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Improving learning and synthesis of new knowledge is often a challenge for nursing
faculty in the twenty-first century. Faculty are urged to use new technologies and
to embrace methodologies that include more interactions by the student. Todays
students are less adept in written and oral communication and, consequently,
more hesitant to speak out or write independently for fear of ridicule by others.
These same students, by virtue of their adaptation and immersion in technological advances, need support in using these same mechanisms to improve their
communication skills. Interpersonal communication across many levels is very
important in nursing. This article summarizes a study of nursing students at
North Carolina Central University in the spring of 2011 and their use of social
networking to communicate about nursing education and medical errors. This
qualitative pilot study used new social media known as web logs (blogs) to enable
students to become more secure communicating with one another. The tool was a
Google-based blog. The nursing students interaction styles were evaluated based on
topics and inter-connections. Visualizations of the social network communications
as maps are provided with the article to illustrate data analysis results.
As a pilot study the research may be used for system design requirements for
a medical educational environment that promotes sharing information and collecting data related to quality care and learning. Potential social media tools for
future consideration include Facebook, Twitter, blogs, electronic journals, forums
(or chat rooms), and wikis (group-authored encyclopedia/information sites) as
found on the web, on smart phones and in online education tools. This research
project was based on an earlier study of nursing students using blogs and sharing
This pilot research was made possible through a grant from the Office of Academic
Affairs and the Provost at North Carolina Central University, in Spring 2011. The primary
goal of the grant was to provide an opportunity to involve students in research. Student
participation included undergraduate Bilal Aleem (School of Business) and was enhanced
by the subject involvement of 12 undergraduate nursing students. Additional, technical
assistance was available from Jason Prince, Department of Nursing.
Address correspondence to E. Joyce Roland, PhD, MSN, CNE, North Carolina Central
University, 1801 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC 27707, USA. E-mail: jroland@nccu.edu
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medical error information in confidence. The researchers on the 2011 project
have found that analyzing, for example, how students support each other during
school, learn about drug calculations and NCLEX examination preparations, by
means of social networking could lead to ways to reduce errors as students develop
communication habits, share knowledge, and pay more attention to tasks.
Keywords: blogs, informatics, knowledge management, nursing, social network
analysis, reflective learning
Introduction
Blogs (web logs) seem to be growing in popularity and are a
phenomenon of the Internet. Could blogging be an innovative
tool for knowledge management (KM)? This article looks at the
concept of using blogs to store and share knowledge about healthcare and healthcare education. A general research question is
whether information systems (IS) incorporating intranet-based
or restricted blogs might provide an innovative, user-friendly
method for improving medical training and for identifying and
preventing medical errors. The researchers looked at a way to
uncover explicit and tacit knowledge about human-system situated
processes associated with nursing. Quality improvement information needed to be uncovered without threatening healthcare
professionals in terms of ethics, legal problems, or job security.
As a result, use of a confidential blog was established in a protected, anonymous-posting system and was provided as an interactive medium where the student nurses could share information
and develop knowledge securely.
As a form of KM, a blog is a web page with reverse chronological sequences of dated entries, usually with sidebars of profile
information and usually maintained and published with the help
of a popular blog authoring tool (Kumar et al. 2004). A web
log user (a blogger) creates an Internet-based journal and/or
responds (posts) to statements by someone else on the web.
Blogs provide a specific form of personal communication with
the public. On the Internet, they have even become a telecommunications channel for the mass media (newspapers, magazines,
and television). However, blogs are not just a one-way presentation of personal opinions, events, or interests; they can also be an
interactive medium for a community.
Over the last two decades, an explosion in health care information has occurred. Efforts at disseminating this information
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E. J. Roland et al.
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Invitations, planning,
and suggestions for
study, exam
preparation,
learning, and time
management.
Expression of stress
or relief.
Topic
Comments on posting
Analysis
(Continued)
Original posting
160
Topic
TABLE 1 (Continued)
Original posting
Know that sometimes things will seem
impossible and ridiculous, but give it your
all; you were smart enough and persistent
enough to get this far, you can go farther.
Surround yourself with people who make you
laugh, instructors who will work with you,
and friends you can cry to.
Lastly, when youre down in the dumps and
feeling depressed, know that this too shall
pass. Its not forever. [6]
Thank you Nurse Jackie for sharing that
article. It reminded me of why Im doing
what Im doing. Sometimes I get so
wrapped up in the grades and thinking
about the NCLEX and how to make it
through another semester that I lose sight
of the ultimate goal: to become the best
nurse that I can be, giving the best care that
I can give to my patients. Fixed my
perspective of things. [6]
Comments on posting
Bridging an
information gap
using web.
Sharing stress.
Concern about others.
Forming CoP
Forming a CoP.
Analysis
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11
6
4
14
5
3
13
7
12
10
163
7
1
10
12
13
14
(1 link)
(2)
(3 links)
(4 links)
(5 links)
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E. J. Roland et al.
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