Enhancing Acute Care Nursing Leader Knowledge, Competency, and Confidence in Evidence-Based Practice Through Immersive Workshops: An Evidence-Based Practice Project
Loading...
Date
2025-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Introduction: Evidence-based practice (EBP) enhances patient outcomes by integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences. Nursing leaders must adopt EBP to ensure high-quality, safe care, but many lack the necessary competencies. Organizational support and targeted education programs are essential to bridging this gap. Literature highlights the need for professional development specialists to strengthen nursing leaders' EBP knowledge, competence, and confidence.
Purpose: The purpose of this EBP initiative was to implement an educational workshop focusing on the seven steps of EBP to increase nursing leader knowledge, competence, and confidence to implement the EBP process.
Methods: An interactive, four-hour workshop focused on the seven steps of EBP was conducted. The Evidence-Based Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire, EBP Nurse Manager Competencies Self-Assessment Tool, and EBP Implementation Strategies Self-Efficacy Scale were administered pre- and post-activity to measure nurse leader knowledge, competence, and confidence. Descriptive statistics, including mean scores and Hedge's G analysis, were used to analyze the results.
Results: 36 nurse leaders participated within the EBP workshop. A large effect was observed in nurse leader confidence, competence, and knowledge of the EBP process after participating in the workshop. The workshop equipped nursing leaders with the tools to implement evidence-based changes, positively impacting patient outcomes and organizational performance.
Conclusion: A workshop on the EBP process significantly enhanced nurse leaders' knowledge, competence, and confidence in driving departmental change. Further analysis is needed to evaluate the impact of expanding participation to include multidisciplinary teams in the workshop.
Description
Keywords
Nurse leader, evidence-based practice education, EBP implementation, knowledge, competence, competency, confidence