Towards a strategy for teaching information skills to student nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Information Literacy
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Growing recognition of the need for scientific knowledge in nursing practice.
• Emphasis on developing lifelong learning and critical evaluation skills in nursing students.
• Re-evaluation of teaching and learning approaches in nursing education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive information skills package for student nurses.
• To support students in accessing, using, and evaluating scientific knowledge.
• To facilitate the integration of evidence-based practice in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Development of a tailored information skills package.
• Implementation within a specific nursing course (ENB Diploma in Nursing Science/Registered General Nurse Course).
• Exploration of the package's rationale, structure, implementation, and evaluation.

Main Results:

• The package was designed for Newcastle Polytechnic Library but adaptable to other settings.
• Focus on equipping student nurses with essential information handling skills.
• The study explored the package's effectiveness and impact on student learning.

Conclusions:

• Information skills training is crucial for evidence-based nursing.
• The developed package provides a framework for enhancing nursing students' research capabilities.
• Lifelong learning and critical appraisal skills are essential for modern nursing practice.