Ryde Nursing Practice Network

POSTER

Kenneth Joseph, Verena Hunt, and Valerie Elsmore
Northern Sydney Central Coast Health

Aim
To provide Ryde Hospital Nursing staff with a Web 2.0 site to disseminate information from Ryde Hospital Nurse Educators and Ryde Library Staff to be linked through the NSCCAHS Internet site for interactive information access.

Information links to include:

• Nursing and Multidisciplinary Clinical Policy and Procedures: New and Revised – eg Transfusion Policy
• OH&S issues for nursing staff
• Changes to NSCCHS Forms - eg Patient consent forms and Patient Care Plans
• Minutes of relevant meetings – eg Nursing Practice Committee
• Orientation and Mandatory Training calendars with linked interactive booking spreadsheet for use by ward NUM
• Staff Development Calendar linked to Application Form
• Journal Club articles pertaining to Evidence Based Practice - Librarian and Nurse Educators (to include Literature Search Strategies and Relevance Evaluation Guide
• Current Nursing Projects – eg Trial of new Baxter infusion pump, PUPP Survey, NM
• Link to Library site for access to CIAP databases, Library catalogue, Literature Search and interlibrary loan forms

Objectives
Evidence from the medical literature (1) suggests that as nursing staff are time-poor it would benefit the target group’s information seeking behaviour to have a dedicated site which address all the above listed topics as identified by the site Nurse Educators and Ryde Hospital
Librarians. This comprehensive access point will improve information literacy leading to evidence based clinical practice and lifelong learning skills. Reduce the need for paper-based information updates and guidelines.

The aim is to facilitate speedy access from a single, interactive, easily accessed source within the wider comprehensive Area Health site.

Proposed Format
It is envisaged that a Wiki be developed by Library Staff in collaboration with Ryde Nurse Educators and IM&T staff to include the above identified topic areas under relevant titles. The site, to be named ‘Ryde Nursing Practice Network’, to be introduced by Ryde Nurse Educator via Groupwise dissemination with appropriate explanation and link.

Projected Outcomes
Ryde Nursing Staff will feel confident in their ability to access relevant information quickly and easily on a daily basis. Nursing staff will be able to remain up-to-date with Evidence Based Practices pertaining to issues related to their professional day-to-day patient care. Nursing staff will have access to Professional Development courses and Training timetables. Information regarding updates to Policy and Procedures will be easily accessed in a one-stop-shop format. Nursing staff will be able to respond interactively and immediately with Nurse Educators regarding issues of professional concern.

Nursing staff will be able to search databases linked to CINAHL, Medline. MIMS and Aust. Injectable Drugs Handbook. Library resources including the library catalogue for Books and Journals can be quickly consulted and location and availability ascertained. Literature Search formats and Interlibrary Loan forms can be filled in and e-mailed or faxed to Library staff for processing thereby eliminating the need for lengthy consultation or the face-to-face ‘information need’ interview.

Potential Obstacles and Challenges
Security issues, access would require Hospital ID Login and password; adequate time allocation to staff so as not to unrealistically increase workload; dedicated IT person for maintenance assistance for site.

Conclusion
After reaching agreement to the proposed initiative, including content and style sheet, by identified key information stakeholders, a realistic time-line needs to be drawn and a launch
date set.

References
1.Bertulis, R & Lord, J. Where there’s a way…there’s a will! The Royal College of Nursing’s needs survey of nurses and health professionals. Paper presented at: 3rd International Evidence Based Librarianship Conference; October 16-19, 2005; Brisbane, Australia

2. Clark, C. Exploring evidence-based information literacy. Paper presented at: 3rd International Evidence Based Librarianship Conference; October 16-19, 2005; Brisbane, Australia

3. Koufogiannakis, D. Effective methods for teaching information literacy skills to undergraduate students: what does the library research literature reveal? Paper presented at: 3rd International Evidence Based Librarianship Conference; October 16-19, 2005; Brisbane, Australia

4. Giustini, D; How Web 2.0 is changing medicine BMJ 333:1283-1284, 2006.