EVITEACH: A study exploring ways to optimise the uptake of evidence-based practice to undergraduate nurses

The concept of capability in pre-registration nursing education: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Capability in nursing education is an emerging concept that includes various requisites, which can be applied in complex or unfamiliar clinical settings. Despite growing research for practising nurses, the requisites of capability for pre-registration nursing students entering the workforce remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to identify the requisites that constitute capability for practice among pre-registration nursing students as well as the enablers to develop capabilities.

DESIGN

A scoping review was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology.

DATA SOURCES

Records published without date restriction were searched using MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. Grey literature and reference list searching was conducted.

REVIEW METHODS

Sources explicitly reporting requisites of capability or enablers of capability development in pre-registration nursing education were eligible. All global sources written in English and available in full text were included. Data were extracted and synthesised using a specifically designed extraction tool.

RESULTS

The number of records reviewed totalled 896. Twenty-three studies met the criteria for inclusion in the synthesis. Nineteen capability requisites for practice were reported. Whilst various enablers to support development of capability requisites were reported, some challenges were also identified.

CONCLUSION

This study identified requisites of capability for practice and enablers that may support development of capability in pre-registration nursing education. This holistic set of capabilities has previously not been reported. Given the emerging nature of the concept, this collective set of requisites may not be indicative of all required capabilities of nursing students upon graduation. Efforts to develop a definitive set of requisites and explore strategies to support and enable capability development are needed to advance this concept in the pre-registration nursing education context.

'Capacity building skills in the implementation of evidence-based practice for community health nurses: an exploratory descriptive cohort study'

Background: While nurses are strategically placed to support the achievement of universal health, their practice may not always be informed by evidence, especially in a context where research evidence is not commonly used to inform practice.Objective/Aim/Hypothesis: Improve management of clients with CNCDs in Caribbean community through evidence-based practice (EBP) capacity building workshops.Design/Methods: A descriptive, quantitative design was used for this study. Participants included Community Based Nurses who attended an initial and recall workshop on EBP in a Caribbean island. All participants were included as the sample. Data were collected as a Pre-Test and Post Test before the initial workshop and at the recall workshop. Analysis was done quantitatively. Since the sample was small, only descriptive statistics were used.Results: Data showed 64% of participants had no experience with EBP, 55% needed more essential resources to participate in EBP and 55% recognized a need to include EBP to change their clinical practice effectively.Conclusions: The nurses and district supervisors observed a high level of interest and commitment to initiating and completing EBP projects. However, the reality of significant workplace demands, and limitations in consistent logistical and supervisory support impacted long-term sustainability.

Capability beliefs and the intention to adopt evidence-based practices in the future among nursing students: An international study

BACKGROUND

Capability beliefs and the intention to adopt EBP in future nursing practice have been identified as strong antecedents of subsequent utilization of EBP. Despite this, a multicountry comparison may yield interesting findings that can be useful in designing empirically based and culturally tailored strategies to facilitate and enhance students' capability beliefs as well as their intentions to integrate evidence into nursing practice.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This report sought to compare capability beliefs and intentions to adopt EBP in the future among student nurses from four countries-specifically, Oman, India, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia-and to identify specific variables that predict the intention to adopt EBP.

METHODS

This study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative research design to gather data from a convenience sample of 1387 nursing students from four countries using self-report questionnaires that captured their EBP capability beliefs and their intention to adopt EBP in clinical practice upon graduation. This study adhered to STROBE guideline for cross-sectional studies.

RESULTS

Overall, nursing students reported a high intent to adopt EBP in their future nursing practice; however, the exact rate varied according to the country of origin. Students' gender, student track, education, country of origin, access to the internet, and capability beliefs were seen as important in explaining the likelihood of future implementation of evidence in clinical nursing practice. Capability beliefs among students were moderate, with large differences observed between countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the surveyed nursing students reported moderate capability beliefs, their intention to adopt and integrate EBP in their future nursing practice was relatively high.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The findings of this study highlight the critical role of nurse educators and nurse administrators in fostering EBP capability beliefs and future intentions to adopt among students through curricular review, implementation of evidence-based strategies, and the promotion of EBP culture within the clinical learning sites.

Knowledge, skills and attitudes related to evidence-based practice among undergraduate nursing students: A survey at three universities in Colombia, Chile and Spain

Teaching nursing students about the model of evidence-based practice is a challenge for university faculty. The aim of this study was to measure knowledge, skills and attitudes related to evidence-based practice among undergraduate nursing students, as well as associated factors. The study involved a cross-sectional design using a survey of all students enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing programme (1st to 4th year) in three nursing faculties of universities in Chile, Colombia and Spain. The Spanish version of the Evidence-Based Competence Questionnaire was used to measure knowledge, skills, attitudes and overall competency. In total, 875 students completed the questionnaire. The overall score of competency in evidence-based practice was similar in all three universities (range 1-5) (3.63 in Chile, 3.58 in Colombia and 3.68 in Spain). The score of self-rated attitudes was strongly correlated with the overall competency measured. More hours of training in research methods and reading nursing journals articles in the last month were the factors associated with higher scores in evidence-based practice competency. The undergraduate nursing students at the three universities surveyed obtained a high score in overall competency in evidence-based practice. No differences were found among them, despite the different approaches used in educational programmes.

Methods for teaching evidence-based practice: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

This scoping review aims to gather and map inspiration, ideas and recommendations for teaching evidence-based practice across Professional Bachelor Degree healthcare programmes by mapping literature describing evidence-based practice teaching methods for undergraduate healthcare students including the steps suggested by the Sicily Statement.

METHODS

A computer-assisted literature search using PubMed, Cinahl, PsycINFO, and OpenGrey covering health, education and grey literature was performed. Literature published before 2010 was excluded. Students should be attending either a Professional Bachelor's degree or a Bachelor's degree programme. Full-text articles were screened by pairs of reviewers and data extracted regarding: study characteristics and key methods of teaching evidence-based practice. Study characteristics were described narratively. Thematic analysis identified key methods for teaching evidence-based practice, while full-text revisions identified the use of the Sicily Statement's five steps and context.

RESULTS

The database search identified 2220 records. One hundred ninety-two records were eligible for full-text assessment and 81 studies were included. Studies were conducted from 2010 to 2018. Approximately half of the studies were undertaken in the USA. Study designs were primarily qualitative and participants mainly nursing students. Seven key methods for teaching evidence-based practice were identified. Research courses and workshops, Collaboration with clinical practice and IT technology were the key methods most frequently identified. Journal clubs and Embedded librarians were referred to the least. The majority of the methods included 2-4 of the Sicily Statement's five steps, while few methods referred to all five steps.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review has provided an extensive overview of literature describing methods for teaching EBP regarding undergraduate healthcare students. The two key methods Research courses and workshops and Collaboration with clinical practice are advantageous methods for teaching undergraduate healthcare students evidence-based practice; incorporating many of the Sicily Statement's five steps. Unlike the Research courses and workshop methods, the last step of evaluation is carried out partly or entirely in a clinical context. Journal clubs and Embedded librarians should be further investigated as methods to reinforce existing methods of teaching. Future research should focus on methods for teaching EBP that incorporate as many of the five steps of teaching and conducting EBP as possible.

A Multicountry Study on Nursing Students' Self-Perceived Competence and Barriers to Evidence-Based Practice

BACKGROUND

Nursing education and training are essential in the attainment of evidence-based practice (EBP) competence in nursing students. Although there is a growing literature on EBP among nursing students, most of these studies are confined to a single cultural group. Thus, cross-cultural studies may provide shared global perspectives and theoretical understandings for the advancement of knowledge in this critical area.

AIMS

This study compared self-perceived EBP competence among nursing students in four selected countries (India, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Oman) as well as perceived barriers to EBP adoption.

METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional, and comparative survey of 1,383 nursing students from India, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Oman participated in the study. The Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBP-COQ) and the BARRIERS scale were used to collect data during the months of January 2016 to August 2017.

RESULTS

Cross-country comparisons revealed significant differences in EBP competence (F = 24.437, p < .001), knowledge (F = 3.621, p = .013), skills (F = 9.527, p < .001), and attitudes (F = 74.412, p < .001) among nursing students. Three variables including nursing students' gender (β = .301, p < .001), type of institution, (β = -0.339, p = .001), and type of nursing student (β = .321, p < .001) were associated with EBP competence. Barriers to EBP adoption included having no authority to change patient care policies (M = 1.65, SD = 1.05), slow publication of evidence (M = 1.59, SD = 1.01), and paucity of time in the clinical area to implement the evidence (M = 1.59, SD = 1.05).

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

Both academe and hospital administration can play a pivotal role in the successful acquisition of EBP competence in nursing students.

Predictors of evidence-based practice knowledge, skills, and attitudes among nursing students

PROBLEM

Evidence-based practice (EBP) competence is one of the most desirable outcomes in nursing education. Assessment of knowledge, skills, and attitudes of nursing students regarding EBP is vital in examining the extent to which current approaches to EBP teaching is effective.

PURPOSE

This study examined the predictors of knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding EBP among Omani nursing students.

METHODS

This study utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional approach. Two hundred and forty-eight nursing students enrolled in one of the universities in Oman participated in the study during the months of May 2016 to August 2017. The evidence-based practice questionnaire (EBP-COQ) was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used to analyze the data.

FINDINGS

The mean values for the three EBP domains (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) were 3.41 (SD = 0.66), 3.62 (SD = 0.51), and 3.41 (SD = 0.68), respectively. Nursing students' sex (being female), classification (being a registered nurse to Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing nursing student), and access to the internet and to nursing journals strongly predicted the knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding EBP. Overall, 79.0% of Omani nursing students intended to adopt EBP in the future.

CONCLUSIONS

Omani nursing students possessed moderate knowledge, skills, and attitudes on EBP; however, more efforts are needed to ensure that future Omani nurses are competent and confident to apply EBP in the actual clinical area. Both academe and the hospital administration play a pivotal role in the acquisition and achievement of EBP competence in student nurses.

The experiences of nurse educators in implementing evidence-based practice in teaching and learning

BACKGROUND

Nurse educators have a vital role to mentor student nurses in relation to developing evidence-based practice (EBP) skills, accessing research products and participating in research projects. This requires more innovative teaching approaches that promote active participation, creativity and critical thinking in students such as online teaching and learning, accessing electronic resources, video conferencing and research-based teaching and learning.

AIM

To determine the nurse educators' experiences in implementing EBP in teaching and learning, and to describe the importance and benefits of EBP teaching and learning to the nursing profession, especially for nurse educators and student nurses.

SETTING

Two chosen campuses from Umgungundlovu Health District under the KwaZulu-Natal College of Nursing (KZNCN) and offering a 4-year R425 training programme.

METHODS

Qualitative research design and methods were followed in conducting the study. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to access the sample of 12 nurse educators. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, the interview guide, and the digital voice recorder.

RESULTS

Data were analysed manually, following a content thematic approach and two themes emerged as challenges experienced by nurse educators with the implementation of EBP in teaching and learning and benefits and value of EBP in teaching and learning. Findings revealed that, although most of the nurse educators are supportive and displayed a positive attitude towards implementing EBP in teaching and learning, the level of knowledge and skills was questionable. This was coupled with a lack of motivation and commitment towards research.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence-based practice has an essential potential role to play through incorporating more practice-based evidence of nurse educators in teaching and learning implementation. The nurse educators should use EBP to ensure that student nurses receive high-quality nursing education.

Enhancing utility and understanding of evidence based practice through undergraduate nurse education

Background

The concept of evidence-based practice is globally relevant in current healthcare climates. However, students and teachers struggle with integrating evidence based practice effectively into a curriculum. This has implications for nurse education and in particular the way in which research is presented and delivered to students.

A new undergraduate Evidence Based Practice module (Evidence Based Nursing 1) was developed in a large University within the United Kingdom. It commenced in October 2014 running in year one of a 3 year undergraduate nursing programme. This study sought to formally evaluate attitudes and beliefs, knowledge level and utilization of evidence based practice though using two validated questionnaires: Evidence Based Practice Beliefs Scale© and Evidence Based Practice Implementation Scale©.

Method

This was a pilot study using quantitative pre and post-test design. Anonymised data was collected from Year 1 undergraduate student nurses in the September 2014 intake (n = 311) at two time points. Time 1: pre-module in September 2014; and Time 2: post –module in August 2015. All data was collected via Survey Monkey.

Results

Results demonstrate that the educational initiative positively impacted on both the beliefs and implementation of evidence based practice. Analysis highlighted statistically significant changes (p < 0.05) in both the Evidence Based Practice Beliefs Scale (7/16 categories) and the Evidence Based Practice Implementation Scale (13 / 18 categories).

Conclusions

The significance of integrating evidence based practice into undergraduate nurse education curriculum cannot be underestimated if evidence based practice and its positive impact of patient care are to be appreciated in healthcare settings internationally.

Perioperative Nurse Leaders and Professionalism

Professionalism in nursing leadership encompasses key elements that include a common body of knowledge, autonomous practice, self-regulation through education and licensure, a set code of ethics, and a commitment to altruism. Perioperative nurse leaders also must embrace collaboration, vision, accountability, and patient and staff member advocacy based on established ethics, values, and standards of care. Nurse leaders who are committed to professional development through pursuit of higher degrees, application of evidence-based practice, collaboration with colleagues, and certification show a strong commitment to their profession and serve as role models for staff members. This article discusses professionalism in nursing and offers information specific to perioperative nurse leaders.