Change within Complex Healthcare Systems and Mentors for Ebp

Recently, both healthcare organizations and academic settings have been challenged to develop new models of collaboration that facilitate use of existing evidence to improve patient outcomes (McBride, 2005; Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2002). Several models now exist in the literature to guide the increased use of evidence-based practice (EBP) (Ciliska, DiCenso, Melynk, & Stetler, 2005; Haynes, 1993; Melnyk et al., 2004; Titler et al., 2001). The use of mentors has been identified in these models as an important facilitator for increasing use of EBP within healthcare organizations (Haynes, 1993; Melnyk et al., 2004; Rycroft-Malone, Bucknall, & Melynk, 2005; Titler et al., 2001). This article outlines the experiences of nursing faculty from diverse academic settings working part time within a large Midwestern teaching hospital to mentor staff in the use of EBP. The challenges and lessons learned and the successes realized through the collaborative efforts of clinical and academic partners are presented and explored from the context of implementing change within complex healthcare systems.