Evidence-based practice (EBP) is one of the core competencies for all
healthcare providers (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2003). Nurses are
part of the interprofessional team and have a significant influence on
healthcare decisions and improving quality and safety of care. Beyond
an expectation for professional practice, EBP provides a major op-
portunity for nurses to improve practice and add value to the patient
experience. The Institute leaders also advocated (IOM, 2010) that
nurses become full partners in the redesign of healthcare systems
to improve the quality of care. This report suggested the need for a
strong foundation in evidence-based care to accomplish this goal.
Further, Dr. Patricia A. Grady, director of the National Institute for
Nursing Research, stated that, “Nurse scientists are well positioned
to take leadership roles and serve as catalysts” in the field of trans-
lational science—that is, translating research into everyday practice
(Grady, 2010, p. 166). Discovery of new knowledge alone does not
have an impact unless it is translated into practice. The ability to base
the practice of nursing on strong evidence is an essential competency

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Evidence-Based Practice:

Context, Concerns, and

Challenges