[Answered]: Reply to this post: Despite national efforts to…

Reply to this post: Despite national efforts to promote evidence-based practice (EBP), nursing continues to face persistent barriers that hinder full implementation. Two significant barriers include insufficient knowledge and skills in EBP and organizational constraints, both of which impede progress toward the National Academy of Medicine’s goal that 90% of clinical decisions be evidence-based. The first barrier, limited EBP knowledge and competency, arises when nurses lack the necessary education or training to critically appraise research and apply findings to clinical settings (Alatawi et al., 2020). Many nurses were trained before EBP became a standard expectation, and continuing education opportunities may be inconsistent or inaccessible. Without adequate understanding of research methods, literature appraisal, and data interpretation, nurses may rely on tradition or personal experience rather than scientific evidence. To address this barrier, healthcare institutions can implement structured EBP training programs, mentorship initiatives, and journal clubs. Embedding EBP into orientation and ongoing professional development ensures that nurses gain both the knowledge and confidence to integrate evidence into patient care decisions. The second barrier, organizational and resource limitations, includes lack of time, staffing shortages, and insufficient access to research databases or EBP mentors (Crawford et al., 2023). In busy clinical environments, nurses often prioritize immediate patient needs over time-consuming literature searches or practice changes. To overcome this, organizations should create supportive infrastructures allocating protected time for EBP activities, appointing EBP champions, and providing easy access to evidence resources. Leadership commitment is crucial; when nurse managers model and reward EBP engagement, it fosters a culture that values research-informed care. Addressing these barriers through education, mentorship, and institutional support can transform EBP from an aspirational goal into a practical standard. Empowering nurses with skills, time, and resources is essential to ensuring that clinical decisions consistently reflect the best available evidence and ultimately improve patient outcomes.