Practice Tip of the Week | Diving Into Evidence-Based Practice

By Laura Kincheloe, Ed.D., MSN, RN, NE-BC

In January, fourteen nurses completed the inaugural cohort of the Texas Nurses Association's Evidence Based Practice (EBP) Fellowship program. Nurses from across Texas gathered in Austin to present their projects and reflect on their learning experiences. Overwhelmingly, participants expressed gratitude for their time in the program. 
TNA has officially opened applications for Cohort 2 of the EBP Fellowship Program. For nurses who may not be as familiar with EBP, this article provides an overview of the program, application process, and overall experience. 

Program

TNA’s EBP Fellowship program is transitioning to a 10-month intensive experience in which nurses learn, innovate, and implement evidence in their practice settings. The program includes six educational modules that follow the EBP steps adapted from the Johns Hopkins EBP Model:

1. Formulate a practice question;
2. Conduct a literature search;
3. Critically appraise and synthesize evidence;
4. Develop practice recommendations and an implementation plan;
5. Implement and evaluate EBP project; and
6. Establish a dissemination plan.

The EBP Fellowship program is open to TNA members and is designed to be inclusive of nurses in all practice settings, regardless of license type or educational background. In the inaugural cohort, two Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) completed the program, both working to implement sustainable projects in their workplaces. LVNs are encouraged to apply and are supported by an RN champion within their organization, along with mentorship and faculty guidance throughout the program. The first cohort also included several doctoral-prepared nurses who sought to advance their EBP expertise and integrate sustainable projects into their workplaces to strengthen the future of evidence-based nursing practice.  

Process

Applications are open through April 29, 2026. An informational session will be held during the lunch hour on April 7, 2026, for those who are interested in the program and have questions about the process. We invite all interested nurses to register for this free session. Once applications close, submission will undergo a blinded review process. Only complete applications will be considered, and decisions will be announced in May. 

Applicants must acknowledge the following prerequisites before beginning the application:
1) Letter of Support 
2) Attendance Commitment

The letter of support serves as a formal acknowledgement from the Chief Nurse Executive, Chief Nursing Officer, or nurse leader within the applicant’s employing organization. This letter confirms organizational support for the fellowship, including an onsite nurse champion, time allotted for in-person and virtual meetings, and access to internal tools and resources needed to implement their project. Fellows have consistently identified organizational support as one of the most significant drivers of successful program completion. Letters of support should be emailed to Dr. Laura Kincheloe at lkincheloe@texasnurses.org.

The Attendance Commitment outlines all meeting dates and times in advance of the application.  While TNA understands emergencies may arise, fellows are expected to acknowledge the importance of full participation and commit to attending all meetings. 

Meeting days and times for Cohort 2 are as follows:
In-Person (TNA, Austin): 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

• August 7, 2026
• May 7, 2027  

Virtual (Zoom): 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

• September 4, 2026  
  
• October 2, 2026  
  
• November 6, 2026  
  
• December 4, 2026  
  
• January 8, 2027  
  
• February 5, 2027  
  
• March 5, 2027  
  
• April 2, 2027  

The program fee of $400 covers books and meeting materials. Travel expenses for the two in-person sessions are the responsibility of the fellows. Invoices can be sent directly to the fellow or to their employing organization for those organizations who are covering the cost of the program. 

Experience

The EBP Fellowship experience is transformative, offering nurses the opportunity to engage in meaningful, sustainable work while advancing their professional growth. In addition to the valuable networking opportunities inherent in the cohort model, fellows earn Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) hours for all in- person and virtual meetings. Additional CNE hours are available through online modules completed prior to each session. Fellows may earn up to thirty (30) CNE hours with full engagement and participation in the program. 

Upon completion of the fellowship, graduates are invited to return as mentors for future cohorts. This role provides continued professional development and prepares nurses to pursue advanced credentials, including the Evidence-Based Practice Certification (EBP-C) program through Ohio State University or the Certificate Holder (EBP-CH) credential. Mentoring emeritus faculty continue to advise and consult with TNA to ensure fellows are well prepared for certification or certificate-holder opportunities. 

Nurses who are eager to advance the profession and deepen their understanding of evidence-based practice are encouraged to join the next cohort of the TNA EBP Fellow Program. To learn more about the program, application process, and experience, visit us at https://www.texasnurses.org/page/EBPFellowship.

REFERENCES

Bissett, K., Ascenzi, J., & Whalen, M. (2025). Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice for nurses and healthcare professionals: Model & guidelines (5th ed.). Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Melnyk, B.M. & Hsieh, A.P. (2025). Making the business case for evidence-based practice and nurse/clinician well-being to improve health care quality, safety, patient outcomes, and costs. Nurse Leader, 23(3), 244-248. DOI: 10.1016/j.mnl.2025.01.006

Melnyk, B.M., Tan, A., Hsieh, A.P., & Gallagher-Ford, L. (2021a). Evidence-based practice culture and mentorship predict EBP implementation, nurse job satisfaction, and intent to stay: Support for the ARCC© Model. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 18(4), 272-281. DOI 10.1111/wvn.12524