nurse residents

Nursing Residents participate in an evidence-based practice project based on improving patient care.

Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Council

The Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Council promotes knowledge development, innovation and interprofessional collaboration within Inova Alexandria Hospital (IAH) and the across the Inova Health system. Supported projects address the major tenets of the nursing strategic plan and are integrated with system initiatives. We strive to promote a culture of clinical inquiry with the goal of translating research and best evidence into practice to delivery high quality health care and optimize patient outcomes.

Using the Watson’s Human Caring Philosophy and optimal outcomes as our foundation of practice, IAH seeks to be a leader in EBP and research. Our daily work positively impacts patients and their experience while in our care.

Nurses at IAH have access to world class resources to support their professional development and research, including:

  • Dedicated and experienced PhD-trained nursing research scientists
  • Expert librarians at the Inova Health Sciences Library
  • The annual Inova Nursing Research and EBP Fellowship Program, which allows nurses to work collaboratively across Inova’s care sites
  • The Implementation Science Specialists Program where nurses help teams identify the barriers and facilitators to practice change and adoption
  • The Inova Grants Management Office
  • Access to research policies, toolkits and templates that systematically guide nurses through the research, EBP, and implementation science processes

Below is a sample of IAH Research and EBP posters, podium presentations and published articles. IAH nurses continuously examine current evidence to pursue practice processes that improve patient care, reduce harm, and enhance our care delivery system.

Research Poster Highlights

"Caritas: Nurses’ Perception of Caring in the Healthcare Environment"

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Contributors: Jennifer Drake, DNP, NPD-BC, ONC, Caritas Coach; Theresa Davis PhD, RN, NE-BC, FAAN; Anne-Marie O'Brien, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC; Bernice D. Mowery, PhD, RN; Mary Ann Friesen PhD, RN, CPHQ

This research study examined the perceptions of participating nurses regarding self-care and feeling cared for and belonging by co-workers and leaders within the work environment; and assessed the reliability of the three Watson Caritas Scores: Self-Rating, Co-Workers, and Leader Scores. A total of 148 nurses from Inova Alexandria Hospital participated in the study (19.97% response rate); 82% were clinical nurses, 82% had a BSN or higher and 66.22% were certified nurses.

 

"Home Sweet Home: Improving Diabetic Discharge Education"

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Contributors: Jennifer Drake, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, ONC, Caritas Coach; Allison Walters, BSN, RN, CDES; Joanna Ahn, BSN, RN; Marc Bailey, BSN, MSHA; Michael Blewett, BSN, RN; Alicia Brantley, BSN, RN; Melinda Byrns, MS, MLS; Joycelyn Cudjoe, PhD, RN; Katie Dugan BSN, RN PMGT-BC; Enkhjargal Gendenjamts, BSN, RN; Ramanpreet Kaur, RN BSc, RN-BC; Ndeye, Keita, BSN, RN; Edgardo Macabulos, Jr., BSN, RN; Bernice D. Mowery, PhD, RN; Jaqueline Perez, MPH; Sarah Naputi, MSN-NI RN CRRN RN-BC; Grace Sesay, BSN, RN; Lalni Sharma, BSN, RN 

In 2020, 7.8 million hospital discharges included a diabetes diagnosis. Inova recognized the need to develop a consistent approach to providing information to hospitalized adult patients with type II diabetes by addressing several key factors: knowledge deficits among providers about self-management; lack of tools for education such as insulin pens and home glucometers; and the need for education and improved resources for Inova nurses caring for patients with diabetes.

Select Posters and Presentations

“A Caring Start to Professional Practice. Using Intentional Caring Behaviors Throughout New Graduate Nurse Onboarding” (Podium). Jennifer Drake, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, ONC, Caritas Coach. 40th Annual International Association for Human Caring Conference. Greenville, SC, May.30 - June. 2, 2019.

“Too Wet or Too Dry?” Passive Leg Raise as Non-Invasive Assessment of Fluid Overload in Septic Shock Patients. (Podium). Emily Hagedorn, BSN, RN, CCRN; Ynhi Nguyen, BSN, RN, CEN, CCRN; Olivia Hwang, BSN, RN; Erin Reynolds, BSN, RN, CCRN, CNML. Inova Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice Symposium. Falls Church, Va., Dec.6, 2019.

“Tea for the Soul: Fostering Resilience and Soul Care in the Pandemic and Beyond” (Podium, Live Presentation at Virtual Conference). Jennifer Drake, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, ONC, Caritas Coach; Reverend William H. Tweedley, B.D. Th.M., BCC.26th International Caritas Consortium -Unitary Caring Science: Throwing the Road Out Ahead Admist Global Pandemic. Virtual, Oct. 22, 2020.

“Nurses’ Perceptions of Remote Visual Monitoring (RVM) In an Acute Care Setting”. Lisa Hawksworth, MSN, RN, NEA-CA. American Organization of Nursing Leadership. Virtual Conference, July 2021.

Published Articles

Barnett, S.D., Desai, D., Davis, T., Hawksworth, L., Keeling, E., Drake, J., & Cudjoe, J. (2020). Development and Psychometric Testing of the Remote Visual Monitoring Acceptance Tool. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 28(3), 439-454. https://doi.org/10.1891/JNM-D-19-00092

Keeling, E., Cudjoe, J., Hawksworth, L., Drake, J., & Davis, T. (2020). Remote Visual Monitoring During a Pandemic. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 28(3), 437-438. https://doi.org/10.1891/JNM-D-20-00100