Evidence-based practice councils: Potential path to staff nurse empowerment and leadership growth

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of participation in staff nurse-led practice councils on nurse job satisfaction and professional development. Background: Although evidence-based practice (EBP) has become a key component of improving the quality of care, few studies have examined how implementation of staff nurse led councils model affect the involved nurses. Methods: A 3-stage evaluation involving ethnography, semi-structured phenomenological private interviews and a 10-item survey were conducted with nurses, managers and executives participating in or involved with EBP councils tasked with improving patient outcomes at 6 community hospitals in a single non-profit hospital system. Results: Five themes were identified as outcomes: empowerment, meaningfulness, leadership growth, exposure to quality improvement, and vision. Conclusions: Staff-led councils have the potential to improve quality of care, job satisfaction, vision and leadership provided that managers and executives are sufficiently prepared to work with and support the councils.