Internet technology: resources for perinatal nurses

The Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) are being discussed in many forums. This huge body of information is becoming a widely used research tool. Within the last few years, the WWW has grown enormously. In 1993, there were approximately 130 WWW sites. By 1997, experts estimated there were over a million sites on the web, many of them useful for nurses and accessible from the nearest computer. For perinatal nurses in practice, research, or education the need for information is great. Nurses need current data for clinical decision making, policy writing, patient education, continuing education, and research. Understanding how to use the Internet, being aware of its advantages and disadvantages, and knowing how to critically examine what is available will assist perinatal nurses in making use of this newest form of information technology.