Empowering nurses with evidence-based resources
Healthcare leaders who want to support and harness the power of today’s nursing workforce must equip us with the tools to succeed. That starts with access to trustworthy, evidence-based clinical decision resources. Nurses thrive when they’re empowered to ask informed questions, educate patients, and make sound, confident decisions.
To do this effectively—and to support both nurse well-being and patient outcomes—leaders can shift their mindset in the following ways:
- Acknowledge that nursing has evolved in every country, even compared to a decade ago.
- Recognize the strategic role of nurses and support expanded clinical decision-making.
- Ensure nurses are supported in their work by the entire leadership team.
- Reduce administrative burden and burnout by streamlining workflows and providing quick access to critical information.
- Offer emotional and professional support—especially in high-burnout environments.
- Invest in and champion clinical decision support tools that help support efficiency, accuracy, and patient safety.
When nurses are treated as key implementers of evidence-based medicine, we’re placed on equal footing with physicians and pharmacists. This allows our knowledge, patient relationships, understanding of social determinants, and tech skills to flourish and create better outcomes for all.
That’s why nurses are essential to a patient-centered, integrated model of care. We are the link between disciplines and the facilitators of communication and coordination.
Nurses are the spark that ignites progress across the system
The evolving role of nurses presents an exciting opportunity for global healthcare systems. When supported and empowered, nurses can lead systemic improvements that benefit both patients and clinicians.
One powerful approach is systems thinking—an intentional method of identifying barriers, designing processes, and improving outcomes for both patients and providers. Systems thinking drives better outcomes, reduces costs, and supports clinician wellbeing. And it starts with enabling nurses to access evidence-based information that reflects the full picture of human health—not just symptoms.
To do this well, we must look beyond the clinical moment and understand the patient journey holistically—something nurses are inherently trained to do.
This was echoed at the International Council of Nurses Congress in Helsinki, where global leaders explored the evolution of nursing from task-focused training to a more expansive, systems-based perspective.
Each country is on its own unique path. In places like the United States and Saudi Arabia, nurses are already highly utilized. In the UK, we’re growing our ranks of specialist nurses and increasing academic pathways. As we face a global doctor shortage, nurses are stepping in to bridge that gap—driving forward a more balanced and resilient system of care.
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