Alfons Giesen, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, The Netherlands

Please briefly describe your role within your organization?

I am working as an intern student at the Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+) in Maastricht, The Netherlands. I am currently in the final year of a three-year program to receive a Bachelor's degree in a combined program of nursing and anaesthetic nursing.

What are your key challenges in accessing evidence-based information in your daily role?

The main challenge is the wide variety of specialisms in my field of work for both nursing and anesthesia. In addition to the daily working activities I also need to produce multiple papers for the benefit of my educational program. In this, my final year of my education program the emphasis will rely on high complex care settings in; intensive care, emergency department, cardiothoracic surgery and the operating theatre. Because of the dynamics in my field of work and school it is very important for me to refer back on reliable, recent and respected literature.

From your perspective, what are the main benefits of using ClinicalKey?

ClinicalKey offers access to conceptual literature, but also scientific literature to answer more complex issues. One of the biggest benefits is that, ClinicalKey offers the function to search for subjects linked to the concerned specialisms.

Do you think ClinicalKey has improved your ability to improve clinical decision-making? How and in which area?

ClinicalKey is one of the leading factors in my development to improve clinical decision-making. In my last nursing internship on a neurology ward, ClinicalKey offered me quick access to the information I needed. When preparing my anaesthetic care plans for the next day, ClinicalKey makes it possible to search for specific information in the form of images and videos of the procedures and anaesthesiologic-specific information.

Please tell us about anything you now do differently as a result of using ClinicalKey, to benefit that of yourself and of the patient?

Whilst searching for specific information about safety in the operating room, I came across a text about ‘Crew Resource Management’. The text raised awareness about the pitfalls in the operating room, which can cause injury in any form to a patient. One of the biggest points brought to my attention in the text, was the influence of communication. After reading the text I paid more attention to my own communication skills. One of the techniques that was advised in ClinicalKey is the Closed-Loop communication technique, after reading the text, I was inclined to use this form of communication in almost every situation.