Journal clubs: a two-site case study of nurses' continuing professional development

The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of intensive care unit nurses in two nursing journal clubs.

Few nurses feel comfortable using evidence to guide their practice. Communities of nurses are beginning to be understood as essential for the production and transfer of knowledge. Journal clubs are a meeting among colleagues to discuss professional literature. However, there is little nursing journal club research.

Over six months, 70 healthcare professionals (including 64 nurses) participated in monthly journal club meetings in two ICUs of one Ontario hospital.

A qualitative two-site case study methodology with six data collection methods was employed including individual interviews, focus groups, surveys, document analysis, and field notes.

Journal clubs provided nurses with incentive and confidence to read research articles, created a community of practice, provided a structure to reflect-on-practice, and led to reported changes in clinical practice. However, any gains in competence of nurses with research critical appraisal skills were probably modest.

Journal clubs can foster modest knowledge translation and evidence-based practice at a grass roots level. However, journal clubs may have a greater impact when implemented alongside other knowledge translation strategies such as working with graduate prepared nurses.