© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. 2024

Editor-in-Chief: Dr Alison Twycross, University of Birmingham, UK

Evidence-Based Nursing (EBN) alerts practising nurses to important and clinically relevant advances in treatment, diagnosis, aetiology, and prognosis. 

EBN surveys a wide range of international medical journals, applying strict criteria for the quality and validity of research, in order to identify the most important studies.

The journal is co-owned by BMJ and RCNi

Evidence-Based Nursing

International Nurses Day 2024

International Nurses Day (IND) is celebrated globally each year on the 12th May - the birth date of Florence Nightingale. 

This year's theme reflects the importance of viewing nursing as an investment rather than a cost and to transform the perception of nursing by highlighting its economic and societal benefits.

Why read EBN?

• Save time with our succinct expert commentary on the most relevant studies
• Improve your practice by reading how studies implicate on clinical practice
  
• Keep up to date with the latest developments in the field of nursing
• Discounted subscription rates for members of the Royal College of Nursing 

Our Nurses . Our Future . The Economic Power of Care

Follow us during the day via the hashtag #IND2024

The booklet contains the following commentaries:

Staff burn-out has implications for organisational and patient outcomes: would an open culture of support with structures in place prevent burn-out?

Staff burn-out continues to be at the forefront of discussions on the nursing workforce,  and patient care. In this commentary, a systematic review of current evidence around issues of nurse burn-out, identifying the implications of this from the perspective of the patient and organisational outcomes. High staff turnover is identified as having implications in practice, negatively impacting on staff morale, teamworking, workforce resources and significant financial implications. Some organisations have implemented individual interventions alongside organisational interventions resulting in longer-term improvements in staff burn-out. To concur with this, organisations need to recognise the impact of staff burn-out, having open and honest conversations with staff regarding this and the support they will offer. Having this open culture will reduce stigma and encourage staff to seek support prior to crisis. A commitment is required by organisations to adequately resource interventions, recognising the initial outlay of costs against the longer-term financial rewards. Organisations need to have financial backing to invest in their staff’s well-being, this will show a commitment to staff regarding a culture of value and support, ensuring efficacy of the intervention preventing it becoming a gimmick.

Collaboration between universities and nursing placement providers is essential to ensure the well-being of the future nursing workforce

The emotional and physical well-being of student nurses is a current hot topic. This commentary discusses escalating concerns regarding the mental health of student nurses and what education and placement providers can do to work collaboratively at all levels, sharing responsibility to help develop a future healthy workforce.

Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) have a significant impact on patient outcomes and healthcare services

The ACP role has developed rapidly over recent years. There are however inconsistencies is policy, education, governance and practice across the UK.  This commentary highlights some of the challenges of standardisation and regulation and the need to focus on service demand.

Nursing leaders must make a conscientious effort to invest in practices that support evidence-based practice (EBP) among nurses to improve patient outcomes and decrease nursing turnover

We know that EBP has significant and positive effects; improving outcomes and safety for patients and helping to create an evidence-based culture. This commentary  highlights the importance of ensuring there is adequate support for nurses to use evidence in their practice by investing in resources including training, time and mentors. Those organisations with greater investment in EBP and a culture of critical enquiry reap the rewards and nursing outcomes also improve.