Internship: Evidence-Based Practice and Research Utilization: Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care: University of Iowa Health Care

The Point (Internal Access Only)

Evidence-Based Practice Staff Nurse
Internship Program

Front row (left to right): Laura Cullen, MA, RN; Linda Q. Everett, PhD, RN, CNAA, BC, FAAN; Marita Titler, PhD, RN, FAAN
Back row (left to right): Jennifer Houlihan, Linda Moeller, Lori Stebral, Sarah Fink, Emily Griffin, Kathleen Williams

One key to changing practice is involving staff who provide direct patient care. The staff nurse Internship is offered to facilitate the work of staff nurses in addressing a clinical issue relevant to their patient population. The Iowa Model and the Translation Research Model (Titler & Everett, 2001) are used as the framework for guiding staff nurses through the evidence-based practice process. Staff nurses team with their nurse manager, an advanced practice nurse mentor, and an evidence-based practice facilitator.

The internship combines didactic presentation, group discussion, and facilitated work time to support applying concepts learned to their project. Several groups of staff nurses have successfully completed the program which began in 2001. The program is being offered on an every-other-year basis to promote completion of current Intern projects before beginning the next Internship group. The program has been highly successful improving care and outcomes.

For further information, please contact Laura Cullen, MA, RN (laura-cullen@uiowa.edu).

Reference Article: Cullen, L. & Titler, M. (2004). "Promoting evidence-based practice: An internship for staff nurses", Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 4th Qtr, 215-223.

Evidence-Based Practice Staff Nurse Interns and Completed Projects

EBP Program Resources and Order Form (pdf)

VIDEOS (Quicktime required)

Flower art