The Role of Implementation Science in Nursing 

At first glance, “implementation science” might sound like something confined to scientific research. While it’s grounded in research-based practices, implementation science reaches well beyond lab work. It applies across diverse fields, from healthcare and public policy to education. Nursing, in particular, is an area where implementation science is gaining significant traction. 

Implementation Science and Nursing 

Implementation science aims to close the gap between evidence-based practice and putting those protocols into practice in the real world. As a nurse, what does that look like? 

Suppose you’re a labor and delivery nurse. You may be implementing new skin-to-skin care protocols after a cesarean section to enhance maternal-infant bonding and support breastfeeding. This practice, supported by evidence showing its benefits for both mothers and babies, exemplifies how implementation science translates research into clinical settings for improved outcomes. In nursing, implementation science ensures that professionals can continually offer the most effective, up-to-date care to their patients, improving patient outcomes as they implement new protocols and practices. 

Benefits of Implementation Science in Nursing 

Whether you’re a nurse or a nurse manager, if you haven’t yet incorporated implementation science into your daily practice, consider the following advantages of adopting this approach: 

• Streamlining processes  
  A study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that approximately 25% of total healthcare spending is considered wasteful, much of it due to inefficient processes​. By using proven implementation practices, nurses can adopt protocols that improve workflow efficiency, such as electronic health record (EHR) systems to streamline patient documentation or care coordination protocols to reduce duplication of services. This helps lower unnecessary spending, optimizes resource allocation and minimizes financial and operational waste. 

• Empowering nurses  
  Nurses often work under the supervision of physicians, following care plans to ensure patient outcomes. However, when nurses are involved in the implementation process, they gain a sense of empowerment. Engaging them as stakeholders allows them to contribute their insights from the front lines of patient care, participating in decisions about which interventions to adopt and how to implement them. This increases professional growth and job satisfaction, giving nurses a greater role in shaping patient care practices. 

• Facilitating collaboration  
  Healthcare roles can often become siloed, with professionals working primarily within their departments. Implementation science encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals work together to apply new evidence-based practices. This collaboration fosters teamwork, breaks down barriers between departments and improves communication across the healthcare system​. 

How to Use Implementation Science as a Nurse 

If you’re looking to refine your use of implementation science in the workplace, consider these strategies to implement evidence-based practice in nursing: 

• Identify areas for improvement  
  Regularly evaluate your current clinical protocols, noting areas where new practices could enhance efficiency or improve patient outcomes. 

• Collaborate with stakeholders  
  Partner with physicians, researchers and other healthcare professionals to explore interventions that have proven successful in similar communities. Based on your findings, tailor and implement evidence-based interventions that meet your patients’ specific needs. 

• Utilize frameworks  
  There are numerous implementation science frameworks designed to help ease the implementation of evidence-based practices. Collaborate with other stakeholders to determine which would be most impactful in rolling out your new practice. 

• Evaluate and reflect  
  Continuously assess the effectiveness of newly adopted protocols. Collaborate with your team to discuss successes and challenges, refining approaches based on collected data to improve future outcomes. 

Advance Your Nursing Career With a Graduate Certificate in Implementation Science 

Whether you’re looking to strengthen a single skill or build a well-rounded foundation in implementation science, the University of Florida’s online implementation science graduate program is designed to help you improve patient outcomes through effective implementation practices taught by experienced professors in the industry.  

We offer two unique paths, so you can tailor your education to your needs:  

• Graduate Certificate in Implementation Science 
  In just 11 credit hours, you’ll gain essential skills, from collaborating with stakeholders to translating research findings into practice. You’ll also explore key frameworks that support the integration of evidence-based practices in healthcare and beyond, helping you determine the most effective strategies when introducing new practices in the workplace. 

• Non-Degree Courses 
  If you’d like to explore a specific area of implementation science or are considering our graduate certificate, the non-degree path may be ideal for you. Take up to 6 credits (2 courses) to gain foundational knowledge — and if you earn a grade of “B” or higher, you can transfer these credits toward your implementation science graduate certificate. 

Gain practical skills that can advance your nursing career and impact patient care. Explore our courses today!  

Sources: 
https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-skin-to-skin-care-after-a-cesarean/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31589283/