Focusing on Success: Librarian Support of a Collaborative Multi-Institutional Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Fellowship

Background: In 2011, an academic medical center initiated a nursing evidence-based practice fellowship. Clinical nurses identified projects on their own unit and learned how to conduct a full evidence-based practice change following the Johns Hopkins model. In 2015, the program expanded to include instructors and participants from an affiliated hospital. In its 8th year, this ongoing program conducted by nurse leaders and librarians from two affiliated institutions supports Magnet accreditation and evidence-based practice change.

Description: In support of clinical nurses and Magnet accreditation at two institutions, the Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Fellowship is a collaborative multi-institutional program guiding nurses through self-identified evidence-based practice projects from November through the following June each year. Health sciences librarians support the program by providing instruction on searching the literature, identifying qualitative and quantitative studies, managing citations, appraising and synthesizing the literature, and disseminating the work at the end of the project through poster and podium presentations. The librarians additionally meet with fellows for individual coaching on literature searching.
Following successful fellowship experiences, fellows have disseminated learning and results at regional and national conferences and taken on additional evidence-based projects. The librarians have observed an increase in nurse confidence regarding literature searching and EBP project management. Program results have led to improved patient experience and clinical care, and cost efficiencies.

Conclusion: Evidence-based nursing programs can be powerful tools to support development of nursing research, mentoring, and leadership skills. As members of interdisciplinary instruction teams, librarians play a pivotal role in that success. Combining programs of two institutions, and having librarians that represent each institution, further drives the success of the program by offering expanded perspectives and collaborative instructions for all participants.