Frontline nurse leaders' competences in evidence‐based healthcare: A scoping review

Abstract

AimTo identify evidence on frontline nurse leaders' competences in evidence‐based healthcare (EBHC) and the instruments measuring these competences.DesignA scoping review.Data SourcesThe search was conducted in June 2021 and complemented in June 2022. The CINAHL, ProQuest, Medline (Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science databases and MedNar along with the Finnish database Medic were searched.Review MethodThe scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs institute methodology for scoping reviews. Titles, abstracts and full‐text versions were screened independently by two reviewers according to the inclusion criteria. Deductive‐inductive content analysis was used to synthesize data.ResultsA total of 3211 articles published between 1997 and 2022 were screened, which resulted in the inclusion of 16 articles. Although frontline nurse leaders had a positive attitude towards EBHC, they had a lack of implementing EBHC competence into practice. Part of the instruments were used in the studies, and only one focused especially on leaders. None of instruments systematically covered all segments of EBHC.ConclusionThere is a limited understanding of frontline nurse leaders' competence in EBHC. It is important to understand the importance of EBHC in healthcare and invest in the development of its competence at all levels of leaders. Frontline nurse leaders' support is essential for direct care nurses to use EBHC to ensure the quality of care and benefits to patients. Leaders must enhance their own EBHC competence to become role models for direct care nurses. It is also essential to develop valid and reliable instruments to measure leaders' competence covering all EBHC segments. The results can be utilized in the assessment and development of frontline nurse leaders' EBHC competence by planning and producing education and other competence development methods.

Advanced practice nurses' evidence‐based healthcare competence and associated factors: A systematic review

“…On average, APNs felt that they had a middling level of EBP competence (Malik et al, 2015) but also reported differences in competence levels between and within individual EBHC key segments. They considered questioning clinical practice and seeking external evidence as among their strongest EBP competencies (Harper et al, 2017), in contrast to frontline nurse leaders (Koivunen et al, 2023). This indicates that APNs comprehend the significance of identifying knowledge needs, critically examining current practices, and implementing EBHC.…”

“…Perhaps as a result, APNs rarely participated in research or utilised data they had collected themselves (Butler, 2011;Harper et al, 2017). Frontline nurse leaders (FNL) found generating and synthesising evidence to be challenging (Koivunen et al, 2023), while most health educators believed their skills were proficient (Immonen et al, 2022). The competence gap between APNs and FNLs in the same region poses a significant challenge for healthcare organisations in implementing EBHC.…”

“…In addition, FNLs stated that there was no strategy or structure for implementing EBP, and they did not have the autonomy to make decisions to organise the department's operation. (Koivunen et al, 2023. ) This can be a significant factor preventing the establishment of EBHC in healthcare organisations.…”

“…While studies have explored the EBHC competence of nurses, educators, and leaders (Furuki et al, 2023;Immonen et al, 2022;Koivunen et al, 2023), no systematic review has been conducted on the level of EBHC competence of APNs and associated factors. This systematic review aims to identify, critically appraise and synthesise the EBHC competence and associated factors among APNs working in clinical practice.…”