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Nurses’ roles in changing practice through implementing best practices: A systematic review


Wilma ten Ham-Baloyi

Abstract

Nurses play an important role in the implementation of best practices. However, the role of nurses in changing practice by implementing best  practices requires further exploration. No systematic review was found that summarised the best available evidence on the roles of nurses in  changing practice through the implementation of best practices. This study summarised the best available evidence on the roles of nurses in  changing practice through the implementation of best practices. A systematic review was used to search for studies in the English language, where  a best practice was implemented in a clinical context and which included findings regarding the roles of nurses when implementing best practices.  Scopus, EBSCOhost (Academic Search Ultimate, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL with Full Text, ERIC, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, MasterFILE  Premier, MEDLINE Complete), PUBMED, and ScienceDirect databases were searched from January 2013 to June 2021. The search generated 1343  citations. After removing duplicates and applying eligibility criteria, 27 studies were included. Five definite roles were identified as follows:  leadership, education and training, collaboration, communication and feedback and development and tailoring of the best practice. These roles are  interrelated, but equally crucial in order to implement best practices. This study found five interrelated but equally crucial nurse roles in changing  practice through the implementation of best practices.


Contribution: The study’s findings and gaps identified can be used for further nursing research, improving practice change and health outcomes  through the implementation of best practices and the role nurses can play in this process. 


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2071-9736
print ISSN: 1025-9848