Nineteen F and G grade nurses, one practice development nurse, two physiotherapists and two occupational therapists working in 11 community hospitals in Leicestershire and Rutland were interviewed about their use of clinical guidelines and their attitude towards them. They were asked questions about sources of clinical guidelines, and a simple gap analysis was carried out.
The interviewees were able to identify clinical guidelines that were used locally, and human and organisational resources of guidelines: resource rooms, practice development nurses, link nurses and study days.
The use of link nurses, and regular study days, both of which provide cascade learning, work well. Furthermore, in the opinion of the ward nurses, the practice development nurse has a useful role in making nurses aware of guidelines.
Generally, the responses about the use of clinical guidelines were positive, although some reservations were noted. There was agreement that regular professional meetings and ward hand-overs provide a natural and effective dissemination route.
The interviewees were not aware of any national clinical guidelines. Despite many of the interviewees having access to the internet (generally from home rather than from the hospitals), none could identify any online resources for clinical guidelines or knew that they existed.
