Bridging the gap between evidence-based guidelines and clinical practice excellence: The role of mentorship

Despite the established need for evidence-based practice (EBP), its implementation in nursing remains inconsistent due to organizational, presentation, and individual barriers. Mentorship is frequently cited as a solution, yet its specific mechanisms for bridging evidence to practice are underexplored. This study aimed to examine how mentorship functions as a strategy to support EBP implementation. First, we discuss how mentorship addresses nurse-related barriers by providing just-in-time coaching and role modeling, enabling mentors to build mentees’ critical appraisal skills and clinical confidence. Second, we examine how mentorship mitigates presentation-related barriers by enabling mentors to act as knowledge brokers, translating complex evidence into accessible, context-specific guidance for the bedside. Third, we outline how mentorship addresses organizational or setting-related barriers by embedding EBP into formalized structures, including defined mentor roles, protected time, and evaluation metrics. To operationalize these mechanisms, we propose an implementation mapping framework that identifies key actors, targeted actions, and measurable outcomes while addressing structural challenges such as limited protected time. We conclude that formalized mentorship is essential for transforming theoretical evidence into sustainable bedside practice and fostering a culture of excellence that directly improves patient outcomes.