Evidence-Based Practice and the Role of Nursing Leadership

A new term, evidence-based practice, is beginning to appear both in the healthcare literature and at professional conferences. Its meaning, however, is not always clear, nor is its full implication for nurse administrators explained. This article provides a pragmatic definition of evidence-based practice developed in the nursing division at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts. It outlines steps required to institutionalize evidence as a routine part of nursing practice and provides examples of its use.