Exploring the meaning of information for nurses in practice can be challenging.  Anonymous (2004) explored the key characteristics of information and knowledge as; uncertainty, knowledge, ambiguity, indeterminacy, redundancy and system-dependency. The perspective of the need for information and its meaning changes according to a nurse’s role in nursing.  One could assume that nursing students would have a different view of their need for information compared to a clinical nurse’s need for information.  
The meaning of the information would vary according to the needs of the nurse as well as their information literacy skills. Nayda and Rankin (2008) stated: “The continuity of this action (information literacy) is lifelong learning and the ongoing pursuit of personal development and excellence in professional practice.” Essentially, regardless of the content of the information a nurse is seeking, the end result is a nurse that is well informed and personally satisfied.