Improvement of nursing care by means of the evidence based practice process: The facilitator role

Abstract

Background: This study is as part of a comprehensive project aimed at  implementing  and evaluating  a model (Collaborative Model of Best Practice, CMBP) for promoting  evidence-based practice (EBP) in health care contexts.  Nurses and nurse teachers were engaged as facilitators.

Aim: In this paper the aim was to explore facilitators’ experiences of their role in the EBP-process in medical/surgical wards at two Swedish hospitals.

Methods: Five focus group interviews were conducted with two groups of facilitators, four nurses and one nurse teacher in each group, all together ten interviews. Data was analyzed according to the method of inductive content analysis.

Findings: The facilitator role was described as comprehensive, dynamic, and changing, which put heavy demands on the facilitators. Being in the role meant shouldering a leadership role filled with many responsibilities, together with one’s own professional and personal development.  Ongoing, timely and adequate support was essential in order to succeed with implementation of evidence-based new routines.

Conclusions: The study shows that the CMBP model with nurse- and teacher facilitators working together  could impact positively on the  implementation of new routines on hospital wards. Our findings resonate with other studies showing that change in practice is a challenging and strenuous activity that needs long preparation in advance for all parties involved, and most of all puts demand on comprehensive  support. Long-lasting activities are needed to make sure that prerequisites given in an EBP project like this one really are working in the decided direction.