A Concept Analysis Center for the NLINKS Project

BACKGROUND

The Internet is an economical global communication strategy that can be used to sustain and promote development and refinement of nursing languages, including global participation and input. Global participation is required to represent the cultural relevance and cultural specificity of diverse populations. An Internet site can link nurses and consultants from global settings and eventually provide support for the development and submission of diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes to language developers.

MAIN CONTENT POINTS

The Concept Analysis Center for the NLINKS Project will be an Internet site to promote the development and refinement of nursing language. It will reflect a worldview of nursing language, including nursing diagnoses, nursing outcomes, and nursing interventions. Literature resources will be provided for nurses worldwide, as well as methods for submission of concept analysis products to the developers of nursing languages. The development of the Concept Analysis Center will be conducted in three phases.

Phase 1 will be the development of a prototype site for all participating languages to (a) hire and train staff to expand a prototype site developed for the existing NLINKS site; (b) add protocols, training, resources, consultants, and linkages for all participating standardized languages; (c) train language coordinators and research assistants; (d) develop and pilot test the Concept Analysis Center in English and in two other languages; (e) advertise through state, national, international leaders; and (f) seek feedback from users for needed modifications through questions placed on the Web site.

Phase 2 will include expansion of advertising by leaders in standardized language and advertising through Web sites, listserves, and nursing organizations for all participating countries. Up to four languages in addition to English will be added if justified by pilot study and availability of translators. Standardized language development and refinement will continue.

Phase 3 evaluation will be based on several criteria: a comparison of the number and quality of concept analysis submissions to developers of standardized language before and following Internet site development; the number of NLINKS Concept Analysis site users; and user satisfaction with concept analysis content and with staff responsiveness and helpfulness. These data will be collected using an online questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS

As this project evolves, a global network of experts in nursing language will be established and provide the support to continue the work of defining nursing using standardized language.