Nursing Leaders’ Influence on Clinical Nurses’ Evidence-Based Practice Implementation: Impact of an Evidence-Based Practice Leadership Behavior Program

Abstract

Unit-level nursing leaders’ behaviors may foster the organization’s implementation climate for evidence-based practice. This study used a quantitative, pretest, posttest comparative design to determine whether acute and critical care nursing leaders’ participation in an evidence-based practice (EBP) Leadership Behavior Program made a difference in nursing leaders’ self-reported and clinical nurses’ perceptions of nursing leaders’ EBP leadership behaviors and competencies. The program was designed for nursing leaders that included synchronous and asynchronous activities. Findings indicated that nursing leaders’ EBP competencies and EBP leadership behaviors significantly improved following participation in the program. However, clinical nurses’ perceptions did not statistically significant change.