September 2015, So Long Summer, Hello Journal Club!

Welcome to Journalphoria, an on-line Journal Club created to increase dialogue and critical thinking skills using Oncology articles and related topics.  For a Journal Club first timer, here are the basics.  Sign up for a G-mail account if you don't already have one. G-mail accounts are free, and allow you to access Journal Club articles anywhere and anytime. You may use your work computer, smart phone, tablet or home computer. Once your G-mail account is established, you will be able to sign onto the blog to make posts and reply to the posts of other Journal Club members.  When you sign on as a follower, you will receive updates from the blog.

Just like last year there will be six posts, each post will have a selected reading that will be followed by 2-3 questions.  Each response must be a minimum of 3-4 complete sentences written in a professional manner, and in your own words.  Responses that are copy and pasted from the article or other articles without giving proper credit or citation to the author or source will not receive credit.  It is also important that responses start with your name and the unit where you work.

To receive full credit for Clinical Ladder you must also respond to the discussion question on the blog and comment on someone else's  comment.  When you are blogging, please remember on-line courtesy and HIPAA!  Another important point to remember is that there are no wrong answers.  The questions will ask you to use your nursing experience and critical thinking skills.  Some of the topics may ask you to express your feelings or opinions.  When blogging, if the name that appears on the blog for everyone to see does not include your first and last name, please add your first and last name to the first line of your response. 

As mentioned there will be six posts.  The first will be in October, then November, January, February, April, and May.  This schedule hopefully gives consideration to everyone's holiday season and spring break.

Finally, in order to join Journal Club this year, please do the following.  Sign onto the blog and introduce yourself, give the number of years you have worked at MRMC, your position and the number of years you have participated in Journal Club.  You must also acknowledge that you understand and agree to follow the above mentioned guidelines for posting.

Please send any questions or concerns to melissa.luebbe@ctca-hope.com