A nursing partnership: the forces of magnetism guiding evidence-based practice in the Republic of Armenia.

A team of nurses at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, has been participating in a global collaboration with nurses at Erebouni Medical Center in Yerevan, Armenia. During this collaboration, they have built on work initiated by representatives of the American International Health Alliance and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to develop application of evidence-based practice in the Armenian nurse's work environment. Their collective efforts have resulted in initiating nursing assessments and plans of care, position descriptions and performance appraisals, competency assessment tools, and performance improvement tools. Overall, the respect for nurses at Erebouni Medical Center has significantly improved. In October 2004, nurses at Erebouni Medical Center were recognized by the ANCC with the Journey to Nursing Excellence Award.