By Michelle Farrow, Small Animal Research Assistant

 

Starting a Journal Club: Sharing knowledge, building confidence

Evidence-based practice elevates your nursing, but keeping up with new research can be difficult alongside the demands of daily work. A journal club or discussion group is a simple, rewarding way to bring research to life turning articles into conversation, learning, and positive change.

 

Why start a journal club?

A journal club gives nurses the opportunity to:

·        Stay current - Regularly reviewing articles helps keep clinical knowledge up to date.

·        Build confidence - Discussing evidence with peers improves critical thinking and communication skills.

·        Encourage reflection - Linking evidence to everyday cases helps bridge the gap between theory and practice.

·        Foster teamwork - Shared discussion promotes collaboration and a stronger team culture.

·        Support CPD - Meetings can be logged as reflective learning, contributing to professional development goals.

 

How to get started

Start small. Two or three colleagues is enough. Choose a regular time (perhaps every other month) and a comfortable space such as the staff room or a quiet meeting area. Virtual sessions can also work well for larger practices or multi-site teams.

Pick a topic that’s relevant to your work or a recent case, something that will spark interest and discussion. You might use:

·        A recent paper from The Veterinary Nurse, JSAP, or Vet Record

·        A recent case you've had in practice or a case report you've read

·        A short RCVS Knowledge Knowledge Summary

·        A clinical audit or in-practice data report

·        A colleagues CPD experience

 

What to do

1.      Choose your paper. Circulate it in advance so everyone can read it or keep it short to allow time at the start to read it.

2.      Assign roles and share the load. i.e. one person can summarise the article, another lead the discussion, and others bring case examples.

3.      Discuss and reflect. What are the key findings? How strong is the evidence? Could the results change how we work? Use the CVS VN Journal Club Paper Review Guide to support your discussions.

4.      Capture outcomes. Summarise the discussion in a shared document or reflective note.

5.      Keep it positive. Focus on learning, not criticism. Encourage open, supportive dialogue.

6.      Pick a date. Upon which to hold your next session!

 

How to make it sustainable

Rotate who leads each session and vary topics to appeal to different nurses. You can link discussions to clinical audits, practice protocols, or RCVS Knowledge Quality Improvement tools. Over time, your journal club can become a routine part of learning culture, helping nurses take ownership of evidence-based care and continuous improvement.

 

Further information 

For further information, here's a resource that could support discussing papers in your journal club [LINK].

CVS have recently launched a journal club for nurses. To find out more visit New Veterinary Nurse Journal Club created by CVS | CVS Group .