Abstract
IntroductionThe increasing popularity of distance education has led many advanced practice nursing (APN) programs to shift to either online or hybrid models. To meet the needs of these students, some nursing librarians are using technology for virtual research and instruction. This study was designed to assess the extent to which librarians in North America are providing virtual research and instruction services for APN students.MethodsAn institutional review board–approved, ten-question survey was developed to determine how librarians are providing services for APN students. It was announced in October 2017 through several health sciences librarian email discussion lists. The survey ran for four weeks. Data were analyzed using Qualtrics and Excel.ResultsEighty complete responses were received. The majority of respondents (66%) indicated that their universities’ APN programs were conducted in a hybrid format. Sixty-seven percent also indicated that they provide library instruction in person. Most librarians indicated that they have provided research assistance through some virtual method (phone or email, at 90% and 97%, respectively), and some have used online chat (42%) and video chat (35%). A strong majority of librarians (96%) indicated that they felt comfortable using technology to provide research assistance and instruction.ConclusionOpportunities exist to leverage technology to provide virtual research assistance and instruction. Greater promotion of these alternative methods can supplement traditional in-person services to provide greater flexibility for graduate nursing students’ busy schedules. Some outreach may be necessary to highlight the advantages of virtual services, and further research is needed to identify other barriers and potential solutions.
Highlights
The increasing popularity of distance education has led many advanced practice nursing (APN) programs to shift to either online or hybrid models
The role of nurse practitioners (NPs) has become more standardized across provinces, so that the basic functions of independent diagnosis and prescription are in the scope of practice of all Canadian NPs [3]
Of the 105 survey respondents, 90 indicated that their institution had an APN program, allowing them to proceed with the remainder of the survey
Summary
The increasing popularity of distance education has led many advanced practice nursing (APN) programs to shift to either online or hybrid models. This study was designed to assess the extent to which librarians in North America are providing virtual research and instruction services for APN students. As of 2015, twenty-two states, four territories, and the District of Columbia give NPs full practice authority, allowing them to diagnose and treat patients independently of a physician [4]. Regardless of their scope of practice, APNs play vital roles in health care delivery across North America [1, 2]
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