title: Clinical nurse specialists shaping policies and procedures via an evidence-based clinical practice council.
abstract: In the practice of nursing, organizations with progressive evidence-based practice programs implement structures and processes whereby nurses are engaged in the review of existing research and in the development of clinical practice documents to better align nursing practices with the best available scientific knowledge. At our academic hospital system, clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) took the lead to help transform a traditional nursing policy and procedure committee into a hospital-wide, staff-represented Clinical Practice Council (CPC) that ensures evidence-based nursing practices are reflected in the organization's nursing practice documents for the provision of patient care. Clinical nurse specialists function as mentors and cochairs who are dedicated to ensuring that nursing practice is supported by the latest evidence and committed to guiding staff nurses to continually move their practice forward. The success of the CPC is due to the leadership and commitment of the CNSs. This article describes the structure, process, and outcomes of an effective CPC where CNSs successfully engage frontline clinicians in promoting nursing care that is evidence based. Clinical nurse specialist leadership is increasingly made visible as CNSs effectively involve staff nurses in practice reforms to improve patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Ronald Reagan University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Vivien
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dee
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gawlinski
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lawanson-Nichols
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McNair
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Melwak
authors.forename: Isabell
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Purdy
authors.forename: Shohreh S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Samimi
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sund
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zanotti
mesh_terms: D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016134:Organizational Policy