title: Evidence-based practice councils: potential path to staff nurse empowerment and leadership growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine the effects of participation in staff nurse-led practice councils on nurse job satisfaction and professional development.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although evidence-based practice (EBP) has become a key component of improving the quality of care, few studies have examined how implementation of staff nurse led councils model affect the involved nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-stage evaluation involving ethnography, semi-structured phenomenological private interviews and a 10-item survey were conducted with nurses, managers and executives participating in or involved with EBP councils tasked with improving patient outcomes at 6 community hospitals in a single non-profit hospital system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five themes were identified as outcomes: empowerment, meaningfulness, leadership growth, exposure to quality improvement, and vision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Staff-led councils have the potential to improve quality of care, job satisfaction, vision and leadership provided that managers and executives are sufficiently prepared to work with and support the councils.
authors.affiliation: NYU College of Nursing, New York, NY 10003, USA. Ab.Brody@nyu.edu
authors.forename: Abraham Aizer
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: Kathi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruble
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sakowski
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007857:Leadership; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires