Module 4 Teaching in Nursing

I have found that nursing is a highly integrated 'teaching' profession. The emphasis to 'teach' the patient about their health, teach the public about communicable diseases, teach students about normal maturation and teach the novice nurse as a role model have been closely woven in our profession. I recently heard a highly respected cardiologist at a conference make the profound statement, " we did a study and concluded that congested heart failure patients do better when taught about their disease". Okay, I wanted to get into a debate but held my tongue and rolled my eyes.

I cannot envision a role in nursing that does not involve teaching. I am not sure all nurses are teachers but I know that my baccalaureate coursework had us on 'index cards' provide patient education on everything we did that would involve direct contact with the patient. I know that patients appreciate this aspect of our profession. A frequent comment by patients is that "you take the time to explain what it is and what you want to do".

We have at our disposable so many technologies to expand our abilities to be effective teachers. I have added a link that may be interesting for those who use PDA's I phones or other sources of mobile devices. Enjoy.
Mobile device link

Module 3- Information Retrieval or Becoming a Pubster

Pubmed is a fascinating electronic index. If you have a question related to caring for patients it allows you to search and find an article that may give you the answers. For those who have had the pleasure of doing research through the iconic library books, copying at the cost of hundreds of dollars, writing on index cards... this is nothing short of miraculous. There is some tediousness to the process of learning the method of searching. I highly suggest starting at the information videos that the library offers and then just practice.

The National Guideline Clearinghouse was a site that I have rarely used to search for an answer to a clinical question. I have been at the site doing specific research on my Capstone but it was to download a published guideline that I had knowledge of. Searching in the compare mode was excellent. I gained as much from the headings that the comparison guidelines use to present their information as the actual information. This is a very strong evidence-based site that is easily accessed and has clear instructions on finding information. At this time in the evolution of EBM there is a paucity of guidelines but I am sure that over the next decade this site will provide guidance for clinicians who are looking at effective, quality care guidelines.

Google is the People's choice awards. Fast, efficient source for data...but data is information not knowledge. There is a real concern about the misinformation and propaganda that can be found on this site. Given that information, a prudent researcher/clinician looking for specific information will need to make sure and check the sources of the data and determine its evidence level as it is left for the reader to determine.

So PUBMED on into the wee hours of the night. You might still be thirsty  but you will be well on your way to more articles than you will know what to do with.