New Nursing Clinical Education Center
There is a constant need for education that lasts beyond one's collegiate graduation. This need is the motivating force behind the new Nursing Clinical Education Center (NCEC). The NCEC is a collaborative effort between the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care and the University of Iowa College of Nursing.

The NCEC is envisioned to be a cutting edge facility in which teaching and learning between nursing education and practice faculty, staff and students can occur. The staff of the Nursing Education Center at UIHC and the Learning Resources Center at the UI College of Nursing will combine to provide an environment where students and nurses can continually learn together, side by side. The new center will be housed in the existing 4W General Hospital, and is anticipated to open in late summer 2006.


To read more: New Nursing Clinical Education Center

Evidence-Based Practice Staff Nurse Internship Program
One key to changing practice is involving staff who provide direct patient care. The staff nurse internship is offered to facilitate the work of staff nurses in addressing a clinical issue relevant to their patient population. The Iowa model and the Translation Research Model (Titler & Everett, 2001) are used as the framework for guiding staff nurses through the evidence-based practice process. Staff nurses team with their nurse manager, an advanced practice nurse mentor, and an evidence-based practice facilitator.

The internship combines didactic presentation, group discussion, and facilitated work time to support applying concepts learned to their project. Two groups of staff nurses have successfully completed the program which began in 2001. The program is being offered on an every-other-year basis to promote completion of current intern projects before beginning the next internship groups. The third group began their internship in Spring 2005, and have begun planning for the fourth program beginning in 2007.

To read more: Evidence-Based Practice Staff Nurse Internship Program

Bar code technology expected to enhance medication safety
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is among the first hospitals in the United States to acquire a technology that allows nurses to electronically scan bar codes on medications at the patient's bedside before administration. The new MedPoint system--which will be available on all inpatient units after appropriate testing early next year--is designed to help prevent medical errors. "We have used bar code checks in the dispensing of medication for several years," said Paul Abramowitz, Pharm.D., director of the Department of Pharmaceutical Care. "The use of bar codes at the point of medication administration will further minimize the potential of a medication error occurring at the bedside."

To read more: Bar code technology

This article is reposted with thanks to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.