Key competences for district nurses include the prevention of illness and the promotion of health, based on national guidelines. This requires knowledge on evidence-based care and the implementation process. The aim of the study was to describe how students, training to become district nurses, identified areas in need for improvement relevant to the upcoming specialty and how such improvements were to be implemented through a written action plan. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of the written action plans. The results showed that students used different theories and models for the implementation of new knowledge related to change management. Evaluation and analysis of the importance of leadership emerged as both constraining and promoting factors, affecting the implementation and use of evidence-based care. In conclusion, the study showed that district nurses have an insight into what support and resources are needed to successfully implement change within their clinical practice.
Keywords: District nurse, evidence-based care, leadership.