Regarding the "AJN Computers in Nursing" question, the
Division of Nursing grant funded AJN Network may be what
you've heard about. I'm attaching a text file of the
newsletter copy I've sent for the MLA NAHRS Section
Newsletter (Sorry, NAHRS members - you read it here first!)
I now get MEDLIB-L messages second-hand, so sorry for the
response delay!
Peg Allen, Remote Indexer/AV Coordinator, RNdex
Information Resources Group, SilverPlatter Information Inc.
and Project Manager, Marshfield Clinic's
Health Information Outreach Project
Surface mail:
PO Box 2, Stratford WI 54484-0002
Home office: (715) 687-4976
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
"My opinions are my own and not necessarily those of
SilverPlatter or the Marshfield Clinic"
AJN Network
In September, 1993 the American Journal of Nursing Company
was awarded a three-ye ar Special Projects Grant from the
Division of Nursing, Department of Health and Human Services
to develop a national computer network that will provide a
variety of formal and informal continuing education services
to nurses in medically unde rserved rural communities. The
AJN Network is an information server for nurses b eing
developed under this grant.
Broadly, the services and features of this network include:
* An "Ask the Expert" nurse consultant forum where users can
post questions and e xperts will respond. This will be
moderated by Barbara Sullivan, a nurse in charge of the
Learning Resources Center for Seattle University's School of
Nursing.
* Moderated forums where nurses can post questions
and problems for discussion among all network users.
* CE credit offerings in print and computer-assisted
instruction formats, including on-line journal clubs.
*Patient information on various topics .
* National and international news.
* Resource database including listings of conferences,
organizations, and RNdex.
* Downloading and uploading of files.
* Electronic "Communications Center" including E-mail and
on-line conferencing.
In addition to forums based on nursing specialties such as
medical-surgical, mate rnal-child, mental health, AIDS, and
gerontologic nursing, there are forums dedic ated to
emergency nursing, nursing management, cultural diversity,
rural nursing and education. I am moderating the "Lit
Search Guru" forum, where participants can seek assistance
in choosing appropriate information databases and search
term s.
During the first year of operation, the network will be
available through a dial in service. Later it will be
offered over Internet, an international network with
virtually t housands of sources of information. This
project will make use of the High Performance Computing and
Communications (HPCC) initiative which provides a backbone
extending across t he country, capable of transmitting data
at tremendous speeds. As technology advanc es AJN Network
will explore sending digitized images.
During the grant period, the network will be provided free
of charge to pilot sit es in rural areas. The AJN Network
will be available to all for a fee once the grant is over.
Current pilot states in include Nevada, North Carolina, and
Wisconsin. Many dissemination efforts are planned
throughout the course of the grant, including a national
conference in year three of the project.
Some policies from the user agreement:
This information server is intended for the use of
professional nurses. Any information posted on this network
is the opinion of the individual who posted that
information. Information placed on this network
regarding treatment protocols or other information which may
be useful in medical or nursing care is intended for
informational purposes only. Any information found on this
network should be validated with current, scientific
literature before being applied to practice. Use of
information on this network is not to be viewed as a
prescription for treatment, and all information is used at
the discretion of the individual rendering treatment.
At present, participation is limited to registered nurses in
rural areas of the p ilot states. All that is needed is a
computer, modem, and phone line. Karen DuBois, RN MSN, is
Project Coordinator and Trainer. She has held "Train the
Trainers" sessions in the three pilot states for nurses
with educational responsibilities, along with some
supportive nursing librarians. Once trained, they are
encouraged to introduce AJN Network to registered nurses in
their communities. All who sign on must sign the user
agreement including the policies noted above plus others
related to confidentiality, privacy, virus monitoring, and
other appropriate user behavior. As of July 11, there were
225 individuals signed on the network!
For more information about AJN Network, contact Karen DuBois
at: American Journal of Nursing Company
555 W. 57th St.
New York, NY 10019-2951
I have found my participation to be very rewarding,
providing user contact that I don't receive in my position
as a remote indexer for RNdex . It will be exciti ng to
see AJN Network grow into a major nursing information and
education resourc e, available to meet professional nursing
needs regardless of user location.
Margaret (Peg) Allen
Indexer/AV Coordinator, RNdex
SilverPlatter Information Inc.
P.O. Box 2
Stratford, WI 54484-0002
(715) 687- 4976 [log in to unmask]