Across the year we facilitate a number of programs to equip nurses with the requisite knowledge, skills, abilities and attributes to investigate and improve practice. Programs currently facilitated by the Nursing Research Team include the Building Evidence with Support to Transform (BEST) Practice Program and Tested or Tradition (ToT). More information for RCH staff can be accessed on Sharepoint. 

BEST Practice Program

Generously supported by The RCH Foundation, the Building Evidence with Support to Transform (BEST) Practice Program provides nurses with the opportunity to develop their own research project through the competence in

• Gathering and reviewing the evidence related to an issue arising from practice,
• Undertaking a small research project,
• Identifying and communicating with stakeholders,
• Facilitating the translation of evidence into practice, and
  
• Identifying and addressing contextual factors to enable practice change.

The BEST Practice Program involves nominated nurses coming together for ten program days over eight months to address the clinical issue identified from their area of practice. In addition to active participation in the program days, we provide ongoing support for participants. All projects undertaken as part of the BEST Practice Program aligned with the strategic focus of The RCH.

Past BESTies

Previous Best Practice participants have gone on to present nationally and internationally, publish in peer reviewed journals and successfully implement a clinical practice change. Publications on past BEST practice projects include:

• Hawley, M., O’Neill, J., Dorland, J., Richards, S., Kinney, S., Court, A., & Rayner, C. (2025). Restraint for nasogastric tube feeding in young people with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa: a retrospective audit. Journal of Eating Disorders, 13(1), 143.
• Hay, S., & O’Neill, J. (2025). Having a heart-to-heart: Parents’ experiences preparing their child for a cardiac procedure. Journal of Child Health Care, 13674935251321531.
  
• Dentry, T., O'Neill, J., Raj, S., Gardiner, K., & Savarirayan, R. (2024). Exploring the family experience of children aged 2–4 years receiving daily vosoritide injections: A qualitative study. Journal of Pediatric Nursing.
• Cini, C. (2022). Characterizing chylothorax in the pediatric population with Congenital Heart Disease. Progress in Pediatric Cardiology, 67, 101548. 
• Devsam, B. U., & Kinney, S. (2021). The clinical utility of the pain assessment tool in ventilated, sedated, and muscle-relaxed neonates. Australian Critical Care, 34(4), 333-339. 
  

Tested or Tradition

The Tested or Tradition program is an initiative that supports nurses to critically examine clinical practices and determine whether they are evidence-based or guided by tradition. Participants present a focused clinical question, appraise current evidence, and propose practical recommendations for future practice. The Nursing Research team provide support and mentoring of participants in preparation of their presentations. Typically, two to three units present at each session and structured feedback is provided to the teams. This program promotes critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and translation of research into clinical care.