Competence one: Identifying why information is needed
This is competence one in the RCN's Finding, using and managing information: nursing, midwifery health and social care information literacy competences (PDF 1.44MB) [see how to access PDF files].
This page guides you to learning resources to enable you to develop your skills related to this competence.
Centre for Evidence Based Medicine: Asking focused questions
This web page introduces the PICO mnemonic (patient, intervention, comparison, outcome) for defining clinical questions.
HealthLinks University of Washington: Construct well-built clinical questions using PICO
Another guide to defining clinical questions using PICO.
NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement: Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA)
An introduction to a quality improvement tool which you can use to test an idea by temporarily trialling a change and assessing its impact.
RCN Learning Zone: How trustworthy is your information?
This learning resource has been developed for nurses, midwives, students, and support workers in health and social care who may be routinely researching topics in support of their day-to-day work or studies. It guides you through some of the issues and activities involved in finding, using and managing information so that you can develop your skills in accessing the right information at the right time, applying and communicating it appropriately.
University of Southern California (USC) National Center for Dental Hygiene Research: PICO worksheet and search strategy (PDF 18.3KB) [see how to access PDF files].
A worksheet to help you define your clinical question using the PICO mnemonic. This worksheet was developed by Syrene A. Miller.