Sadaf Ullah
Sadaf Ullah is a medical librarian who bridges the worlds of research, clinical care, and education. With over eight years of experience across government, academic, and hospital settings, she’s passionate about making health information and literacy accessible. When she’s not diving into databases and working with nurses, you’ll find her making art prints, planning her next travel adventure, or hanging out with her cat, Cleo.
Session
Inroduction
Clinical Nurse Educators (CNE) play a critical role in fostering clinical excellence, professional growth, and lifelong learning among nurses in hospital settings. CNEs are also uniquely positioned to educate/connect front-line nurses with resources rooted in evidence-based practice made available through the library, effectively closing the gap between the library and patient care. Yet, their information needs and use of library resources often remain underexplored.
Methods
To investigate this gap, a needs assessment survey was created to better understand the information-seeking behaviours, barriers, and preferences of Clinical Nurse Educators across the Unity Health Toronto hospital network. A mixed-method survey was distributed to all CNEs in the summer of 2025, gathering both quantitative (survey questionnaire) and qualitative insights (from focus groups and shadowing) into how they locate and apply evidence in their roles.
Results
Preliminary findings reveal limited awareness of existing library services, a strong interest in acquiring new nursing titles, and enthusiasm for tailored evidence support. These insights have already informed practical changes, including targeted outreach and collection development, and setting up the foundation for continued shadowing opportunities. Attendees will gain insight into how libraries can assess and respond to the evolving information needs of Clinical Nurse Educators to strengthen evidence-based nursing education and practice.