Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge Retention Among Nurse Practitioner Students

Nurs Educ Perspect. 2023 Jul-Aug;44(4):244-246. doi: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001064. Epub 2022 Oct 12.

Abstract

The mastery of clinical scholarship and analytic methods for evidence-based practice (EBP) is a published essential for nurse practitioner (NP) education; however, retention of EBP-related knowledge during NP education remains unknown. We assessed EBP knowledge during a first-semester research course and again during the last semester using an item response model. We found that changes depended on the exam item, with performance dropping on a third of the items. Our findings suggest a need to integrate EBP concepts across curricula (e.g., feedback loops in courses other than the research course) to retain these essential skills.

MeSH terms

  • Curriculum
  • Educational Status
  • Evidence-Based Practice* / education
  • Humans
  • Nurse Practitioners* / education
  • Students
  • Surveys and Questionnaires