Beyond the textbook: journals as primary readings for a nursing management course

To emphasize an up-to-the-minute management focus, highlight current issues facing nurse managers, and expose students to the value of reading professional nursing journals, the required readings for a baccalaureate nursing management class were changed from the traditional textbook to a package of 12 concurrent issues of a current nursing management journal. The goals of the course, the advantages and disadvantages of the change to journals, and recommendations regarding the exclusive use of a specific journal are described.