Developing Information Competencies for an Evidence-Based Nursing Curriculum: Initial

Opportunities and Challenges

Mary Lou Klem, PhD, MLISHealth Sciences Library System

University of Pittsburgh

Acknowledgments

• HSLS Nursing Instruction Group– Rebecca Abromitis– Andrea Ketchum– Michele Klein-Fedyshin– Ester Saghafi– Charlie Wessel

• School of Nursing– Helen Burns– Elizabeth LaRue– Many others

Research in the Curriculum: The Old Model

• A focus on teaching the design and conduct of research

• Isolated from other classes:– Few attempts to have students use research skills in

other courses or settings– Outweighed by strong clinical focus of many courses

• Library liaison involvement was limited to instruction in basic literature searching skills

Research in the Curriculum: The New Model

• Dean’s charge: introduce evidence-based practice across all academic programs

• Research competencies for each academic year (Burke, et al, 2005)

• A focus on acquiring the skills needed to access, critically appraise and synthesize research literature

Research Competency BSN - Yr 1Demonstrate beginning competence in accessing appropriate and relevant information

“The focus…should be on developing literature searching skills…”

Research Competency BSN - Yr 1Demonstrate beginning competence in accessing appropriate and relevant information

Corresponding Information CompetenciesUnderstand the distinction between popular and scholarly literatureDefine types (primary, secondary) of scientific literatureExplain the peer review processDecipher a citationDemonstrate beginning competence in searching for information

Research Competency BSN - Yr 2Demonstrate beginning competence in accessing research-based evidence relevant to identified clinical problems

Focus on “…refining literature searching and problem identification skills.”

Research Competency BSN - Yr 2Demonstrate beginning competence in accessing research-based evidence relevant to identified clinical problems

Corresponding Information CompetenciesDemonstrate knowledge of the coverage, contents and search tools of major nursing databases: CINAHL vs MEDLINE vs PsycINFO Subject heading versus key word searching Boolean logic Truncation Limits

Selling It

• Presentation at annual retreat for BSN faculty– Informal endorsement of information competencies– “The elephant in the room” gets some attention

• Faculty involvement– Faculty workshop– Librarian development and grading of homework or test

questions– Grading rubrics provided as needed

• Meetings with Associate Dean of Clinical Education– Fit with her goal of revising a required freshman course– Oversight of the curriculum

Progress to Date

• Year 1:– Introduction to Professional Nursing (Spring)

• Lecture 1: What is Nursing (Scholarly) Literature?• Lecture 2: Types of Scholarly Literature• Mid-term: 3-4 questions

– Nursing Informatics (Spring, Summer)• Lecture: Using Controlled Vocabulary• Homework: use the MeSH browser

• Year 2– Foundations of Nursing Practice (Fall)– Introduction to Nursing Research

• Lecture: Introduction to Literature Searching• Foundations homework: structured search assignments (rubric

provided to instructors)

Challenges

• Crowded curriculum

• Time

• Elephant in the room

References

Burke LE, Schlenk EA, Sereika SM, Cohen SM, Happ MB and Dorman JS (2005). Developing research competence to support evidence-based practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 21(6), 358-363.