Copyright @ Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. JONA Volume 38, Number 2, pp 97-102 Copyright B 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins THE JOURNAL OF NURSING ADMINISTRATION Evidence-Based Practice and the Road to Magnet Status Beverly S. Reigle, PhD, RN Kathleen R. Stevens, EdD, RN, FAAN Janice V. Belcher, PhD, RN Myra M. Huth, PhD, RN Elaine McGuire, PhD, MBA, RN Deborah Mals, MS, RN, CNAA, BC Tina Volz, PhD, RN Conducting research and using evidence-based prac- tice play a major role in achieving Magnet status, the sought-after recognition awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center to healthcare institu- tions that exhibit nursing excellence. The authors present a synopsis of a conference sponsored by a Sigma Theta Tau International consortium in which a panel of nurse leaders distinguishes be- tween research and evidence-based practice and discusses strategies to achieve both in the journey to Magnet status. Magnet Recognition Status is a coveted recognition awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center 1 to healthcare organizations that excel in the development of professional nurse practice environments. The program is based on quality indi- cators and standards of nursing practice as defined in the American Nurses Association’s 2 Scope and Standards for Nurse Administrators. Institutions seeking Magnet status must demonstrate ‘‘full expression’’ 3 of the 14 Forces of Magnetism. The 14 Forces are the primary categories that character- ize nursing services in a Magnet-status facility. Of the 14 Forces, Force 6 defines quality care. Among the 28 indicators characterizing quality care, 7 address the ‘‘integration of research and evidence- based practice (EBP) into clinical and operational processes’’ 3 Based on the significant role that EBP plays in the provision of quality care and its importance in achieving Magnet status, the Southern Ohio North- ern Kentucky Consortium of Sigma Theta Tau International sponsored a conference, ‘‘The Road to Nursing Excellence Is Paved With Evidence: Impli- cations for Practice and Magnet Status.’’ The pro- gram was led by Dr Kathleen Stevens, director of the Academic Center for Evidence-Based Practice, School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio; 5 nurse leaders from healthcare and academic institutions participated as panelists. This article, written by the speaker, panel- ists, and event organizer, offers an overview of the program regarding how to conduct research and use EBP in hospitals. The keynote session built a common frame of reference for discussion, including the impetus for the EBP movement, EBP definitions and models, forms of knowledge used in clinical decision making, and new competencies needed in nursing roles to advance EBP. Conducting research generates new knowledge, and EBP integrates new knowledge into practice. Although conducting research and using EBP both relate to the science base of care, they require dissimilar resources and processes. Integration of research studies into clinical and operational pro- cesses includes designing and implementing clinical JONA  Vol. 38, No. 2  February 2008 97 Authors’ Affiliations: Assistant Professor (Dr Reigle), Uni- versity of Cincinnati College of Nursing, Ohio; Director (Dr Stevens), Academic Center for Evidence-Based Practice, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio; Asso- ciate Professor (Dr Belcher), Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio; Assistant Vice President (Dr Huth), Center for Nursing Excellence, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer (Dr McGuire), TriHealth, Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio; Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer (Ms Mals), Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, Ohio; Nurse Researcher (Dr Volz), St Elizabeth Medical Center, Covington, Kentucky. Corresponding author: Dr Reigle, University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, 3110 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45221- 0038 (reiglebs@uc.edu).