Professional values and competencies as explanatory factors for the use of evidence‐based practice in nursing

Aim To establish the connection between values, competencies, selected job characteristics and evidence‐based practice use. Background Nurses rarely apply evidence‐based practice in everyday work. A recent body of research has looked at various variables explaining the use of evidence‐based practice, but not values and competencies. Design A cross‐sectional, non‐experimental quantitative explorative research design. Methods Standardized instruments were used (Nurse Professional Values Scale‐R, Nurse Competence Scale, Evidence‐Based Practice Beliefs and Implementation Scale). The sample included 780 nurses from 20 Slovenian hospitals. The data were collected in 2015. Results The study identifies two new variables contributing to a better understanding of beliefs on and implementation of evidence‐based practice, thus broadening the existing research evidence. These are the values of activism and professionalism and competencies aimed at the development and professionalization of nursing. Values of caring, trust and justice and competencies expected in everyday practice do not influence the beliefs and implementation of evidence‐based practice. Respondents ascribed less importance to values connected with activism and professionalism and competencies connected with the development of professionalism. Nurses agree that evidence‐based practice is useful in their clinical work, but they lack the knowledge to implement it in practice. Evidence‐based practice implementation in nursing practice is low. Conclusions Study results stress the importance of increasing the knowledge and skills on professional values of activism and professionalism and competencies connected to nursing development. The study expands the current understanding of evidence‐based practice use and provides invaluable insight for nursing managers, higher education managers and the national nursing association.