Evidence based practice readiness: A concept analysis

• Published in: Journal of nursing management Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 621 - 629
• Main Authors: Schaefer, Jessica D., Welton, John M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Hindawi Limited 01-09-2018
• Subjects: Clinical outcomes; concept analysis; Conceptual analysis; Environment; Evidence-Based Nursing - organization & administration; Evidence-based practice; Health care expenditures; Health status; Humans; implementation of evidence based practice; Inservice Training - organization & administration; Job satisfaction; Leadership; literature review; Meaning; Millennium; Nurse Administrators - organization & administration; Nurse managers; Nursing; Nursing administration; nursing care; Organizational Culture; Patients; Professional practice; readiness; United States; United States; concept analysis; evidence based practice; implementation of evidence based practice; literature review; nursing care; readiness
• ISSN: 0966-0429; 1365-2834
• DOI: 10.1111/jonm.12599

Aim
To analyse and define the concept “evidence based practice readiness” in nurses.
Background
Evidence based practice readiness is a term commonly used in health literature, but without a clear understanding of what readiness means. Concept analysis is needed to define the meaning of evidence based practice readiness.
Method
A concept analysis was conducted using Walker and Avant's method to clarify the defining attributes of evidence based practice readiness as well as antecedents and consequences. A Boolean search of PubMed and Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature was conducted and limited to those published after the year 2000. Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria for this analysis.
Results
Evidence based practice readiness incorporates personal and organisational readiness. Antecedents include the ability to recognize the need for evidence based practice, ability to access and interpret evidence based practice, and a supportive environment.
Conclusion
The concept analysis demonstrates the complexity of the concept and its implications for nursing practice. The four pillars of evidence based practice readiness: nursing, training, equipping and leadership support are necessary to achieve evidence based practice readiness.
Implications for Nursing Management
Nurse managers are in the position to address all elements of evidence based practice readiness. Creating an environment that fosters evidence based practice can improve patient outcomes, decreased health care cost, increase nurses’ job satisfaction and decrease nursing turnover.