"Raising Research Awareness through Simple, Fun Activities"

This post was taken from the new hospital librarian's wiki sponsored by the Hospital Libraries Section of the Medical Library Association. It has some very creative promotional ideas that Nursing Research Councils could use or adapt to promote interest in nursing research.


"Following you will find the abstract for the poster presentation we submitted. It is a list of activities we have done with the Research Council at Rex Healthcare. You might find it helpful.

Title: Raising Research Awareness through Simple Fun Activities

Authors: Deniz Ender, Librarian, MLS, AHIP: Sally Williford, RN, MSN, CCRN, Nurse Educator and Joan Cederna-Moss, RN, MSN, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Rex Healthcare, Raleigh, NC.

Objective: The objective of this activity is to increase staff participation in research projects by capturing interest in research and demonstrating the research process through easy, fun, interactive research activities. To foster interest in research, the hospital librarian worked with nurse educators to design several easy-to-implement, interactive activities. A byproduct of these events was the development of an excellent working relationship between the medical library and clinical staff in the hospital.

Methods: Activities that appeal to a variety of learning styles and abilities were planned to raise staff research awareness.Nursing Research Surveys –Surveys were done in 2004 and 2006 to gauge staff opinions regarding research. This year our Research Council will share the results and provide feedback about how concerns were addressed.“Taste tests”– Staff were invited to compare food products (cookies, chips, crackers and cereals) to detect the difference between the “name brand” product and the “low fat, low calorie, or store brand product”. Voting was done via colored beans.Logo contest – Staff were encouraged to submit a design for use as the Research Council’s logo. Entry rules specified that the design must “support evidence-based practice” and must meet facility requirements for logo use.Results: Staff responded with interest to “taste tests”, often asking “when will we know the results?” The results were calculated and communicated using research terminology such as “single blinded study” and “hypothesis” to further boost research awareness. After the selection of the logo/icon “winners”, we plan to showcase the winning designs on our house wide computer log-in screens or bulletin boards. Research awareness activities can be done alone or in conjunction with “Research Awareness Month”.

Conclusion: Our staff eagerly participated in these fun events that raised their interest in conducting research projects. As a result, they are more knowledgeable about the research process and more willing to participate in a study. The library’s role as the “supply garrison” for research information was enhanced through participation in these activities. Other librarians wishing to solidify the library’s essential place in the research process could adapt these activities for use in their hospital. "

Dana Rutledge Phd, RN receives ONS "Ellyn Bushkin Friend of the Foundation Award"

Our very own Dana Rutledge, PhD, RN, Nursing Research Facilitator at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, recently received the prestigious "Ellyn Bushkin Friend of the Foundation Award" from the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation. The ONS Foundation reports that the purpose of the award is to recognize individuals who have provided continuous support to the mission of the ONS Foundation. Nominations are not accepted for this award; rather, the ONS Foundation Board selects the recipient. "The nominee must have demonstrated support of the ONS Foundation by making major financial contributions, coordinating significant fund-raising events, or promoting/enhancing the image of the ONS Foundation". The award is named in the memory of Ellyn Bushkin, an oncology nurse and a past president of the ONS Foundation.

Congratulations Dana!! You are so modest that we had to hear of this award second hand. Hope you don't mind our public congratulations!!

Julie's picks from the Nursing Literature Feb 2007

These recent articles in the nursing literature made my list of "picks" as being especially interesting from an EBN point of view. Articles with an ** should be available at Burlew Medical Library, either electronically or in print.

1. Tannery, Nancy Hrinya, Wessel, Charles B, Epstein, Barbara A, Gadd, Cynthia S. Hospital nurses' use of knowledge-based information resources. Nursing Outlook 2007 55:15-19 2007 Jan-Feb **

2. Barron, J, Petrilli F, Strath, L, McCaffrey R. Sucessful interventions for smoking cessation in pregnancy. MCN:The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing 32(1):42-9 2007 Jan-Feb **

3. Hook, ML, Winchel S. Fall-related injuries in acute care: reducing the risk of harm MEDSURG Nursing 2006 Dec 15(6):370-7, 381 **

4. Mathieson, C, Tavianini, HD, Palladino K. Best practices in stroke rapid response: a case study. MEDSURG Nursing 2006 Dec 15(6):364-9 **

5. Gaskamp C, Sutter, R, Meraviglia M. Evidence-based guideline: promoting spirituality in the older adult. Journal of Gerontological Nursing 2006 Nov; 32)11):8-13 **

6. Goldhill DR, Imhoff M, McLean B, Waldmann C. Rotational bed therapy to prevent and treat respiratory complications: a review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Critical Care 2007 Jan 16(1):50-62 **

7. Cason, CL, Tyner, T, Saunders, S, Broome, L. Nurses' implementation of guidelines for ventilator-associated pneumonia from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. American Journal of Critical Care 2007 Jan 16(1):28-38 **

8. Tolentino-Delosreyes AF, Ruppert, SD, Shiao SPK. Evidence-based practice: use of the ventilator bundle to to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. American Journal of Critical Care 2007 Jan 16(1):20-7 **

9. Hermans, MH. Wound wise. Silver-containing dressings and the need for evidence: before choosing a specific dressing, take a look at the literature. American Journal of Nursing 2006 Dec 106(12):60-9 **

10. Low, LK, Miller, J. A clinical evaluation of evidence-based maternity care using the Optimality Index JOGNN 2006 Nov Dec 35(6):786-93 **

11. Murphy PA, Fullerton, JT. Development of the Optimality Index as a new approach to evaluating outcomes of maternity care JOGNN 2006 Nov-Dec 35(6):770-8 **

12. Mercer, RT, Walker, LO. A review of nursing interventions to foster becoming a mother. JOGNN 2006 Sep-Oct 35(5):568-82 **

13. Ahlqvist M, Bogren A, Hagman S, Nazar I, Nilsson K, Nordin K, Valfridsson BS, Soderlund M, Nordstrom G. Handling of peripheral intravenous cannulae: effects of evidence-based clinical guidelines. Journal of Clinical Nursing 2006 Nov 15(11):1354-61 **

14. Kleinpell, RM, Graves BT, Ackerman MH. Incidence, pathogenesis, and management of sepsis: an overview. AACN Advanced Critical Care 2006 Oct-Dec 17(4):385-93 **

15. Harrington L, Hoffman E, Allard PM, Adams BJ, Hamilton P, Wright K, Cargo V. Nursing research dashboard: a tool for managing your nursing research program Nurse Leader 2006 Oct 4(5):54-7

16. Zitella LJ, Friese CR, Hauser J, Gobel BH, Woolery M, O'Leary C, Andrews FA. Putting evidence into practice: prevention of infection. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing 2006 De4c 10(6):739-50, 781-3 **

17. Numata Y, Schulzer M, Van der Wal R, Globerman H, Semenluk P, Balka E, FitzGerald JM. Nurse staffing levels and hospital mortality in critical care settings: literature review and meta-analysis Journal of Advanced Nursing 2006 Aug 55(4):435-48

18. Funfgeld-Connett D. Meta-analysis of presence in nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2006 Sep 55(6):708-14