Evidence-based nursing practice: comparative analysis of professional competences of nursing staff in selected Polish voivodeships – preliminary study

Introduction: Modern, professional nursing is moving away from the traditional nursing model, focusing on evidence-based interventions (EBP).The practical use of scientific research results in professional work which translates positively into an increase in the quality of nursing care provided.Aim of the research: Comparative analysis of professional competences of nursing staff in relation to practice based on scientific evidence in the Mazowieckie, Lubelskie, and Swietokrzyskie voivodeships.Material and methods: A total of 173 professionally active nurses working in the Mazowieckie (n = 62, 36%), Lubelskie (n = 56, 32%), and Swietokrzyskie (n = 55, 32%) voivodeships took part in a voluntary and anonymous online survey.The following research tools were used: the Standardised Evidence-Based Practice Profile Questionnaire and the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale.The research was conducted in accordance with the descriptive statistics methodology.Results: It was found that 71% of nurses were aware of the existence of practice based on scientific evidence, and the same number of respondents claimed that EBP is a modern model of practicing the nursing profession.As many as 90% of respondents intended to expand their knowledge about the idea of EBP.Only 9% of nurses declared that they would not develop professional competences based on scientific literature.For more than half (55%) of nurses, lack of time was the main barrier limiting the use of EBP principles in their professional work.Conclusions: We can conclude the following: 1) a higher level of professional competence obtained by nursing staff directly translates into the degree of practical use of EBP, 2) evidence-based nursing practice significantly improves quality in nursing.3).Lack of time and workload limit the frequency of using EBP. StreszczenieWprowadzenie: Nowoczesne, profesjonalne pielgniarstwo odchodzi od tradycyjnego modelu opieki, koncentrujc si na interwencjach opartych na dowodach naukowych (EBP).Praktyczne wykorzystanie wynikw bada naukowych w pracy zawodowej przekada si pozytywnie na wzrost jakoci wiadczonej opieki pielgniarskiej