Enablers and Barriers to Translation
The Selected Organization
The chosen organization is Mercy Hospital, a nonprofit organization within the acute care sector that operates in urban settings and provides a wide range of health-related services to a diverse patient population. Recently, the hospital has experienced a rise in acuity, along with an increase in admissions, despite no corresponding increase in nursing staff. This has led to additional pressure on nursing resources, a high nurse turnover rate, and a reduction in patient satisfaction: Enablers and Barriers to Translation.
Mercy Hospital has adopted a culture of quality improvement and is already involved in developing evidence-based practices. It has a well-developed system of nurse-led programs and encouragement of informatics tools, which is why it is an optimal environment for launching an evidence-based practice (EBP) quality improvement (QI) initiative that should ensure optimal staffing ratios to achieve better patient safety and nurse retention.
Description of the Selected Organization Issue
The identified practice problem is poor nurse-patient ratios, especially in the medical-surgical units of Mercy Hospital. Most nurses are overworked and cannot perform essential caring activities; therefore, these problems lead to more adverse events, such as medication errors, patient falls, and prolonged hospital stays. Additionally, burnout and moral distress are prevalent among staff, resulting in low job satisfaction and increased turnover.
The evidence has shown that nurse workload is closely linked to adverse clinical outcomes, as well as to nurse fatigue (Khatatbeh et al., 2021). Addressing this systemic issue is a vital concern for enhancing the well-being of the workforce and improving patient outcomes; therefore, it will be one of the focus areas in an EBP QI initiative.
EBP QI Initiative Selected
To address the staffing problem, an acuity-based staffing model will be the preferred choice for EBP QI initiatives. This model offers a dynamic framework, rather than fixed nurse-patient ratios, that considers the clinical condition and care needs of each patient. It has been demonstrated that this practice leads to an increased prevalence of appropriate resource allocation, reduced nurse exhaustion, and improved care delivery (Brooks Carthon et al., 2020).
The program incorporates personnel training, the integration of medical management devices into electronic health records (EHRs), and the assessment of staff operational efficiency. It aligns with the standards of the American Nurses Association and promotes a sustainable nursing practice.
Types of Enablers
Several enablers may promote the success of this initiative. The support of leadership is a significant facilitator; hospital executives demonstrate a strong willingness to improve staffing and decrease turnover rates among nurses, thus providing both financial and strategic support. The other is interprofessional collaboration to obtain input from nurse managers, informatics teams, and clinical educators.
Such integration can be achieved using acuity scoring tools facilitated by the availability of EHR systems and data analysis. Moreover, the hospital has an educational infrastructure that enables the provision of continuous training on EBP to its clinical staff (Mohamed et al., 2024). These enablers contribute to creating a positive setting in which change occurs by enhancing the profile of projects, improving stakeholder engagement, and facilitating the long-term adoption of the model.
Types of Barriers
Among the obstacles are financial constraints, staff opposition to change, and inconsistency in EBP competency. Administrative buy-in can be discouraged by the upfront costs of installing new software or hiring support staff. Some nurses might be cautious of new models because of past failed efforts or workflow disruption issues.
Additionally, knowledge shortages in EBP among bedside workers may exist, and this gap could lead to a lack of motivation and insight into the model’s purpose (Al-Ghabeesh et al., 2024). These obstacles pose a significant challenge to the project’s schedule and performance unless they are well-managed through proper planning and leadership.
Addressing the Identified Barriers
As a DNP-prepared nurse, I would implement specific measures to address these barriers. I would implement Kotter’s Change Model by first establishing urgency based on the data revelation of the dangers of poor staffing on patients (Graves et al., 2023). To address the financial issues, I would conduct a cost-benefit analysis demonstrating how smaller adverse events and nurse turnover rates offset the costs of implementation.
In addressing resistance, I would involve staff in decision-making by ensuring they are engaged early on through focus groups. In the case of EBP knowledge gaps, I would conduct modular training, provide mentorship, and integrate evidence summaries into the workflow, allowing them to learn and gain buy-in.
References
Al-Ghabeesh, S., Khalifeh, A. H., & Rayan, A. (2024). Evidence-based practice knowledge, attitude, practice and barriers as predictors of stay intent among Jordanian registered nurses: A cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 14(7), e082173. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082173
Brooks Carthon, J. M., Hatfield, L., Brom, H., Houton, M., Kelly-Hellyer, E., Schlak, A., & Aiken, L. H. (2020). System-level improvements in work environments lead to lower nurse burnout and higher patient satisfaction. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 36(1), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1097/ncq.0000000000000475
Graves, L., Dalgarno, N., Hoorn, R. V., Truelove, A. H., Mulder, J., Kolomitro, K., Kirby, F., & Wylick, R. van. (2023). Creating change: Kotter’s change management model in action. Canadian Medical Education Journal, 14(3). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10351637/
Khatatbeh, H., Pakai, A., Al‐Dwaikat, T., Onchonga, D., Amer, F., Prémusz, V., & Oláh, A. (2021). Nurses’ burnout and quality of life: A systematic review and critical analysis of measures used. Nursing Open, 9(3), 1564–1574. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.936
Mohamed, R. A., Alhujaily, M., Ahmed, F. A., Nouh, W. G., & Almowafy, A. A. (2024). Nurses’ experiences and perspectives regarding evidence‐based practice implementation in healthcare context: A qualitative study. Nursing Open, 11(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.2080
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Question
WK7 ENABLERS AND BARRIERS TO TRANSLATION
There are many hurdles to overcome when it comes to the translation of evidence into practice. As noted in White et al. (2024), of all the identified evidence, only about half of it is ever actually put into practice.
Thus, being able to detect the potential enablers and barriers that you may encounter when implementing an EBP initiative is critical to your success. For this Discussion, you will draw on your professional experience in healthcare settings to consider specific enablers and barriers to evidence-based practice (EBP) quality improvement (QI) initiatives.
To Prepare
- Review the Week 7 Learning Resources. Pay particular attention to the theories and best practice recommendations related to enablers and barriers to translating and applying evidence in support of practice or organization change initiatives.
- Select an organization and a practice or organization issue within that organization. Consider evidence-based practice (EBP) quality improvement (QI) initiatives to address the issue.
- Select one evidence-based practice (EBP) quality improvement (QI) initiative on which to focus for this Discussion. Note: You may reuse an initiative you selected earlier in this course or select a new one.
- Think about the kinds of enablers you might encounter when translating and applying evidence for the evidence-based practice (EBP) quality improvement (QI) initiative you selected.
- Think about the kinds of barriers you might encounter when translating and applying evidence for the evidence-based practice (EBP) quality improvement (QI) initiative you selected.
- Consider the ways in which you might address the barriers you identified.
Enablers and Barriers to Translation
By Day 3 Of Week 7
Post the following:
- Identify the organization you selected.
- Describe the practice or organization issue you selected.
- Describe the evidence-based practice (EBP) quality improvement (QI) initiative you selected to address the issue.
- Describe the types of enablers that you might encounter when translating and applying evidence for the evidence-based practice (EBP) quality improvement (QI) initiative. Be specific and explain how enablers can benefit the project.
- Describe the types of barriers that you might encounter when translating and applying evidence for the evidence-based practice (EBP) quality improvement (QI) initiative. Be specific and explain how barriers may challenge the project.
- Explain how, as a DNP-prepared nurse, you would address the barriers you identified. Be specific and describe specific approaches to address each barrier.
Note: Your posts should be substantial (500 words minimum), supported with scholarly evidence from your research and/or the Learning Resources, and properly cited using APA Style. Personal anecdotes are acceptable as part of a meaningful post but cannot stand alone as the entire post.
Resources
- · White, K. M., Dudley-Brown, S., & Terhaar, M. F. (Eds.). (2024). Translation of evidence into nursing and healthcare (4th ed.). Springer.
- · Chapter 13, “Teamwork for Translation” (pp. 257–270)
- · Chapter 14, “Barriers and Facilitators to Translation” (pp. 270–280) Note: Read one or more of the following exemplars based on the focus of your Discussion post:
- · Chapter 18, “Acute Care Exemplars” (pp. 315–355)
- · Chapter 19, “Primary Care Exemplars” (pp. 356–379)
- · Chapter 20, “Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Exemplars” (pp. 391–417)
- · Chapter 21, “Health Systems Exemplars” (pp.417–458)
- · Chapter 22, “Team Projects Exemplars” (pp. 461–500)
- · Cane, J., O’Connor, D., & Michie, S. (2012). Validation of the theoretical domains framework for use in behaviour change and implementation scienceLinks to an external site.. Implementation Science. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-7-37

