Just in case you were wondering if Nursing Idea’s Nursing Research Challenge is evidence-based or not – it is. Proof is in my second article of the challenge:

The Article: Lehna, C., Berger, J., Truman, A., Goldman, M., & Topp, R. (2010). Virtual journal club connects evidence to practice: An analysis of participant responses. Journal of Nursing Administration, 40(12): 523-528.

The Big Idea: A pediatric institution created a virtual journal club (VJC) via their intranet for nurses to review, critique, and discuss current research articles throughout the year. Articles were posted and nurses commented in blog format. The article studied nursing practice changes as a result of the nurses’ involvement in the VJC.

Survey Says!: Participating nurses in the VJC consistently identified areas of potential nursing practice change and educational opportunities, which were forwarded to the appropriate facility committees and governing bodies. Examples of such changes identified included improved depression screening for children and adolescents, teaching parents how to assist with care and hospital routines, identifying a key person to attend to parents during resuscitation, and increased staff education on managing verbal abuse. Because the VJC was so successful, the hospital system implemented the program beyond the founding institution and throughout the system.

Quotable: “The VJC can be used to educate nurses about current best practices or impending practice change by providing the ‘why’ behind the ‘what.’ The generation of discussion promotes critical thinking, while the blog allows for transfer of knowledge and wisdom from more experienced nurses to their eventual successors.”

“Easy access by VJC participants is critical to the success of the VJC. Information services must provide access to the portal from computers on the nursing units and in computer laboratories for participants. When possible, remote access from home should also be arranged.”

So What?: Virtual journal clubs are just as effective as traditional, face-to-face journal clubs, giving nurses the opportunity to become more comfortable reviewing nursing literature and analyzing current nursing practice in light of the evidence. Journal clubs, and now virtual journal clubs, are absolutely evidence-based and can lead to actual changes in nursing practice, institution policies, and patient care. If your institution does not have one, maybe you should start one – either face-to-face or virtual – or better yet, join us in the Nursing Research Challenge.