Nursing Guidelines

I. Purpose and Program Description

A. Library's Collection Development Objectives

Collection development activities are concentrated on supporting the undergraduate instruction of the School of Nursing and, to a limited extent, graduate instruction and individual research (level 3A). The collection's second purpose is to support the faculty in teaching and research and research assistance for local area's allied health professionals. The interdisciplinary nature of these studies requires that students and faculty consult related collections in the library.

B. Curricular Program Description

The nursing program at AUM is a four year course of study that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (B.S.N.). Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate is eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. The graduate is also prepared to pursue graduate study in nursing. The School of Nursings four year baccalaureate program is accredited by the National League for Nursing and is approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing.

The nursing program is divided into a lower and an upper division. The lower division includes courses in the humanities and sciences. Upon satisfactory completion of the lower division courses, the student is eligible to apply for admission to the upper division of nursing. The upper division consists of nursing and related courses. Within these courses there are classroom, laboratory, and clinical learning experiences. Clinical experiences are provided in a variety of health care agencies in and around Montgomery.

The Plan for RN Mobility has been developed for students who are registered nurses desiring to obtain a baccalaureate degree in nursing. The School of Nursing's philosophy and conceptual frame work serve as the basis for the Plan's classroom activities, independent learning activities, and individualized clinical experiences designed to achieve program objectives. The RN to BSN nursing major can be completed in one calendar year of full-time study.

C. New and Expanding Areas of Interest

Transcultural nursing, holistic nursing

D. Areas of Specialization

Adult Health (medical/surgical) nursing
Maternal-infant nursing
Pediatric nursing
Women's health
Family health
Psychiatric / mental health nursing
Community health nursing
Critical care nursing
Emergency nursing
Geriatric nursing
Nursing administration
Rural health nursing
Ethical and legal aspects of nursing
Pharmacology
Health care information systems

E. Overlap with Other Academic Disciplines and Library Collections

Medical Technology, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physical Education, Management, Personnel Administration, Counseling, Sociology, and Nutrition.

II. General Selection Guidelines

A. Languages: English language material is collected extensively. Other languages are excluded.

B. Chronological Coverage: Emphasis is placed on currency and accuracy of materials. Dated or superceded materials are to be weeded.

C. Geographical Coverage: Material relating to the United States is collected extensively. Material relating to other English speaking regions is collected selectively. Material relating to non-English speaking regions is excluded.

D. Types of Materials: Monographic and serial publications are collected extensively. U.S. government publications are collected extensively through the regional depository system. Reference publications such as indexes, abstracts, bibliographies, dictionaries, handbooks, pharmacopeias, formularies, and dispensaries, are collected selectively. Lower level textbooks are excluded, as are dissertations and theses.

E. Imprint Date: Material published in the last five years is collected extensively. Material published prior to this will be collected selectively as need dictates.

F. Physical Format: Print material is collected extensively, including works containing software or media materials. Microform serial publications are collected selectively. Audiovisual material in nursing is collected upon the recommendation of the faculty in the School of Nursing.

G. Treatment of Subject: Publications encompassing nursing administration and management, staff development, perspectives and issues of professional nursing practice, nursing process, nursing education, family health, community health, assessment & primary care, critical/intensive care, geriatrics, gynecology, maternal-child health, medicine and surgery, patient education, pediatric/child health, pharmacology, psychiatric/mental health, terminal care, and health care information systems are collected.   Textbooks and basic handbooks are selectively.                     

H. Place of Publication: Materials published in the United States, Canada, and England are collected extensively. Materials published in English in other countries is collected selectively.

I. Acquisitions Plans Affecting Nursing Collection:

1.) Standing Orders:  

AJN Guide to Nursing Career Opportunities
Alabama Medicaid Annual Report
Allied Health Education Directory
American Hospital Association.
Guide to the Health Care Field
American Medical Directory
Directory of Educational Software for Nursing
Drug Evaluations Annual
Education for Nursing
Graduate Education in Nursing
Hospital Statistics
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals
Learning AIDS
Medical and Health Information Directory
Medical Association of the State of Alabama
Membership Roster
Medical School Admission Requirements, U.S. & Canada
Merck Manual of Diagnosis & Therapy
Modell's Drugs in Current Use and New Drugs
Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference
National League for Nursing Publications
Nurse Educators
Nursing...I.V. Drug Handbook
Nursing Opportunities
Nursing Student Census
Occupational Medicine
Physician's Desk Reference
Practical Nursing Career
Scholarships & Loans for Nursing Education
State-approved Schools of Nursing, R.N.
State-approved Schools of Nursing, L.P.N./L.V.N.
USAN & the USP Dictionary of Drug Names

2.) Approval Plans: Majors & Minors Scientific Incorporated

J. Collection Assessment Tools: The quality of the nursing collection was assessed by comparing the library's holdings against three lists of recommended titles. These lists, in order of priority are:

1. Brandon AN and Hill DR. "Selected list of nursing books and journals"  Nursing Outlook

2. Brandon AN and Hill DR. "Selected list of books and journal for the small medical library" Bulletin of the Medical Library Association;

3. "R Medicine," volume 5, pp. 219-55. Books for College Libraries, 3rd ed. Chicago, American Library Association, 1988.

Other collection development tools include the professional review literature, publisher's catalogs, and Choice cards.

K. Weeding/Replacement: As currency is of primary importance in the Medical and Nursing fields every effort is made to insure that the collection is up-to-date and germane to the programs offered by the School of Nursing. Thus, erroneous and dated materials are weeded, unless they retain some historical value. Materials for weeding or replacement are evaluated in accordance with the General Collection Management and Development Policy statement on Weeding/Replacement.

L. Classifications That Define the Scope of the Collection:

R's - Medicine
QH - Biology

M. Recommended Collection Level: 3aE

Library Liaison: Hightower                          Subject: NURSING

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY STATEMENT:
CLASSED ANALYSIS

Collection Level