There’s a place for them in the Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository.
By bringing together the developers of tools and instruments and the researchers who need those resources, the Henderson Repository helps nurses advance worldwide health.
Have you, your colleagues, or your students faced frustration when searching for appropriate research instruments to conduct a study? While conducting our own research and in working with doctoral students, we have often run into difficulty finding needed tools or, upon finding them, obtaining permission for their use. Frequently, contact information for the instrument developer is unavailable.
In discussing this problem with my research team and faculty colleagues, Danita Alfred, PhD, RN, and Pam Martin, PhD, RN, an idea began to form. What if there was a central, easily accessible place to store this information? As the idea grew, the Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository, hosted by Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma), came to mind. After further thought and investigation, it seemed like the perfect “place.”
With trepidation, we pitched our idea to Patricia Thompson, then Sigma’s CEO, who said yes and sent us immediately to Kimberly Thompson, head librarian and repository manager. She was equally excited about the project and willing to work with us to develop policies and practices for a new collection. As we worked collaboratively with the outstanding repository staff—Thompson and Assistant Librarian Kathleen Munsch—“the place” took shape.
A new collection, titled Instruments, Tools, and Measurements, was developed, thus making it possible to gather research materials in one convenient location within the repository’s Independent Submissions Community. Thompson also worked with us to create, as a companion to the collection, a repository webpage to gather resources for tools and measurements used in nursing practice.
By bringing together the developers of tools and instruments and the nurse researchers who need them, this comprehensive and incredible resource will help nursing move into the next phase of scientific development as the profession seeks to advance the health of people globally. Now, the focus is on getting the word out and expanding this resource for present and future researchers.
Please consider sharing your measurement tool or instrument with others by submitting it to the Henderson Repository, and encourage colleagues to do the same. By sharing your work with others, you help fellow researchers eliminate hassle and save time while retaining your ownership and copyright, as well as ability to control conditions for the instrument’s use and administration. Click here to access submission guidelines.
We are incredibly grateful to the talented Sigma staff members who have developed a straightforward process for submitting instruments and tools to the Henderson Repository. RNL
Susan Yarbrough, PhD, RN, CNE, is professor, School of Nursing, at The University of Texas at Tyler.