An Internet primer. Part I

The Internet provides electronic communications and access to information around the globe. In only one decade of public use this format has emerged as the method of rapid access to information, and projections are for continued growth. The WWW consists of over 40,000,000 servers containing billions of pages of information on virtually every conceivable subject. This doesn't include news servers, FTP servers, bulletin boards, and other online information sources. The home healthcare nurse, now and in the future, needs knowledge about and access to this system, to tap into the most current government recommendations about medications and treatment protocols, to access health statistics, consumer information, and additional educational, professional, and client-centered articles and opportunities. We hope this new Home Healthcare Nurse feature, "Staying Connected," will develop into a source of ongoing, up-to-date information to assist you in accessing and utilizing this valuable resource. Next month, we'll provide some specific directions for navigating the information superhighway.