Nursing Resource Guide

NOTE:  This video is long (almost 48 minutes).  To help you out, here's how it is organized:

• Creating a search strategy (00:00)
• Using CINAHL (09:10)
• Using interlibrary loan (16:26)
• Using search history (19:37)
• Using EBSCO features to save articles (21:25)
• Using PubMed (25:10)
• Using ScienceDirect (30:11)
• Using other related databases (32:26)
• Finding journal (34:20)
• Citing sources (38:25)

Step I      Choose a general topic that is interesting to you AND meets the guidelines described in the assignment. Then spend some time exploring the topic to make it more focused.  

Step II     Develop a research question about your topic. Asking a question is helpful because it focuses a topic on a specific issue or problem in your field. 

Step III    Think of search terms or keywords that describe your topic. Use these terms to search the catalog and databases for books and journal articles.  

Step IV    Evaluate your search results by asking these questions: Is this source credible/authoritative, is the information current, is the content fair and unbiased, and most importantly, is it relevant to my research?  

Example:

Step I topic – diabetes

Step II  question – Can diet and exercise reduce the risk of developing Type II Diabetes?

Step III  keywords  – diabetes, exercise, diet, risk

Remember: research is a process, not simply an act of gathering information.