Paper
Saturday, 22 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Workforce Issues with a Global Perspective
Creating a Culture for Evidence-Based Practice: Information Literacy
Patricia L. Richard, PhD, RN1, Robin Fleschler, PhD, RNC, CNS1, Julie M. Trumble, MLIS2, and Claudine Dufrene, RN, C, MSN1. (1) School of Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA, (2) Moody Medical Library, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
Learning Objective #1: apply strategies for creating a culture for evidence based practice in the nursing student, practicing nurse populations.
Learning Objective #2: discuss strategies for and benefits of strengthening information literacy skills of future practicing nurses
Emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP) in the workforce spotlights the need to prepare nursing students to be proficient with the tools and skills necessary for obtaining current evidence for their practice. A culture of EBP is being created at the student level to infuse evidence seeking as standard practice. Competence in using information technology and information-seeking for locating research critical to patient care is a key educational skill. The curriculum requires students to use technology to find pertinent evidence as one of the preparation steps for patient care. Nursing faculty and librarians collaborate to design an effective program to equip students with essential skills.

Early in the program, BSN students are oriented to technology, information resources, and search strategies helpful for locating evidence for patient care. Sessions organized around clinical scenarios introduce students to a variety of tools including print resources, electronic book collections, CINAHL and Medline. In the senior year, students review searching skills and are introduced to other databases including PsycInfo, Sociological Abstracts, and the Cochrane Library. Students conclude the experience by applying skills learned by searching for evidence on a clinical scenario. These activities prepare students for clinical assignments and classroom activities which are threaded throughout the curriculum in each course and clinical experience.

Activities provided in these courses are designed to hone students’ information literacy skills in the quest for knowledge that places evidence as a standard part of their practice. Integrating information literacy into the curriculum helps give students the appropriate skills at the time of need to optimize learning and to illustrate how evidence fits into nursing practice. As these skills become ingrained into students’ routines, a culture of evidence-based practice will be created.

See more of Workforce Issues with a Global Perspective
See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)