Delivering Nursing Care: Current Factors to Consider
Response by Dianna Doss to “The Value of Library and Information Services in Nursing and Patient Care” by Joanne Guard Marshall, Jennifer Craft Morgan, Mary Lou Klem, Cheryl A. Thompson, and Amber L. Wells (August 18, 2014)
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to the article “The Value of Library and Information Services in Nursing and Patient Care” by Joanne Guard Marshall, Jennifer Craft Morgan, Mary Lou Klem, Cheryl A. Thompson, and Amber L. Wells in the OJIN topic, Delivering Nursing Care: Current Factors to Consider. I appreciate the emphasis placed on continuing to use hospital libraries and library resources as a tool for performing evidence based research despite limitations in the working field. The article identifies multiple ways in which a practicing nurse can utilize research tools at the patient bedside to provide the best patient care possible. Due to the lack of compliance in using evidence based practice, more facilities could benefit from promoting the use of evidence based practice by their staff members. I will share one simple strategy that is easy to initiate.
A children’s hospital in Aurora, Colorado has facilitated a strategic approach to promote the use of evidence based practice by its staff nurses by adopting the Happiness Matters Initiative (Wilkins, Weave, Preston, & Farrington, 2014). The intent of the initiative was to improve patient care, increase morale, reduce job stress, encourage teamwork, and regain the enjoyment of the job. Staff who work in the cardiac specialty area formed a journal club allowing nurses to read, share, and discuss journals relating to their practice using resources available at the facility. In the short amount of time that the club has been established in the hospital, club attendance has increased, and two journals have prompted evidence based research by the members, resulting in nursing practice change within the facility. This is merely one example of many in which evidence based research can be conducted using hospital resources to facilitate evidence based practice.
After reading “The Value of Library and Information Services in Nursing and Patient Care” I have learned how to efficiently search for medical research, and how to become an active member in contributing to change and reform in nursing practice to improve patient outcomes. Creating a journal club is just one method of incorporating evidence based practice in the workplace. I plan to use this newfound information and strategy to promote evidence based practice and research within my future workplace.
Sincerely,
Dianna K. Doss, RN
Reference
Wilkins, M., Weave, A., Preston, C., & Farrington, B. (2014). EB83 Happiness matters initiative, An inspiration from the National Teaching Institute 2013. Critical Care Nurse, 34(2), 18.
