Integrating Evidence for Excellence in the Care of Women and Newborns: The Evidence‐Based FellowS Program

Abstract

Poster Presentation Professional Issues Poster Presentation Though the importance of evidence‐based practice (EBP) is readily acknowledged and ascribed to, studies show that a small percentage of nurses are incorporating research findings into practice. This presentation describes a pragmatic model implemented in a Magnet hospital, the EBP FellowS (Sharing Science) program, to facilitate the integration of evidence into practice. The EBP FellowS program is a 12‐week offering of didactic and project development, with an additional 8 to 12 weeks of mentoring. Participants are selected based on a proposed question that has potential to improve patient care through the translation of evidence into practice. FellowS participate in didactic offerings, workshops, and coaching sessions that take them from question formulation through an evidence review and subsequent project development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. For this presentation, the aforementioned process will be illustrated by an EBP project undertaken by a team from the mother–baby unit. Proposed Change Based on evidence that nonseparation leads to improved attachment between mother and infant, emotional stability, protection against infection, and increased breastfeeding rates, this team is seeking to promote mother–infant attachment by allowing mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours per day. This would, hopefully, decrease or eliminate the need for a newborn nursery. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation To implement this evidence‐based project, the mother–baby team will establish a nonseparation model of care by educating the staff through staff meetings and group sessions. Questionnaires and surveys will be distributed to mothers to gather their perceptions of rooming‐in. The nurses in the mother–baby unit also will receive surveys to determine reasons for separation of the mother and infant. Admission pamphlets will explain the nonseparation model before the mother/infant stay in the unit. Upon completion of this EBP performance improvement project, expected findings indicate an increase in patient satisfaction and comfort with infant care. The anticipated completion date of this study is October 2012. Implications for Nursing Practice The EBP FellowS program is a model that can be replicated in a wide variety of healthcare settings. More specifically, the EBP study to promote mother–infant attachment serves as an example of how evidence can be used to positively improve practice in the mother–baby unit.