The associations of grit, self-leadership, and followership with competency in evidence-based practice among nurses in Korea: a descriptive correlational study

Purpose: This study examined the associations of grit, self-leadership, and followership with nurses’ competency in evidence-based practice in South Korea.Methods: This descriptive correlational study included 203 nurses from a general hospital. Data collection was conducted from May 8 to June 21, 2024.Results: The mean score for competency in evidence-based practice was 4.16 of 7. Competency in evidence-based practice correlated positively with grit (r = .62, p < .001), self-leadership (r = .54, p < .001), and followership (r = .72, p < .001). Followership (β = 0.53, p < .001), grit (β = 0.24, p < .001) and research experience (β = 0.11, p = .024) significantly influenced competency in evidence-based practice. The model’s explanatory power was calculated to be 55.1%.Conclusion: Followership and grit are key factors in developing strategies to enhance nurses’ competency in evidence-based practice. Additionally, providing support for research experience in clinical settings may further strengthen competency in evidence-based practice.