The Baptist Health Lexington evidence-based practice model: a 5-year journey.

There are numerous advantages to basing nursing practice on evidence. Improvements in the quality of patient care, better patient outcomes, decreased healthcare costs, and enhanced work satisfaction for nurses have been described in the literature. Baptist Health Lexington, a community hospital, has experienced a successful 5-year journey integrating evidence-based practice as a result of the development of the Baptist Health Lexington Evidence-Based Practice Model. This journey is described below. Yearly activities, examples of projects, and clinical outcomes are presented.