A Replication Study for Comparative Purposes of Evidence-Based Practice Activities in Magnet and Non-Magnet Hospitals

Nursing literature is rich with articles and studies in support of evidence-based practice. Health-care consumers today expect quality and excellence. As McSherry (1997) states, \u27Patients\u27, \u27consumers\u27or\u27clients\u27are being encouraged to expect no less than a quality service and high standards of patient care from health professionals (p. 985). The Magnet Recognition Program is one way to publicly recognize excellent nursing service. Using the 2003-2004 Magnet Recognition criteria within Standard Xlll is a way to evaluate the research environment of health-care facilities. The purpose of this study was to examine characteristics of the research environment of nursing departments within hospitals that are not currently awarded magnet status. This study replicated a study done in magnet hospitals and compared the results. Clear differences are evident in the indices of research conduct, research environment, use of research in practice, relationships between continuous improvement and research, and research collaborations. A model was also developed based on lmogene King\u27s Dynamic lnteracting Systems Theory which demonstrates nursing leadership affect on evidence-based practice