More than six years ago, I enjoyed starting and facilitating the first journal club at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. While the benefits are great, I also faced many challenges, such as scheduling a time nurses could meet, keeping participants interested and encouraging nurses to get more involved.
Other nurses may find the following tips to rejuvenate a club helpful.

• Assess colleagues’ needs.

• Use case studies, such as a patient’s disorder that was challenging.

• Formulate 10 question-and-answer quizzes based on the unit’s policy manual.

• Involve the nurse manager, educator.

• Allow RNs to play the facilitator role.

• Develop a board about the club.

• Use Web templates to critique articles.

• Use Facebook and Twitter if time poses a constraint.

— Lovelyne Jean, RN-BC, MSN, PCCN, FNP-BC, Brooklyn, N.Y.