Building evidence-based practice capacity in nursing education: Implementing the academic Best Practice Spotlight Organization® framework.

Abstract

Background: Translating research findings into healthcare practice remains a major challenge worldwide. The Best Practice Spotlight Organization^® (BPSO) initiative, created by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), has been broadly adopted in healthcare organizations to promote the systematic implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines. In contrast, the use of BPSO principles in nursing education to improve the workforce's readiness for evidence-based healthcare has not been widely studied.

Objective: This study outlines the implementation of an Academic BPSO initiative within a nursing education program in the Philippines.

Methods: We used a descriptive case study to examine how the Academic BPSO framework was integrated into a nursing school. Data were obtained from diverse sources, including institutional documents, curricular resources, program evaluations, and records on faculty development and student participation.

Results: Findings indicate that the Academic BPSO initiative's implementation fostered the incorporation of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) principles within the nursing curriculum. The initiative succeeded due to institutional support, champion training, and its integration into the curriculum. At the same time, faculty-student interactions promoted learning grounded in guidelines and the practical application of evidence-based care.

Conclusions: Academic BPSO initiatives demonstrate how nursing education programs can contribute to building workforce capacity for evidence-based healthcare by preparing graduates to participate in EBP implementation within healthcare systems.