REPORT: April 2006

Ask the Experts

Can I be effective in my practice without a computer?

Q.: How do I access evidence for evidence-based practice if I do not have a computer on my nursing unit?

A.: Access to digital knowledge sources such as practice guidelines, standards of care, systematic reviews, and bibliographic literature is possible in some healthcare settings and only a remote possibility in others. For those who do not have direct access to the tools to access knowledge sources at the “point of care,” there are some alternatives.

Many hospitals have affiliations with academic institutions, such as schools and colleges of nursing. These institutions provide a rich resource of digital libraries and can serve as gateways to Medline and CINAHL searches as well as evidence-based practice sites. Find out what relationships your institution has with academic institutions, and take advantage of them. In addition, some professional organizations have created customized Web portals that allow users to go directly to many sources. One such resource developed by the Interagency Council on Information Resources for Nursing (ICIRN) is available through the National League for Nursing at: www.nln.org/nlnjournal/nursingreferences.htm.

If your hospital has a medical library, it may assist you in customizing and performing searches on specific topics. NYSNA also has search services available to members; simply e-mail the librarian at library@nysna.org, or call the association’s toll free number, 800-724-6976.

Finally, nurses using their ingenuity have collaborated when resources are not available on units or, as is often the case, they’re too busy to do searches during work hours. They have delegated a colleague to do on-line searches to be shared by all and kept in a centralized place for all to access and discuss.

In healthcare’s information age, it is imperative to recognize and advance the need for a cultural change within the healthcare environment. Administrators should help educate and support the adoption and use of the technology tools to promote safe practice and advance their roles.