Achievements and challenges in baccalaureate student nurses' preparation for evidence-based nursing practice: A mixed methods study

Evidence-based nursing (EBN) implementation is still limited. The effect of the incorporation of this competence into the whole nursing curricula as a cross-cutting topic has not yet been assessed. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of final year student nurses of their preparation for EBN practice and its current implementation in the local healthcare system. This study followed a mixed-methods approach. The data collection methods were a self-administered online questionnaire followed by individual in-depth interviews. The majority of participants (93.4%) chose asking a colleague as the main source of information for decision making during their last year of clinical training. However, scientific evidence was considered the most accurate and credible source instead of colleagues. The main barriers impeding EBN practice were revealed to be: not being able to find the required information, lack of time to search, and not feeling able to interpret information found. In the qualitative analysis of the interviews, three categories were identified: ‘Towards EBN at a snail's pace’; ‘A huge gap between theory and practice’; and ‘Where is nursing?’ Although participants in this study consistently attributed more credibility to clinical guidelines, protocols, and scientific publications over colleagues, asking a colleague continues to be the main resource to address clinical doubts. Lack of institutional support, the unresolved theory–practice gap in nursing, and the status of nurses in relation to other healthcare providers were identified as barriers for further EBN implementation. •Participants ranked evidence as the most reliable source of information to address clinical doubts.•Boost to evidence-based nursing by new graduated nurses might be jeopardized by existing challenges.•Scarce support, theory-practice gap and disregard of nursing hinder evidence-based nursing implementation.