Evidence-based practice (EBP) should be implemented in clinical settings and practiced by registered nurses as it improves healthcare quality, safety, costs, and patient outcomes. For this to occur, nurses need to be skilled and acculturated. An EBP culture needs to be developed and sustained, both in initial academic programs and in clinical settings. Implementation models already exist and are being used, but outcomes are not consistently measured.
The aim of this scoping review was to gather and map the use of EBP implementation models as well as their implementation strategies and outcomes.
The methodology for the JBI Scoping Reviews was applied. The databases queried were PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, EMCARE, AMED, BNI, HMIC, PsycInfo. Inclusion criteria were as follows: Any primary study that describes the implementation of EBP in nursing, clinical, or academic settings. Studies using the following EBP implementation models were included: the ARCC Model, ARCC-E Model, IOWA Model, Stetler Model, Johns Hopkins Nursing EBP Model, ACE Star Model as well as PARIHS and i-PARIHS. They must have used Proctor's taxonomy for implementation outcomes as well as described implementation strategies according to the ERIC classification. Data extraction was performed by four independent reviewers in February 2024. There was no language or date limitation. Three independent reviewers performed an initial selection on titles and abstracts. Reading of the full texts was carried out by two independent reviewers using the JBI SUMARI.
A total of 2244 articles were retrieved. After removing duplicates and applying the inclusion criteria, 26 articles were reviewed, and data extracted. The most used implementation model was the PARiHS or i-PARiHS model followed by the IOWA model, the ARCC model combined with the JHNEBP model and the Stetler model. Nearly all studies used the implementation strategy domain “Use evaluative and iterative strategies” of ERIC classification. Overall, the selected studies used between 1 and 2 outcomes from Proctor's eight available.
The underuse of existing taxonomies (Proctor, ERIC) prevents an exhaustive mapping of the use of implementation models. The vocabulary used is too vague, and the implementation strategies are sometimes poorly described. An effort needs to be made to report on all work done to transfer the results to other settings and thus improve health care practices.
A call for action has been issued nationwide to prevent suicide among nurses. An increased understanding of contributing and protective factors associated with suicidal ideation in nurses is needed to implement preventive measures. Factors needing exploration include nurses' burnout, mental well-being, physical health, and workplace characteristics.
This study aimed to determine factors associated with suicidal ideation in 501 moderate-to-high-risk nurses, including their mental health, level of burnout, health-related personal beliefs, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and workplace characteristics.
A descriptive, cross-sectional correlational study was conducted on baseline survey data that was completed before the nurses were randomized to one of two interventions as part of their participation in a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of a combined mental health screening program and cognitive-behavioral skills building intervention versus a screening program alone. Nurses were recruited from across the United States via email. Only nurses identified with moderate-to-high-risk adverse mental health outcomes, including suicidal ideation, were included. The survey used valid and reliable measures to assess burnout, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress, healthy lifestyle behaviors, health-related personal beliefs, resilience, job satisfaction, self-perceived mattering to the workplace, and intent to leave. Bivariate tests were performed.
Burnout, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress were individually correlated with increased odds of suicidal ideation, as were nurses working 12-h shifts and those who reported an intent to leave their jobs. Protective factors against suicidal ideation included resilience, positive health-related personal beliefs, healthy lifestyle behaviors, job satisfaction, and workplace mattering.
There is an urgent need for policies and implementation of evidence-based interventions to address mental health issues in nurses to ultimately prevent suicide. Burnout should be considered as a possible precursor to serious adverse mental health problems and not just an operational retention issue. Leaders need to invest in resources to enhance nurses' mental health, fix system problems that are at the root cause of burnout, routinely recognize employees for their excellent work, and communicate that they matter. Leaders should listen carefully to their nurses, prioritize their ideas for impactful change, and appreciate those who contribute to improving culture and caring practices.
Staff shortages as well as poor nurse and clinician well-being are currently an epidemic within the health workforce and pose a substantial risk to healthcare quality and safety. Creating a strong wellness culture is one strategy to address the issue, but there is a paucity of research that investigates how other types of organizational cultures are related to nurses' mental health and well-being.
To describe the relationships among innovation culture, wellness culture, evidence-based practice (EBP) culture, and clinician well-being (healthy lifestyle behaviors, burnout, depression, stress, anxiety, and job satisfaction).
A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study design was used with a convenience sample of nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals from a Magnet-recognized health system in the United States. An online wellness survey collected data with the variables of interest using valid and reliable scales. Pearson's r correlations assessed the relationship among innovation culture, wellness culture, and EBP culture. A series of regressions examined if each type of culture was associated with clinician well-being.
The analytic sample included 199 respondents. Innovation culture had a strong and significant correlation (p ≤ 0.0001, r > 0.7) with both clinician well-being and EBP cultures. Wellness and EBP cultures also were correlated (p ≤ 0.0001, r = 0.592). Higher ratings of each type of culture were significantly associated with higher job satisfaction as well as higher ratings of both mental and physical health. Further, higher ratings on each culture scale were significantly associated with reduced stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and job satisfaction.
This is the first study to establish correlations among innovation culture, EBP culture, and wellness culture as well as to find that these three types of cultures are associated with clinician well-being outcomes and job satisfaction. Since culture strongly impacts the healthcare workforce's mental health and job satisfaction, leaders need to focus on an organizational-wide strategic approach that builds a sustained culture that supports clinician well-being, innovation, and EBP.
Nursing well-being has become a heightened focus since the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses are leaving the profession early in their careers or retiring sooner than expected. Those who remain in the workforce report higher levels of burnout, anxiety, depression, and exhaustion. There is concern that there may be a shortage of at least half a million nurses by 2030.
This systematic review aimed to investigate the evidence of using a mental health promotion mHealth app to improve the mental health of hospital nurses.
A systematic search was conducted in CINAHL Plus with Full Text, MEDLINE with Full Text, Professional Development Collection, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Sociological Collection, PsycInfo, Embase, and PubMed with search dates of January 2012–November 15, 2022. The mHealth intervention needed to be asynchronously delivered through a smartphone with hospital nurse participants to be included in this review.
Of the 157 articles screened for this review, six were included. Primary outcome variables were anxiety, burnout, coping, depression, self-efficacy, stress, well-being, and work engagement. Intervention types included mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), stress inoculation therapy (SIT), psychoeducation, and stress management. Anxiety, depression, well-being, and burnout improved with MBIs; depression improved with CBT; and anxiety and active coping improved with SIT.
This review demonstrated promising findings in using mHealth apps to improve the mental health of hospital nurses. However, more randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes may reveal which type of mHealth app and how much exposure to the intervention is more effective in improving specific mental health symptoms. Longitudinal follow-up is also recommended to study sustainability of the mental health improvements.
Mental health outcomes in nurses have historically indicated a greater prevalence of anxiety, depression, and suicide than the general population. It is vital to provide programming for healthcare workers to gain the necessary skills to reduce burnout and improve their mental and physical health.
The aims of this study were to evaluate mental health outcomes and healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors among nurses and other hospital employees who completed MINDBODYSTRONG, a cognitive-behavioral skill building program.
A pre-experimental, pre- and poststudy design was used to examine mental health and well-being outcomes among 100 hospital personnel who participated in MINDBODYSTRONG, a program designed to improve coping and resiliency and decrease stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Outcomes measured included healthy lifestyle behaviors, healthy lifestyle beliefs, anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout.
One hundred hospital personnel, including 93 nurses, completed the pre- and post-survey. Among all participants, post- MINDBODYSTRONG scores for healthy lifestyle beliefs (p = .00; Cohen's d = 0.52) and healthy lifestyle behaviors (p = .00; Cohen's d = −0.74) increased significantly with medium effects, while depression (p = .00; Cohen's d = −0.51), anxiety (p = .00; Cohen's d = −0.54), stress (p = .00; Cohen's d = −0.33), and burnout (p = .00; Cohen's d = −0.37) decreased significantly with small and medium effects. The program produced even stronger positive effects on mental health outcomes for participants who started the study with higher levels of depression and anxiety.
Anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout decreased significantly postintervention. Participants also significantly improved their healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors with the MINDBODYSTRONG program. MINDBODYSTRONG is an effective program that reduces anxiety, depression, burnout, and stress and improves healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors in hospital-based clinicians. It is of utmost importance to provide evidence-based programs to improve mental resiliency and decrease stress, anxiety, burnout, and depressive symptoms, which will ultimately improve the safety and quality of health care.
Nurses often forgo needed mental healthcare due to stigma and fear of losing their license. The decision to access care or disclose mental health struggles is intensified when registered nurses (RNs) or advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) discover that licensure applications ask invasive mental health questions that could impact their ability to work.
This study highlights findings from an audit of mental health and substance use questions included in RN and APRN licensure applications across the United States.
A sequential 4-step approach was used to retrieve RN and APRN licensure applications: (1) review of Board of Nursing (BON) websites, (2) communication with BON staff, (3) communication with Deans of Nursing to ask for retrieval assistance, and (4) creation of mock applicants. An embedded checklist within the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation's Remove Intrusive Mental Health Questions from Licensure and Credentialing Applications Toolkit guided the audit. Two study team members reviewed the applications independently for intrusive mental health questions, which were designated as non-compliant with the Toolkit's recommendations and arbitrated for consensus. States were designated as non-compliant if ≥1 item on the checklist was violated.
At least one RN and APRN application was obtained from 42 states. Only RN applications were obtained from five states, while only APRN applications were obtained from three states. Only 13 states (26%) fully adhered to the Took-Kit checklist.
The majority of BONs did not fully adhere to the Took-Kit checklist. Guidance from national organizations and legislation from state governments concerning the removal or revision of probing mental health and substance use questions is urgently needed to cultivate a stigma-reducing environment where nurses are supported in seeking needed mental health treatment.