Preferred information sources for clinical practice by nurses

The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge sources that nurses working in inpatient treatment institutions use in their practices. It is inevitable for nurses to base their nursing practices on evidence from knowledge sources in order to improve the quality of nursing care. In this context, it is necessary for the nurses to gain skill in using knowledge sources effectively during their basic education and to further develop this skill after graduation in order provide qualified and safe care. This study utilised descriptive design. The study sample consisted of 296 nurses who work in general training and research hospitals that serve in all regions of Istanbul and are subsidiary to the Ministry of Health. A demographic questionnaire and a Knowledge Source Scale for nurses were used for data collection. Data were analysed with Cruncher Statistical System (NCSS) 2007&2008 Statistical Software (Utah USA) package programme. The following figures are from the demographic questionnaires: mean age of study participants, 31.69±6.03 years; females, 91.6%; married, 65.2%; bachelor’s degree, 39.9%; worked in surgical units, 56.8%; and worked as clinic nurse, 74.7%. One of the main knowledge sources used in nursing practice is the knowledge acquired in nursing school. Basic nursing education plays an ongoing role as a source of practice knowledge. These knowledge sources should be renewed and updated with continuing education courses or short-term training programs. This research can be used to guide development of continuing education programs and underscores the sources of knowledge about general nursing practice. This study can serve as an impetus to further study the use and highlight education needs of practicing nurses.