1. Developing Information Competencies for an Evidence-Based Nursing Curriculum: Initial Opportunities and Challenges Mary Lou Klem, PhD, MLIS Health Sciences Library System University of Pittsburgh

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Research Competency BSN - Yr 1 Demonstrate beginning competence in accessing appropriate and relevant information “The focus…should be on developing literature searching skills…”

6. Research Competency BSN - Yr 1 Demonstrate beginning competence in accessing appropriate and relevant information Corresponding Information Competencies Understand the distinction between popular and scholarly literature Define types (primary, secondary) of scientific literature Explain the peer review process Decipher a citation Demonstrate beginning competence in searching for information

7. Research Competency BSN - Yr 2 Demonstrate beginning competence in accessing research-based evidence relevant to identified clinical problems Focus on “…refining literature searching and problem identification skills.”

8. Research Competency BSN - Yr 2 Demonstrate beginning competence in accessing research-based evidence relevant to identified clinical problems Corresponding Information Competencies Demonstrate 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

9. 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

10. 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)

11. Challenges Crowded curriculum Time Elephant in the room

12. 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.