Implementation Science in Nursing – Nursing Education Network

Implementation science is the missing bridge between providing evidence and changing nursing practice. This change affects each the tutorial and clinical environments.

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

It goals to reply the query: “What models for implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) are used in nursing settings?”

Using a structured multi-source database search, key issues relevant to nursing included:

• IOWA model
• Stetler model
• The Johns Hopkins Nursing EBP Model
• Stevens’ star model
• Promoting activities for the implementation of research in health services (PARIHS)
• Advancing research and clinical practice through close collaboration (ARCC)

These models are designed to act as practical roadmaps for transforming evidence into routine care.

Proposed three-part structure for any evidence implementation project:

1. Select a deployment model.
2. Select implementation strategies including training/education, interactive assistance, contextualization, drivers/barriers to alter, and infrastructure change.
3. Evaluate implementation results. In this fashion, it is feasible to envision not only whether patient care has improved, but additionally whether the implementation itself was acceptable. You can determine whether it was feasible and sustainable.

Common barriers to implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing, including individual, leadership and system levels:

• Insufficient EBP preparation and capability: Nurses could also be lacking knowledge, skills and values needed to know, evaluate and use evidence. Even in the event that they value EBP, they could not feel confident or qualified to do it in practice.
• Limited coaching and leadership support: Lack of support from senior management and managers/executives is a barrier. Reduces practical support for EBP work in the sector.
• Systemic Barriers: Lack of normal processes to include EBP into routine workflows.
• Time and resource constraints: Lack of time and resources to perform EBP (search, assessment, implementation, evaluation).
• Resistance to alter and poor collaboration: Individual and team dynamics – equivalent to resistance to alter and limited collaboration – can reduce the standard of implementation.
• Lack of EBP mentors/champions: Lack of EBP mentors (specialists involved in coaching and team support).
• Nurse leaders lacking EBP skills: Health care managers and advanced practice nurses may not have EBP skills themselves. This limits their ability to support and lead EBP implementation with their teams.

Nursing Education Network (2025). Evidence-based healthcare.

Nursing Education Network (2024). Evidence-based nursing strategies and their implementation.

Nursing Education Network (2018). An integrative literature review of evidence-based teaching strategies for nurse educators.

Nursing Education Network (2023). Instruments for assessing evidence-based skilled practice of healthcare professionals.