National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
With the increasing amount of information available online, this UK site provides a portal to quality resources for evidence-based practice to improve health and social care. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on treatments and care for people using the National Health Service in England. Their guidance is intended for healthcare professionals, patients and their carers to help them make informed decisions about treatment and healthcare. NICE provides this guidance across three main areas:
- Producing evidence-based guidance and advice as interactive flow charts.
- Developing quality standards and performance metrics.
- Providing evidence services across the spectrum of health and social care.
While it is important to remember that guidelines, procedures and appraisals developed within one context do not necessarily translate to Aotearoa, there is significant merit in considering the work that others have done. [Site accessed 5 August 2017 and last updated 4 August 2017].
Online Journal of Issues in Nursing
Keeping yourself informed of global nursing issues is made easier by accessing this American-based online journal published three times per year. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (OJIN) is a free, peer-reviewed, international, full-text, online publication that addresses pertinent topics affecting nursing practice, research, education and the wider healthcare sector. Both Medline and CINAHL index the journal. The latest topic, ‘Healthcare Reform: Nurses Impact Policy’ (available from 30 September), will be of great interest to many nurses. Past topics include issues such as global health concerns, barriers to the RN scope and the patient experience. [Site accessed 6 August 2017 and last updated May 2017].
Author: Dr Kathy Holloway is director of Victoria University’s Graduate School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health.
