Abstract

The researchers’ objective was to describe the crucial role of nurses in utilizing evidence-based practice to make decisions about the quality of patient care delivery in a tertiary care academic medical center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, through a cross-sectional online survey. The study population consisted of 570 nurses, with a mean duration of 7.9 years. The findings of this study underscore the importance of nurses in the current state of EBP in Saudi nursing and identify areas for improvement. The results showed that nurses working across the three entities of tertiary care academic medical center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, viewed EBP favorably. However, their knowledge of where to search for and critique EBP was lacking, indicating a potential area for significant improvement. Although they were aware of ongoing EBP initiatives, there is a clear need for further development of their capacity to retrieve and critically appraise evidence, which could significantly enhance their ability to advocate for EBP. The nurses’ responses also indicated that they were not fully practicing EBP due to significant challenges, such as a lack of time and institutional support. These challenges are authentic and valid, and it is crucial to acknowledge them. However, if these barriers are addressed, they could potentially lead to a more widespread and effective implementation of EBP, significantly improving the quality of patient care in Saudi Arabia. Implications for practice include conducting a baseline unit-specific assessment to determine readiness for EBP, implementing robust educational programs (such as workshops, seminars, and online courses) with the highest priority for access to evidence and evidence appraisal, and considering changing nurses’ work schedules to provide adequate time for further training in EBP and critically reviewing the literature. Recommendations include promoting EBP through educational initiatives and policy changes, providing resources to nurses and medical professionals, and continuing their education and training throughout their careers.

Keywords:Evidence-based practice; Cross-sectional survey; Nursing practice; Patient care delivery