Implementation science is the missing bridge between producing evidence and changing nursing practice. This change applies to both academic and clinical settings.

Journal Club Article

Chays‐Amania, A., Schwingrouber, J., & Colson, S. (2025). Using implementation science to implement evidence‐based practice: A discursive paper. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(11), 8050-8061.

Aim

Sets out to answer: “What Evidence Based Practice (EBP) implementation models are used in nursing settings?”

Results

Using a structured database search across multiple sources, the key nursing-relevant EBP implementation models—included the:

• IOWA Model
• Stetler Model
• Johns Hopkins Nursing EBP Model
• Stevens Star Model
• Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS)
• Advancing Research and Clinical practice through close collaboration (ARCC)

These models are structured to act as practical “roadmaps” for turning evidence into routine care.

Proposed three-part structure for any evidence implementation project:

1. Choose an implementation model.
2. Select implementation strategies, including training/education, interactive assistance, tailoring to context, drivers/barriers to change and infrastructure change.
3. Evaluate implementation outcomes. This way, you can see not only whether patient care improves but also if the implementation itself was acceptable. You can determine if it was feasible and sustained.

Barriers to Change

Common barriers that hinder evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation in nursing, spanning individual, leadership, and system levels:

• Insufficient EBP preparation and capability: Nurses may lack the knowledge, skills, and values needed to understand, appraise, and use evidence. Even when they value EBP, they may not feel confident or qualified to do it in practice.
• Limited leadership coaching and support: A lack of support from executives and senior managers/directors is a barrier. It reduces practical backing for EBP work on the ground.
• System barriers: the absence of standardised processes to embed EBP into routine workflows.
• Time and resource constraints: Lack of time and resources to do EBP (searching, appraisal, implementation, evaluation).
• Resistance to change and poor collaboration: Individual and team dynamics—such as resistance to change and limited collaboration—can undermine implementation quality.
• Absence of EBP mentors/champions: The lack of EBP mentors (specialists who coach and support teams).
• Nurse Leaders lacking EBP skills: healthcare managers and Advanced Practice Nurses may lack EBP skills themselves. This limits their ability to support and lead EBP implementation with teams.

Resources

Nursing Education Network (2025). Evidence-Based Healthcare.

Nursing Education Network (2024). Evidence Based Nursing & De-implementation Strategies.

Nursing Education Network (2018). An Integrative Literature Review of Evidence-Based Teaching Strategies for Nurse Educators.

Nursing Education Network (2023). Instruments for Assessing Healthcare Professionals Evidence Based Practice.