UCQ bolsters teaching focus on evidence-based nursing outcomes

The University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) has officially become the first institution in the Middle East to join a consortium of international Academic Best Practice Spotlight Organisations (AcBPSOs) co-ordinated by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO).

"Having the UCQ join the consortium of International Academic Best Practice Spotlight Organisations is a privilege we do not take lightly," said UCQ dean Dr Deborah White. "We have worked tirelessly to integrate BPGs (best practice guidelines) into our curriculum to earn this recognition."She added: "In fact, the UCQ faculty mentors used RNAO's train-the-trainer learning approach to prepare a group of our undergraduate students to become BPSO (Best Practice Spotlight Organisations) champions to further support the uptake of BPGs, and we have seen first-hand how effectively it has enhanced their clinical decision-making skills.""I am extremely proud of our faculty and our BPSO champions whose hard work and commitment helped us accomplish this remarkable achievement," Dr White said, adding that the UCQ's application of the RNAO's hands-on training approach enhanced students' confidence, leadership skills, and capacity to engage others in the uptake of best practices.Over the three-year candidacy period, student BPSO champions co-facilitated workshops for other nursing students and faculty, engaged in innovative strategies to raise awareness among nurses and nursing students about BPGs, and strengthened academic-health service partnerships for the uptake of BPGs.They also established and scaled up a network of student BPSO champions, including international connections.The work of the student champions immensely contributed to the successful achievement of BPSO-designate status for the UCQ.For her part, RNAO chief executive Dr Doris Grinspun said: "Congratulations to our newly designated BPSO (champions). It is an absolute privilege to welcome you and recognise the heavy lifting you have done in the past three years of the programme to receive your designations, this is especially commendable as you had to do it throughout the pandemic."AcBPSOs use best practice guidelines to help nursing students learn about how to identify, assess, select, apply, and evaluate evidence in nursing.The deliberate integration of BPGs into all theoretical and practice-based courses at the University of Calgary in Qatar has been used to successfully prepare students to learn about how to make evidence-informed decisions for their nursing practice and achieve better patient outcomes.The partnership between the UCQ and the RNAO has enhanced nursing education and practices in Qatar in innumerable ways.Fostering strong partnerships with prestigious nursing associations has enriched the UCQ's services and educational offerings.The gold standard Canadian curriculum and programme encourage students to become theoretical, conceptual, critical, and clinical thinkers.Established in 2007, the University of Calgary in Qatar is the only Canadian university in Qatar and the country's exclusive provider of bachelor and master degrees in nursing.