The UHCW Library and Knowledge Services are here to support nursing and midwifery staff at UHCW with a wide range of resources and services tailored to your information needs.
Need evidence to support patient care? Moving into a research or management role? Thinking about a career in Advanced Clinical Practice? Wherever you are in your career, the UHCW Library team is on hand to help you access and use high-quality evidence in practice.
This guide highlights key library resources and services for nursing and midwifery stafff, including online resources, point-of-care tools and training opportunities.
Not registered with the Library yet? Apply online here: healthlibrariesmidlands.nhs.uk/join and select UHCW Library and Knowledge Services (WAL) in the home library drop-down list.
Most of the resources and services in this guide will require an OpenAthens login in order for you to access them. You can register for an OpenAthens login here: openathens.nice.org.uk
If you have any queries about accessing these resources, or your OpenAthens login, please contact Helga Perry (Electronic Systems & Resources Librarian) via Helga.Perry@uhcw.nhs.uk
We can help you meet your revalidation CPD requirements by providing access to both participatory and non-participatory learning. For example:
- If you are undertaking enquiry based research as one of your CPD activities, we can help you access the latest evidence.
- You could achieve your participatory learning requirements by attending library training sessions - we're happy to provide certificates of attendance for your portfolio.
We've linked two helpful resources below to help you find appropriate CPD activities, but you can also explore the rest of this guide to find out more about the e-resources, databases and training on offer.
CPD Launchpad enables nurses and midwives to view and read online articles and build up a portfolio to support revalidation. It includes links to full text, quizzes and opportunities for reflection, all summarised in a handy dashboard.
The training pages on the library website summarise a series of online learning linked to information, research and health literacy skills. If you'd prefer to learn online, and at your own pace, you might like to explore some of these options to add to your portfolio.
At UHCW Library we have a whole range of e-resources available to support all clinical staff in the trust. We've highlighted some key resources for nursing and midwifery staff below, but we also provide access to other resources like Bookboon (for eBooks and podcasts to develop your soft skills), Oxford Medicine Online and more. See our Online Resources menu on the Library homepage to explore the full range.
A simple-to-use search tool that provides access to full-text e-books and journals published by Elsevier Science and international guidelines including NICE. Use the in-built 'presentation maker' to add image content to your PowerPoint presentations
Another simple search tool offering access to 65,000 full-text articles, covering topics relating to nursing, midwifery and allied health professions. Includes the British Journal of Nursing, British Journal of Midwifery and Journal of Wound Care.
The Royal Marsden Manual Online edition provides up-to-date, evidence- based clinical skills content related to essential aspects of patient care.
Point-of-care Tools
At UHCW, we have access to two clinical decision-making tools, designed to be used at the point-of-care. BMJ Best Practice is great for nurse prescribers, advanced practice specialists and nurse practitioners. We also provide access to DynaMed which offers excellent evidence-based topic summaries.
All of the above resources will require an OpenAthens account. Register on line here: https://openathens.nice.org.uk/
If you need to carry out more complex, reproduceable searches to inform research, UHCW Library provides access to a range of different healthcare databases. We've listed a few key medical databases here, but you can explore the whole range of tools available to you via our Online Resources page. This list includes databases such as HMIC, AMED, PubMed, Cochrane Library and more.
CINAHL Complete is the world’s largest database of literature on nursing and allied health topics and is the definitive choice for any healthcare students, professionals and researchers conducting literature searches in these subjects.
ProQuest includes British Nursing Index, Medline, Nursing & Allied Health Database, PsycInfo, PsycArticles, Public Health Database and thousands of full text journal articles, doctoral dissertations, images and more.
The Ovid EMCARE database provides access to over 3,700 publications covering evidence-based healthcare, all nursing specialties, nursing education, allied health and management topics.
Medline is the leading database for biomedical and health sciences literature. It includes over 30 million articles from academic journals covering medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentisty, biomedical sciences and more.
All of the above resources will require an OpenAthens account. Register on line here: https://openathens.nice.org.uk/
Our free Knowledge Skills Training is available to all UHCW staff and students on placement. From getting to grips with using the Library catalogue to literature searching, critical appraisal and beyond, we’re here to help you make the best of the evidence to support you in practice.
What do the sessions involve?
Our core training sessions focus on skills relating to 'Finding the Evidence' and 'Understanding the Evidence'. You can find brief course descriptions on the training section of the library website.
The sessions involve a mixture of presentations, hands-on practical activities and group work where appropriate. Support materials will be available for you to use after the session. Certificates of attendance can be provided if requested.
How are the sessions delivered?
One-to-one appointments are available either in person or via Microsoft Teams depending on staff availability. Group sessions will be held via Teams in the first instance but can be booked in person with sufficient notice.
Want to book a session or discuss your training needs?
Email: Beth Jackson (Knowledge Skills Librarian) via Beth.Jackson@uhcw.nhs.uk
Download our training brochure: uhcwlibrary.org/training
CEBIS is our Clinical Evidence Based Information Service
Our team of information specialists work closely with clinical staff to embed the use of research evidence in day-to-day practice. So whether you have a question about the best treatment option for a particular patient, a difference of opinion with a colleague about a clinical intervention, or need to ensure you are up to date on the latest research in your area – the CEBIS team have you covered.
CEBIS can support you and your team by:
- Carrying out literature searches to support your clinical decision making, service changes and practice improvements.
- Providing the evidence you need to write patient information leaflets, guidelines, or standard operating procedures.
- Facilitating journal clubs or attending ward rounds to undertake “rapid searches” so you have access to evidence when you need it.
- Offering tailored current awareness bulletins to help keep you up-to-date.
- Helping clinical research staff develop search strategies for systematic reviews, research papers or conference papers.
Find out more about the service here: uhcwlibrary.org/cebis
Follow CEBIS on Twitter: @UHCW_CEBIS
Want to submit a literature search request?
Email: CEBIS@uhcw.nhs.uk
Health Information for Patients
Providing patients with high-quality, easy to understand health information means they are more able to give informed consent and play a more active role in their treatment. Our team are here to support you with the approval process for new and updated leaflets. As well as proofreading support, we can also advise on the readability, content and style of your leaflet. Find out more here: uhcwlibrary.org/health-information
Email us to see how we can help: health.information@uhcw.nhs.uk
Library Website
You are already here! The library website is your one-stop shop for accessing all of the resources available to you from UHCW and the NHS. You don't need to be on the Trust network to use it, just visit uhcwlibrary.org to springboard to all of our resources and access them from the ward, from home or on your commute.
OpenAthens
We've mentioned it a few times already, but you'll need an OpenAthens account to access all of our online resources. Register online here: openathens.nice.org.uk
If you have any problems with a current OpenAthens login, or want to transfer your account from a previous trust, please contact Helga Perry (Electronic Systems & Resources Librarian) via Helga.Perry@uhcw.nhs.uk
Have a question to ask us? Get in touch:
Library helpdesk: 02476968829 or Ext: 28829
General Library enquiries: library@uhcw.nhs.uk
Patient Information Leaflets: health.information@uhcw.nhs.uk
Request an evidence search: cebis@uhcw.nhs.uk