An introduction to nursing research through an OR nursing journal club

AORN Journal, June, 1999 by Alice T. Speers

Nursing research is useful only to those who read and understand the published reports. Without being introduced to the available research, nurses are unable to evaluate the results and carry out the recommendations. The question lies in how this information can be distributed in a way that will be interesting and challenging to nurses, yet not be intimidating and unyielding. In response to this question, the education specialist at a large OR of a metropolitan teaching hospital established a journal club to distribute nursing research reports.

IMPETUS FOR THE CLUB

Perioperative nurses, like all nurses, need to be introduced to pertinent research to enrich their nursing practice. Often, research reports are difficult to understand--it is a challenge for nurses to carry out some recommendations because of their lack of understanding of the meaning of the results.

Before nurses can implement research findings and recommendations, they must have a working knowledge of the research process and be able to look critically at the credibility of the research project and results. It was with this in mind that the idea of a journal club began. The OR education council wanted to introduce OR nurses to current nursing research related to perioperative nursing and care of perioperative patients and in turn enrich our practice based on valid research results. We also wanted to help nursing staff members develop their critical thinking skills.

EXAMINING THE LITERATURE

A review of the literature produced only a few references and guidelines for developing a nursing journal club.(1) The information and ideas gleaned from these articles suggested that a journal club could be a viable means of continuing education for practicing nurses. It was obvious from the literature that nurses' critical thinking skills could be nurtured by critically reviewing nursing research and developing strategies to implement the results in their own setting.

One researcher pointed out that a nursing journal club has the potential for the positive outcomes of enhanced leadership, confidence, communication skills, and clinical skills for participating nurses.(2) The researcher also asserted that nurses could gain peer support, recognition, and identity between the journal club group members and staff members. From the literature review, we concluded that a journal club could be a powerful educational tool in our institution.

DEVELOPING THE JOURNAL CLUB

After we decided to implement an OR nursing journal club and had reviewed the literature, we began developing our purpose statement and guidelines for critical evaluation of research reports. A draft of the purpose of the club was reviewed and revised by participants during the first journal club meeting (Table 1). We developed guidelines for research review based on 10 questions suggested by two nurse researchers (Table 2).(3) The questions focus on the research report and its applicability to practice.

Table 1

PURPOSE OF THE NURSING JOURNAL CLUB

1. To increase staff members' knowledge of the research process.

2. To enhance staff members' ability to evaluate research studies critically

3. To develop an awareness of current nursing literature and nursing research.

4. To evaluate our current nursing practice based on current nursing research study results.

5. To review and discuss current topics published in current publications

6. To obtain continuing education credits.

7. To share information with OR nursing staff members overall.

8. To talk with peers on a professional basis.

Table 2

TEN QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH REPORT REVIEW(1)

1. What is the research question?

2. What is the basis for this research question?

3. Why is this research question important?.

4. How was the research study studied?

5. Does the study method make sense?

6. Were the correct subjects selected for the study?.

7. Was the research question answered?

8. Does the answer make sense?

9. What is next?

10. So what?.

NOTE

(1.) S C Beyea, L H Nicoll, "Ten questions that will get you through any research report," AORN Journal 65 (May 1997) 978-979.

Membership in the journal club is open to all OR staff members and includes RNs and surgical technologists. Attendance at the meetings is not mandatory or exclusive. If a member is unable to attend any particular session, that person always is welcome at another time. Between two and 15 participants have attended each session, depending on the surgical schedule and staff member availability.

Meetings are held the first Monday of the month for one hour in the centrally located OR conference room. The group selects an article during the previous month's meeting. Articles are chosen from current nursing research publications and must deal with perioperative nursing practice. The articles must be no more than five years old. An RN volunteers to review the article and lead the discussion for the next month. The article is posted on a special "OR Nursing Journal Club" bulletin board for one month before the date of discussion so that interested staff members can read the article before the session. The review of the article also is posted for staff members' information. Journal club meetings are informal gatherings around a table, which encourages and promotes review and discussion.