Improving Nurse Competencies for Using Evidence in Practice: A Pilot Study of the Language of Data Program.

Nursing professional development practitioners are in a key position to use tools that foster nurses' interpretation of research findings for increased use of evidence in practice. An online course was developed to teach statistics as language. The feasibility and efficacy of this "Language of Data" program were examined in a pilot study with a convenience sample from inpatient settings. Recognition and interpretation of statistical symbols significantly improved after the intervention. Knowledge, confidence, and accuracy also improved. The Language of Data program may be used by nursing professional development practitioners to improve nurses' adoption of evidence-based practice by furthering their ability to translate science.