Indiana entity celebrates 20 years with JBIC

The Indiana Center for Evidence Based Nursing Practice: A JBI Centre of Excellence is celebrating 20 years as a JBI Collaborating Entity. 

To mark this significant milestone, we spoke with former director, Dr Lisa Hopp, current director Prof Beth Vottero and deputy director Dr Marianne Schallmo.

What motivated you to join the JBI Collaboration?

In the late 1990s to early 2000s, our clinical nurse specialist program shifted from teaching in a research utilization to an evidence-based practice approach. In the midst of that, we sought resources to help our students. We stumbled upon JBI and noticed that, at the time, there were no ‘red dots’ representing Collaborating Centres in any of the Americas – we saw an opportunity to be first. We were sold not just on the EBP resources, but also on the opportunity to learn from and work with global leaders, expanding our rather parochial and far too US-centric perspectives into a broader, richer international point of view. We were also committed to the role of academic-clinical partnerships as key to moving evidence into practice. It turned out we weren’t the only ones in North America thinking about joining the Collaboration, so while we weren’t the first dot on the North American map, we are proud to be among the first Centres in the Americas.

How does your JBI Collaborating Entity contribute to evidence-based healthcare?

When JBI debuted its model, we decided that it made sense to organise our Centre around the JBI model. We assigned a deputy director to each piece of the model: synthesis, transfer and implementation. I think this is a bit unique in the Collaboration but has worked very well.  

The deputy director for synthesis has led our JBI Comprehensive Systematic Review Program, facilitated the conduct of systematic reviews and participated in the development of JBI methodology. Our deputy director for transfer focused on an annual evidence-based practice (EBP) conference and, importantly, championed integration of EBP education and the use of JBI resources in all of our curricula.  

The deputy director in charge of implementation focuses on moving evidence into practice by developing an evidence implementation fellowship and facilitating implementation through our academic-practice partnerships, faculty joint appointments and student capstone projects. This approach has been very effective as the JBI Model of EBHC provides structure for the knowledge, skills and tools for getting evidence into practice.  

After all these years, what is it about JBI and the JBIC that keeps you motivated to stay with and contribute to the JBIC?  

Without doubt, it is the relationships built over these 20 years and the access to the incredible intellectual capital that is at the heart of the JBI Collaboration and JBI. I know that I will always learn something new, hear a perspective that I haven’t thought of and be inspired by colleagues in the JBIC. That keeps me and the Centre motivated!

Are there any lessons learned during your time with the JBIC that you would like to share?

I think one lesson I have learned (among so many) is that as structured as conducting systematic reviews can be, implementation is equally messy. I like both things. Systematic reviews and training others to conduct systematic reviews is very satisfying because, in general, each step occurs in a fairly linear manner in a predictable pattern. Implementation work, on the other hand, happens in fits and starts in far from linear fashion. Both are team sports that rely upon what is at the heart of JBI: collaboration.  

Please tell us about the impact your JBIC Entity has had in your region.

One of the biggest impacts that our Centre has made relates to the capstone projects that our pre-licensure students have done every term for much of our 20-year history with JBI. Faculty designed an experiential learning course where teams of students work with real-world clients to solve problems using the best available evidence. These teams have worked on hundreds of projects that impacted regional- to state-level partners, while the students have learned what it takes to find the best available evidence, appraise it and generate ways to implement and evaluate the process and outcomes of their projects. Each semester, the teams present their projects to the university and those involved in the project at a professional event. Without exception, we have been overwhelmed by how much they have learned about the EBP process and their progress in making a difference in areas such as patient safety, nurse well-being, family coping and infant safe sleep. The Centre and the faculty have made a unique impact in our region through this work.  

What would be the one piece of advice you would give to someone thinking of joining the JBI Collaboration?

Do it. Commit, and persevere – the rewards are enormous. I know I am not alone when I say that my involvement with JBI has been the most significant and important part of my nursing career. Not only have I travelled the world and learned greatly at each JBI event, I have met and learned from so many educators, researchers and practitioners. I can safely say that those opportunities would have never have happened had I not ‘stumbled’ on to JBI. Thankfully, no one need stumble anymore because JBI serves as one of the global leaders in evidence-based healthcare. Those considering joining the JBI Collaboration should know that they will gain greatly if they contribute their expertise and energy.

These two decades of collaboration with the best minds in evidence-based healthcare have meant so much to PNW’s College of Nursing and those of us who have been actively involved. Both Sue Salmond (the director of the Rutgers’s JBIC Entity) and I agreed that it was the best thing we have done in our careers. For my very accomplished friend, Sue, that is saying something!

We congratulate the Indiana Center for Evidence Based Nursing Practice: A JBI Centre of Excellence on an inspiring and successful 20 years. We can’t wait to see your continued success in the future!