Culture crash regarding nursing students' experience of implementation of EBP in clinical practice

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine nursing students’ experiences of the implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in a clinical setting. Background: Educating students in EBP is a challenge to both faculties and clinical practices, because EBP educational interventions may improve knowledge but do not ensure application of EBP in clinical settings. Becoming skilled in the application of EBP requires practice and nurses that motivate students to use EBP. Methods: Fourteen second-year students were divided into three focus groups according to the ward in which they undertook their clinical practice. Each group contained 4–5 students. Findings: The students were able to implement EBP according to the goals of the syllabus, but encountered a clinical setting that was insufficiently prepared, both structurally and in terms of knowledge, to mentor them regarding EBP. The findings indicate a culture crash between the students’learning goals of EBP at the faculty and the application of EBP in practice. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that EBP is feasible in clinical practice, but highlighted the various factors obstructing its implementation. There is a need to find pathways to reduce hindrance in implementation of EBP.