Effectively communicating practice changes to frontline nurses Journal Article


Authors: Tertinek, N.; Hole, A.; Inumerables, F.
Article Title: Effectively communicating practice changes to frontline nurses
Abstract: Purpose/Objectives Communication of practice changes to frontline nurses across an organization can be difficult. Frequent daily communication to all nursing staff can be ineffective and lead to email fatigue and information overload. The purpose of this article is to further describe the communication intervention developed to disseminate practice changes and the critical modifications made over time to ensure its continued success and sustainability. Description of the Project/Program In 2019, this team from a multisite institution developed a monthly email correspondence, called the Evidence-Based Practice Update, sent to local leaders to disseminate important policy and practice updates and reminders to more than 3400 nurses. This strategy was initially successful in reaching the nurses yet lacked a method to ensure accountability that each nurse has read the content. A quick response code was added to track monthly readership, and clinical nurse specialists were leveraged to ensure practice changes reached, reviewed, and understood by nurses across the institution. Outcome Metrics were tracked for quick response code scans and demonstrated an increase in readership over time. By combining various alerts into the single correspondence, fewer daily notifications to staff were sent. The EBP Update email dissemination structure involving local leaders was well received. Conclusion This article describes how a standardized communication strategy coupled with thoughtful leadership engagement improved uptake of important practice information by nurses across a vast institution. © Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: evidence-based practice; communication; information dissemination; interpersonal communication; leadership; nursing evaluation research; dissemination; e-mail; electronic mail; nurses; nurse clinicians; humans; human; clinical nurse specialist; evidence based nursing; evidence-based nursing; local leaders; practice change
Journal Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist
Volume: 38
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0887-6274
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins  
Date Published: 2024-07-01
Start Page: 175
End Page: 181
Language: English
DOI: 10.1097/nur.0000000000000832
PUBMED: 38889058
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Ashley Hole
    13 Hole