The use of online information resources by nurses.
Based on the results of an informal needs assessment, the Usage of Online Information Resources by Nurses Project was designed to provide clinical nurses with accurate medical information at the point of care by introducing them to existing online library resources through instructional classes. Actual usage of the resources was then monitored for a set period of time.



A two-hour hands-on class was developed for interested nurses. Participants were instructed in the content and use of several different online resources. A special Web page was designed for this project serving as an access point to the resources. Using a password system and WebTrends trade mark software, individual participant's usage of the resources was monitored for a thirty-day period following the class. At the end of the thirty days, usage results were tabulated, and participants were sent general evaluation forms.



Eight participants accessed the project page thirty-nine times in a thirty-day period. The most accessed resource was Primary Care Online (PCO), accessed thirty-three times. PCO was followed by MD Consult (17), Ovid (8), NLM resources (5), and electronic journals (1). The individual with the highest usage accessed the project page thirteen times.



Practicing clinical nurses will use online medical information resources if they are first introduced to them and taught how to access and use them. Health sciences librarians can play an important role in providing instruction to this often overlooked population.
Wozar
Jody A
JA
Health Sciences Library System, Falk Library of the Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. jwozar@pitt.edu
Worona
Paul C
PC
D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003197:Computer Literacy; D003200:Computer User Training; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016239:MEDLINE / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009736:Nursing Process / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009862:Online Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D012107:Research Design