Working The Web : A Guide For Nurses - 02 edition

Many of us began using the Internet in a hitormiss, trialanderror fashion. If we were lucky, eventually we found what we were looking for. However, when you are using the Internet for professional purposes, a systematic, informed approach is much more efficient and will produce quality information that you can use to benefit yourself, your colleagues, and your patients.

This book is designed to be a useful manual for the novice or intermediatelevel Internet user. The first five chapters of this book contain the background information needed to get you uptospeed quickly. We then progress to more advanced information on searching the Web and protecting your privacy.

Chapter 1 describes the Internet and the equipment and resources needed to access it. Means of connecting to the Internet are explained, as is the logic of Web site addresses.

Chapter 2 covers Internet applications, including email, email etiquette, and mailbox use. Also covered are listservs and their use, newsgroups, and chat rooms.

Chapter 3 explores World Wide Web search techniques. Search engines and metasearch engines are defined, and examples are given. Basic and advanced search techniques using Boolean logic are explained.

Chapter 4 encompasses means by which you can evaluate the quality and usefulness of Web sites. This will help you decide which Web sites you can have faith in. Privacy issues with Internet use are discussed.

Chapter 5 deals with continuing education and college courses that can be found online. Criteria for evaluating the courses are included, as well as criteria for helping you decide if online learning is for you.

Chapter 6 encompasses the rest of the book, and it contains over 300 Web sites that we believe are potentially useful to nursing students and practicing nurses. The sites are categorized by functional unit, such as Anatomy and Physiology, Care Plans, EvidenceBased Practice, History of Nursing, Medication Calculation, Orthopedics, Pain, and Women's Health. Each Web site has been evaluated by us as to clarity of purpose, currency. credibility, content accuracy, and design, and each site has been given a rating from * (poor) to **** (excellent). Our annotations of the sites indicate the most useful nuggets of information that can be found there. For additional resources and exercises, go to the free Companion Website accompanying this book at www.prenhall.com/bliss.

We believe you will find this book helpful as you seek to use the incredible resources found on the Internet. We hope you will also find it enjoyable. Have fun!

Julie Bliss
Sandra DeYoung

Bliss, Julie B. : William Paterson University

DeYoung, Sandra : William Paterson University

1. Getting Started.
2. Using the World Wide Web.
3. Searching the World Wide Web.
4. Being Cautious.
5. Selective Courses.
6. Websites and Ratings.