Information and credits

Who is this learning for?

This learning has been primarily developed for students, nurses, midwives and health care support workers who may be routinely researching topics in support of their day-to-day work, or who are currently in education. Its aim is to encourage learners to think about why trustworthy information is essential to their practice, and what they can do to get the right information at the right time. It also aims to show learners how they can use information legally, inclusively and ethically.

Registered nurses and senior midwives, nurse educators and information managers may also wish to use this material to assisst the individual career development of colleagues for whom they have responsibilty. In addition, the competences can be used to support team learning and development in formal settings.

Learning outcomes

After completing all the sections in this learning area, the learner should be able to:

Define the term 'information literacy'.
Explain why trustworthy information is important for nursing practice.
Identify the knowledge and skills within the RCN information literacy competences that they can already apply.
Identify areas for their own further learning and development in relation to information literacy.
Identify a range of resources for further learning in relation to information literacy.

Principles of Nursing Practice

The eight Principles of Nursing Practice can be applied to this learning resource however, the principles that feature most predominantly are:

Prinicple F - having up-to-date knowledge and skills.
Principle C - being vigilant about and managing risk.

These principles provide a useful framework for writing a reflective record of your learning. You may also think of ways you can draw on the remaining principles based on your own clinical experience and observations.

Relevant KSF dimensions

Core dimension 1 - Communication Skills
Core dimension 2 - Personal and People Development
Core dimension 3 - Health Safety and Security
Core dimension 4 - Service Development
Core dimension 5 - Quality
Core dimension 6 - Equality, Diversity and Rights
G1 - Learning and Development
IK1 - Information Processing
IK2 - Information Collection and Analysis
IK3 - Knowledge and Information resources

Development Team

This learning area was developed by Marisa McGreevy

The interactions and animations were created by John Heseltine BA(Hons)

Reviewers

Thanks to the following people for their review of the materials in this learning area:

Judy Atkinson - RCN Library and Information Services Manager, BA(Hons) CTD MA MCLIP
Adele Bird - RCN Membership Development Facilitator
Rosie Brown RN MMid FdA (Bus) PGC (D&OE)
Steve Dunne-Howells - Senior Clinical Nurse Assistant
Sue Harkness - Health Care Assistant
Caroline Rapu PGDip, MBA - Project Manager, RCN NICE portfolio
Alison Wallis - RCN eHealth Adviser
Chris Watts, RCN Project manager - Evidence into Practice, BA MA
Stuart Young - Student member of RCN Council
Vivienne Evans, Communication Officer, Royal College of Nursing