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Nurse practitioners' information needs and information seeking: implications for practice and education
1School of Nursing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
Holistic Nursing Practice
|February 8, 2000
Summary
Nurse practitioners (NPs) frequently need information on drug therapy and diagnosis. They primarily rely on physicians and reference materials for clinical decision-making and consult colleagues on complex patient care issues.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Practice
- Information Science
Background:
- Limited research exists on the information needs and seeking behaviors of nurse practitioners (NPs).
- Understanding these needs is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery and professional development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the information needs of North Carolina-approved nurse practitioners.
- To investigate the information-seeking behaviors and resources utilized by NPs.
Main Methods:
- An exploratory study was conducted with a sample of nurse practitioners.
- Literature review identified a lack of prior research on this specific topic.
Main Results:
- Nurse practitioners most frequently require information regarding drug therapy, diagnosis, and other therapeutic interventions.
- Physicians, drug reference manuals, and textbooks are the most commonly used information resources.
- NPs most often consult physicians for diagnostic and therapeutic guidance and other NPs for psychosocial concerns.
Conclusions:
- Nurse practitioners have distinct information needs centered on clinical practice areas.
- Physicians and readily accessible reference materials are key resources for NPs.
- Collaborative consultation with peers and physicians is integral to NP practice.