Worldviews Ev Based Nurs. 2023;20(1):6-15.
Melnyk BM, Gallagher Ford L, Zellefrow C, et al. The first U.S. study on nurses’ evidence based practice competencies indicates major deficits that threaten healthcare quality, safety, and patient outcomes. Worldviews Ev Based Nurs. 2018;15(1):16-25.
Melnyk BM. Achieving a High Reliability Organization Through Implementation of the ARCC Model for Systemwide Sustainability of Evidence Based Practice. Nursing Administration Quarterly. 2012;36(2):127-135.
Melnyk BM, Tan A, Hsieh AP, Gallagher Ford L. Evidence based practice culture and mentorship predict EBP implementation, nurse job satisfaction, and intent to stay: Support for the ARCC Model. Worldviews Ev Based Nurs. 2021;18(4):272-281.
Melnyk BM, Tan A, Hsieh AP, Gallagher Ford L. Evidence Based Practice Culture and Mentorship Predict EBP Implementation, Nurse Job Satisfaction, and Intent to Stay: Support for the ARCC© Model: Worldviews on Evidence Based Nursing. WORLDVIEWS EVID BASED NURS. 2021;18(4):272-281.
Sigma Membership
Psi at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Evidence-based Practice, Competence, Organizational Culture
Recommended Citation
Chu, Frances and Gallegos, Cara, "Assessing Nurses’ Competency and Readiness: The First Step in a Journey to EBP" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 303.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/303
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Assessing Nurses’ Competency and Readiness: The First Step in a Journey to EBP
Seattle, Washington, USA
Aims: To examine relationships between nurse characteristics and evidence-based practice (EBP) competency, beliefs, organizational culture and readiness, implementation self-efficacy, and mentors access to inform implementation of EBP.
Background. An abundance of literature demonstrates the beneficial effects of using EBP in clinical care and return on investment. Many hospitals continue to struggle with EBP adoption, and literature demonstrates that many nurses express lack EBP competence. In a healthcare system, with different organizational culture, resources, and nurses, an assessment of the current state of nurses’ EBP competency and their perceptions of support for EBP is needed to identify potential interventions to implement and sustain EBP.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study of nurses spanning 6 states and 36 hospitals from a large healthcare system in Western United States participated in a survey that included demographic questions and instruments that measured EBP competencies, beliefs, organizational culture and readiness, implementation self-efficacy, and access to mentors.
Assessment of Findings: 1468 nurses participated in the study. Of these, 881 were frontline nurses, followed by nurse leaders (n = 201) and had an average of 15.2 years of experience. Nurses rated themselves competent in only one basic competency (Asks Clinical Questions). Years of experience and higher education were statistically significant factors in EBP competency. Organizational Culture and Readiness was the lowest scoring scale, with participants rating having access to mentors only a little bit of the time. Job satisfaction positively correlated with EBP Beliefs, Organizational Readiness, and Access to Mentors (p <.001) and intent to leave was negatively correlated with Access to Mentors (p <.001). In addition, Magnet status didn’t have a statistically significant effect on individual competencies; however, it did have a statistically significant effect on Beliefs, Implementation, Organizational Culture and Readiness, and Access to Mentors.
Conclusions and Implications: Nurses lack confidence in their EBP competency. Although EBP is embedded in baccalaureate and DNP programs, there continues to be a need to improve EBP competency. Improving culture by encouraging leadership support for EBP and embedding formal structures such as providing EBP mentors could make a significant difference in EBP competency, and EBP implementation self-efficacy.
Description
Overall Symposium Summary: EBP results in the best outcomes for patients, nurses, and healthcare organizations. However, many barriers exist to implementation. The ARCC model is a framework to navigate challenges and foster the culture of EBP within a large healthcare system. The results of a large EBP with a diverse group of hospitals, describe the psychometric properties of three new EBP instruments, and describe two educational initiatives aimed at improving staff competency, and preparing EBP mentors and leaders.
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