Implementing a Virtual Journal Club in a Clinical Nursing Setting

Abstract

Healthcare practice is increasingly focused on delivering care that is based on published research evidence. Staff development nurses can institute journal clubs to teach nursing staff critical appraisal of research articles and ways to translate research findings into clinical practice. Unfortunately, attending meetings regularly is often a challenge for nurses, and relatively few have the knowledge and expertise to adequately critique research articles. One way to bridge the limitations of accessibility and limited research expertise of journal club members is to establish a virtual journal club. This article describes one hospital's experience with developing a virtual journal club.

Nursing Journal Clubs and the Clinical Nurse Specialist

“…When developing a successful journal club, 20,21 there are many important premeeting decisions to consider. Clinical nurse specialist leaders should have clear journal club aims and objectives and short-and long-term goals, provide in-vitations with the selected journal article, and determine the number of members and meeting times and places.…”

“…10Y13,21Y24 Dissemination of articles prior to the meeting allows participants to read the articles in advance and prepare for the discussion. 21 One-hour meetings, held monthly within normal working hours, 24 may facilitate nurse interest, maintain cost-effectiveness, add significance, and facilitate translation or integration of journal club teaching into improved care delivery. Most had monthly meetings, 14,18,24 for 50 minutes to 2 hours, 18,22,24 and attendance was voluntary, 10,14 consistent with adult learning theory and self-directed learning, 20 but the ideal number of members per meeting was not reported.…”

“…14,19,24 Of 12 studies included in a contemporary review of journal clubs, 20 consistent patterns emerged. 14,18,21,22,24 A repeated meeting might be necessary to repeat journal club meeting content at another time of day to meet needs of alternate shift workers. Convenient meeting times, based on member schedules, were also important.…”

“…Convenient meeting times, based on member schedules, were also important. 21 Some examples of incentives were article-specific, pretest and posttest instruments that objectively demonstrated learning achievement, 22,23 continuing education units, career/clinical ladder points, and door prizes (ie, book, gift certificate, free lunch). 14,18,21,22,24 A repeated meeting might be necessary to repeat journal club meeting content at another time of day to meet needs of alternate shift workers.…”

Empowering change with traditional or virtual journal clubs

“…2,7 These clubs provide an avenue for active learning experiences in which nurses interact, discuss, and evaluate current practices and new innovative EBP. 8 Promoting evaluation of research and awareness of practice through journal clubs can lead to nurse-driven practice assessments and changes that may contribute to improved patient outcomes. 8 Promoting evaluation of research and awareness of practice through journal clubs can lead to nurse-driven practice assessments and changes that may contribute to improved patient outcomes.…”