Five-Year Program Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Practice Scholars Program.

The purpose of this article is to describe the findings of a 5-year program evaluation of a hospital-based Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Scholars Program. The EBP Scholars Program was developed in 2011 to (a) educate and engage staff in the EBP process and (b) develop a cadre of EBP mentors within each clinical unit of the organization. The evaluation of the EBP Scholars Program examined both the feasibility and the impact of the program. The findings suggest that not only is the program feasible to implement and highly acceptable to the participants, but it also significantly increases staff EBP self-efficacy and promotes staff engagement in EBP, organizational leadership, and professional development. Most importantly, this program has been foundational to motivating and sustaining a strong culture of inquiry at our Magnet® designated organization. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2018;49(12):547-554.].

Applied epidemiology for public health and community-based nurses.

As concerns mount surrounding exposure to environmental hazards and other public health threats, skills in surveillance and outbreak investigation are becoming critical competencies for public health and community-based nurses. This article describes a continuing education course designed in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders to address the need for epidemiological skills for rural nurses working in community-based settings. This project was funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration's Public Health Nursing Continuing Education program and was offered in both in-person and online formats. Topics, including applying epidemiological techniques to plan, implement, and evaluate public health programs, were taught using case studies and an array of online resources. Evaluation measures reflected improved understanding of epidemiological methods, a high level of satisfaction with the course and faculty, and strategies for applying these skills in professional nursing practice.

Active consent in urban elementary schools: an examination of demographic differences in consent rates.

The consent process is an integral piece of research and evaluation studies, especially when conducted within a school setting. The challenge of reaching parents of students to obtain consent is an issue with which those conducting school-based studies grapple. The literature suggests that the success of the consent process can affect the representativeness of the sample. This study describes one consent approach and examines the demographic differences between the eligible population, the consenters and the refusers. Demographic differences were found between consenters and refusers and suggestions are offered for further research and for other researchers who conduct school-based projects.