Evidence Into Practice: Integration Within an Organizational Infrastructure

Abstract

OPERATIONALIZING A SHARED GOVERNANCE structure creates important improvements in professional practice. Having a shared governance structure is certainly not new; the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has had nursing shared governance since 1975. Effective governance structures are essential for clinician-led organizational improvements and are key to structural empowerment. 1 Clavelle J.T. Porter O'Grady T. Weston M.J. Verran J.A. Evolution of structural empowerment: Moving from shared to professional governance. J Nurs Adm. 2016; 46: 308-312 Crossref PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar Building evidence-based practice (EBP) into a governance structure is one strategy for promoting an organizational culture valuing and expecting evidence-based care. 2 Cullen L. Greiner J. Greiner J. Bombei C. Comried L. Excellence in evidence-based practice: Organizational and unit exemplars. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2005; 17 (x): 127-142 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (31) Google Scholar , 3 Everett L.Q. Sitterding M.C. Transformational leadership required to design and sustain evidence-based practice: A system exemplar. West J Nurs Res. 2011; 33: 398-426 Crossref PubMed Scopus (28) Google Scholar , 4 Ott J. Ross C. The journey toward shared governance: The lived experience of nurse managers and staff nurses. J Nurs Manag. 2014; 22: 761-768 Crossref PubMed Scopus (20) Google Scholar , 5 Parkosewich J.A. An infrastructure to advance the scholarly work of staff nurses. Yale J Biol Med. 2013; 86: 63-77 PubMed Google Scholar , 6 Stetler C.B. Ritchie J.A. Rycroft-Malone J. Charns M.P. Leadership for evidence-based practice: Strategic and functional behaviors for institutionalizing EBP. Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 2014; 11: 219-226 Crossref PubMed Scopus (77) Google Scholar Laura Cullen, DNP, RN, FAAN, Office of Nursing Research, Evidence-Based Practice & Quality, Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA Michele Wagner, MSN, RN, CNRN, Intensive and Specialty Services, Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA Grace Matthews, MSN, RN-BC, Medical Surgical Services, Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA Michele Farrington, BSN, RN, CPHON, Office of Nursing Research, Evidence-Based Practice & Quality and Ambulatory Nursing, Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA