[Verified Answer]: Despite the National Academy of Medicine’s…

Despite the National Academy of Medicine’s goal that 90% of clinical decisions be evidence-based, nursing practice continues to face barriers that hinder full implementation. Two significant barriers are limited organizational support and knowledge-practice gaps among nurses. First, organizational barriers such as inadequate staffing, time constraints, and lack of access to research databases often prevent nurses from integrating evidence into daily practice. Nurses working in high-acuity settings may prioritize immediate patient needs over reviewing current literature, leading to reliance on traditional practices rather than evidence-based interventions. Addressing this barrier requires healthcare organizations to foster a culture of EBP by providing protected time for research, access to clinical librarians, and ongoing mentorship programs. Leadership support is critical, as nurse managers who champion EBP can encourage adoption and allocate resources to sustain practice changes (Melnyk et al., 2022). Second, knowledge-practice gaps occur when nurses lack the skills to critically appraise research or translate findings into clinical protocols. Many nurses report insufficient training in EBP during their education. To overcome this barrier, institutions should invest in continuing education programs, workshops, and simulation-based training that emphasize critical appraisal and application of evidence. Embedding EBP competencies into orientation and professional development ensures nurses develop the skills necessary to integrate research into practice (Saunders et al., 2023). By addressing these barriers, healthcare systems can move closer to achieving the goal of evidence-based decision-making. These strategies ultimately improve patient outcomes, reduce variability in care, and strengthen the role of nurses as advocates.