PurposeThe concept of the paper is how the library can be a useful framework for designing nurses' computer skills. The overarching aim of the research is to focus on how the computer skills involved in nurses' increasing access to health informatics can be used to improve nursing practice, consequently leading to better health care delivery. The objectives involved in achieving this aim include: finding out the level of nurses' computer literacy; finding out nurses' quest for electronic information for problem‐based nursing practice; investigating nurses' level of awareness of research‐based nursing practice; and finding out areas of desirability of informatics in nursing practice.Design/methodology/approachThe measuring instrument used was a self‐administered questionnaire to senior nursing cadres in the Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile‐Ife, Nigeria. There were 230 nurses in these categories, of whom 180 were given questionnaires to fill in. The questionnaire was pre‐tested and validated. A total of 167 copies were returned and found to be usable. Simple percentages and a summation weighted index were used to analyse the data.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insight into nurses' computer skills and the library's role. The majority of the respondents did not have knowledge of computers; in the School of Nursing they learned it through various means while practising, while a few could access and retrieve information from the available databases. Some difficulties were expressed, such as workload, lack of skills, location of the library with regard to the hospital, etc. The desirability of the introduction of health informatics to the profession is high.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to a teaching hospital and the results may not be generalisable to non‐teaching hospitals, hence the need for further studies.Practical implicationsThe impact of health informatics on nurses' computer skills and the library's role will save nurses from routine work, enhance their productivity, and will equip them better for the challenges that information technology presents for health professionals.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils and identifies the need to introduce health informatics to nursing practice in order to improve patient care.

Intestinal obstruction and bleeding are uncommon complications of congenital syphilis (CS). A VDRL-positive infant developed incomplete intestinal obstruction and rectal bleeding. Despite conservative management, his symptoms continued. At laparotomy, terminal ileal inflammation and stenosis were demonstrated. He underwent ileal resection and primary end-to-end anastomosis with resolution of his symptoms. Histopathological examination demonstrated heavy plasmacytic infiltration of the lamina propria and submucosa with ulceration of the mucosa, consistent with syphilitic ileitis. This report documents for the first time bleeding from ileal ulcers associated with intestinal obstruction in CS and highlights an unusual presentation of the disease.

Examines the information-seeking behaviour and information needs of professional nurses at Obafemi Awolowo University Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and the adequacy of the information sources used. Five hundred practising nurses were used as respondents in the study, conducted between January and March, 2004. The study revealed that nurses were aware of their needs for current information for effective professional practice. Attending meetings, seminars, conferences etc., library facilities, colleagues and computers were sources capable of supplying most of their information needs. A high proportion of the respondents attended conferences, seminars, workshops etc. to keep abreast of the latest develoment in their profession. It was clear that the library was not highly rated by the respondents because of the inadequate library facilities provided in the hospital. Recommends that a well-equipped nursing library that will adequately meet the information needs of nurses be provided.

The imposition of fines in academic libraries for overdue books is a global phenomenon and penalties for overdue books have been levied by libraries for centuries. The study reported here surveyed students’ perception of increases in fines imposed by the management of Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library in the academic year 2002/2003. 1,500 respondents were given a structured questionnaire to complete and return between September and November, 2004. The respondents perceived the increase as a welcome measure, long overdue, which would make library books more readily available and accessible. There was no gender bias in their reaction. It is therefore concluded that fines should be imposed to meet the information needs of the users. It is recommended that a periodic review of the measure should be carried out and that early completion of library automation, especially circulation operations, is essential.