Nurse Practitioners and Evidence-Based Nursing Practice

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to assess nurse practitioners’ (NP) beliefs and attitudes about evidence-based nursing practice (EBNP) and their implementation of EBNP. This exploratory descriptive study surveyed NPs in Tennessee. Most of the respondents were White females, 42 years of age, with a master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner (FNP), practicing in primary care for a mean of 7.9 years. The respondents tended to have positive beliefs and attitudes about EBNP, but their implementation of EBNP was not consistent with their beliefs. The findings of this survey emphasize the need for EBNP in NP education curricula and continuing education programs and for NP access to evidence-based information at point of care to improve the care provided to patients.