Evidence in Hand: Optimizing the Unique Skill Set of a Hospital-Based Center for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice

This paper describes how, as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, one hospital-based center for nursing research and evidence-based practice capitalized on its unique skill mix to quickly pivot to provide hospital administrators and staff with timely, relevant evidence regarding the care of patients and families, as well as the protection of direct care providers and all support staff. The products produced by this center, both proactive and in direct response, contributed to clinical operations decision-making and thus, tangibly impacted practice. The positive outcomes described speak not only to the clinical environment, but also to the presence and specialized contributions of a multiprofessional center for nursing research and evidence-based practice in such a way that was not possible prior to COVID-19.