Improving access to information for nursing staff in remote areas: the potential of the Internet and other networked information resources

This paper reports on a research project which explored the potential of the Internet and other networked information resources to improve access to information for trained nurses working in the remote Western Isles of Scotland. The project was carried out by a multidisciplinary team including a community nurse working in the Western Isles, a nurse educator, an information provider and two information science researchers. Funding was provided jointly by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and the ational Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Scotland (NBS). Results show that the Internet does have considerable potential to improve access to information for nurses in remote areas. However, at that time, key improvements to the nursing information on the Internet were required. Results also reveal a low awareness amongst nursing staff of important nursing information resources and a lack of information seeking skills. The paper concludes by saying that although improving access to information is important, what is also important in the first instance is creating an awareness that access to information is both necessary and relevant.