Nursing Education and Library Partnership

Nursing Education and Library Partnership What Are Library Partnerships?

Library partnerships in nursing education refer to close working relationships, collaborative teaching and research efforts, and consultations between nursing students, educators, and library professionals. These partnerships enable nurses at all levels (practitioners, educators, and students) to enhance patient care by finding and incorporating evidence-based information into their practice (Arndt, 2009). Librarians and nursing educators collaborate to help students navigate and evaluate information effectively, combining librarians’ expertise in information management with educators’ pedagogical knowledge and subject area expertise (Dewey, 2001).

Impact of Library Partnerships on Nursing Education

Library partnerships in nursing education provide a critical link between those involved in nursing education and the diverse resources that libraries offer. A library encompasses both a collection of materials (electronic, print, photographs, media, etc.) and the facility that houses them. Libraries serve various entities, such as municipalities, educational institutions, hospitals, corporations, or private citizens, and receive funding from public or private sources, or a combination of both.

Library employees have different specializations, with professionals typically holding master’s degrees in library or information sciences. Paraprofessionals often receive specialized training to assist in library services or support professionals. These employees perform various roles, including research, reference, and information services; material preparation and circulation; building function and safety; material categorization or cataloging; and technology management. Librarians working in healthcare-focused libraries, or as subject specialists in other types of libraries, often have professional or educational backgrounds in healthcare.

Library partnerships in nursing education also involve professional development for nursing educators and students, such as workshops on information literacy or specialized training in navigating healthcare databases. These partnerships facilitate better access to up-to-date, evidence-based resources that are essential for both clinical practice and nursing research.

Outcomes of Library Partnerships on Nursing Education

Educators of pre- and post-licensure practicing nurses can form partnerships with libraries by accepting offers of service from library employees or actively seeking out assistance and collaboration. Nurse educators who work with post-licensure colleagues in hospitals and other healthcare centers can engage with:

Health System Libraries: Libraries or information management resources serving a specific hospital or healthcare system.
State-Specific Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Libraries: Libraries focused on meeting the information needs of practicing healthcare professionals. Contact information for AHECs is available through the National AHEC Organization Directory. While not all AHECs offer library support, many provide electronic resources, physical collections, and other support services.
Public Libraries: Many larger public libraries employ specialists in health information. General reference librarians can also help with finding healthcare resources, conducting searches, and providing training opportunities.
Academic Libraries: Libraries affiliated with community colleges or four-year institutions. Access to resources and services may be restricted to institutional affiliates, depending on agreements with publishers and resource providers.

How Nurse Educators and Librarians May Partner

Enhancing Educational Opportunities: Nurse educators can incorporate librarians’ expertise in finding and evaluating information into research methods and evidence-based practice courses, or any coursework that requires students to locate and use information. Librarians can contribute through instructional visits, creating specific search guides, or co-teaching classes.
Supporting Research Efforts: Librarians, especially those specializing in research, reference, or healthcare subjects, can assist nursing educators and students in conducting advanced literature searches, identifying survey tools, selecting analysis procedures, and performing other research-related tasks.
Pooling Resources: Nursing educators and librarians can combine their resources, such as human expertise, monetary funds, and physical spaces, to improve library services and collections tailored to nursing students and other users. Professional gatherings, continuing education sessions, and displays hosted by nursing educators can enhance library spaces, while librarians can provide sessions on finding and evaluating information for healthcare consumers.

Effectiveness of Library Partnerships in Nursing Education

The primary benefits of collaboration between nursing education and libraries include strengthening information literacy skills among current and future nurses (Miller, Jones, Graves, & Sievert, 2010) and enhancing patient care by promoting effective evidence-based nursing practice (Winsett & Moutscous, 2012). Librarians are particularly skilled at navigating large volumes of primary and secondary research across different formats and disciplines, helping identify the most relevant evidence for practice.

Nurse educators should collaborate with librarians to gather authoritative, current literature on evidence-based teaching methods (Cannon & Boswell, 2012, p. 20), thus increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of their teaching. Similarly, they should encourage students to use timely, accurate evidence-based practice literature to improve patient care (Winters & Echeverri, 2012).

Modeling such partnerships at the educator level sets a valuable precedent for student nurses when they begin their professional careers. These students can draw upon the knowledge management expertise of librarians working in clinical settings and maintain lifelong professional learning (Dee & Reynolds, 2013). Despite the widespread availability of online resources, librarians provide access to other materials and information that they are uniquely qualified to navigate and evaluate.

Enhancing the Role of Library Partnerships

Library partnerships in nursing education have the potential to transform both teaching and practice by:

Integrating Evidence-Based Practice: Through collaboration with librarians, nursing educators can integrate evidence-based practice into curricula, ensuring that students develop strong skills in critical thinking, information literacy, and research.
Improving Research Quality: Partnerships with librarians enhance the quality of research conducted by nursing students and faculty, as librarians provide expert guidance on literature searches, data management, and the ethical use of information.
Fostering Lifelong Learning: Librarians play a crucial role in fostering lifelong learning among nursing students and practitioners by teaching them how to access, evaluate, and use information effectively throughout their careers.
Enhancing Curriculum Development: By collaborating with librarians, nurse educators can develop curricula that are rich in information literacy and research skills, preparing students to navigate the complex landscape of modern healthcare.

Future Directions for Library Partnerships

To maximize the effectiveness of library partnerships in nursing education, several strategies should be pursued:

Developing Comprehensive Information Literacy Programs: Nursing programs should incorporate comprehensive information literacy training into their curricula, using librarians as key partners. This training should cover a range of skills, from basic research techniques to advanced evidence synthesis and critical appraisal.
Creating Collaborative Learning Opportunities: Libraries and nursing schools should create collaborative learning opportunities, such as workshops, seminars, and co-teaching initiatives, to enhance both nursing students’ and educators’ skills in information management.
Expanding Access to Resources: Nursing programs should work with library partners to expand access to high-quality resources, including databases, journals, and books, ensuring that both students and faculty have the tools they need for effective learning and research.
Implementing Evaluation Measures: To assess the impact of library partnerships on nursing education, institutions should implement regular evaluation measures. These could include surveys, feedback sessions, and performance assessments to determine the effectiveness of information literacy programs and research support services.
Promoting Interprofessional Collaboration: Libraries should be promoted as hubs for interprofessional collaboration, where nursing students and professionals can engage with peers from other disciplines to share knowledge, resources, and best practices.

Conclusion

Library partnerships are integral to the advancement of nursing education. By collaborating with librarians, nursing educators can enhance information literacy, support evidence-based practice, and foster a culture of lifelong learning among students and practitioners. These partnerships not only improve educational outcomes but also have a significant impact on patient care quality. As the landscape of nursing education continues to evolve, leveraging the expertise and resources of libraries will be essential for preparing the next generation of nurses to meet the demands of a complex and ever-changing healthcare environment.