Nursing Research
A Tutorial on Searching
USCA Library Resources
Steps in Planning Research Strategy
Answer these questions first:
What is your assignment?
What kind of information do you need?
How much information do you need?
Do you need to find evidence?
NOTE: Do NOT type the entire question in a
search box; use only KEY WORDS and
PHRASES.
State Your Question Properly
Q: Does the evidence support cinnamon as an effective
treatment for type 2 diabetes?
Key terms: CINNAMON and DIABETES; treatment,
control, therapy
Q: What is the state of the evidence supporting the
hypothesis that patients trust nurses who wear white more
than they trust those in colored or printed scrubs?
Key terms: PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE, UNIFORMS,
SCRUBS; respect, trust, professionalism, attitude
Review of Terminology…
Types of Searches
Keyword
Subject
Title
Author
Types of periodical information
Scholarly, peer-reviewed or academic journals: Nursing Research, Journal of
Gerontological Nursing
Trade publications: RN, Nursing Times, The American Nurse (―newsy‖ and intended
for a profession, trade, or industry)
Popular magazines: Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, GQ (intended for general
readership)
Boolean Operators
AND: cinnamon AND diabetes
OR: neonatal OR newborn
NOT: grief NOT bereavement
USCA Home Page
Select ―Library‖
Library Homepage:
http://library.usca.edu
Select ―Research Guides‖ from the menu
Select “Nursing Resources”
Select CINAHL
Browse the CINAHL Subjects
The CINAHL headings will let you know how
the term is defined in the CINAHL database.
Sample Scope Notes
Bereavement
Grief
Search the Database
Type your search term(s) in the boxes provided:
Ways to Limit Search
More Ways to Limit
Assess Your Results
Read abstracts and evaluate what you retrieved.
Search Several Databases at Once!
Format Citation in APA Style
Select ―Add to folder‖ for each record you want to print
or email (you may check several records).
Go to the top right and click on FOLDER:
Select Records
Check the boxes, then select PRINT, EMAIL,
SAVE or EXPORT:
APA Citation Builder
Use the drop down box and select APA
(American Psychological Assoc.).
Citation Results Page
NOTE: You are responsible for the proper citation
format.
Note that the volume number is Italicized.
What is Evidence-Based Research?
Evidence-based nursing applies the best available evidence from a body of
research to make a decision about a clinical case.
TIPS:
Start with a clinical question/problem about the care of a patient.
Construct a relevant, answerable question derived from that
question/problem.
What kind of resource will best answer your question--journal articles, books,
or both?
Evaluate the evidence for validity and applicability to your question/case.
Integrate that evidence into your own writing (or in clinical practice, apply to
patient care).
Evidence-Based Care Sheets
Sample Care Sheet
Sample Sheet, p. 2
Not Full-Text in CINAHL?
Search E-JOURNALS
Use Gold Rush to See if
Full-Text Article is Available
Type in the title of the JOURNAL (Nursing Administration
Quarterly), not the title of the article:
Tips…
Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the databases
in your major: CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing & Allied
Health, and Medline—from the National Library of
Medicine.
To find BOOKS, search the USCA Online Catalog.
Get reference help:
Come in person to the reference desk.
To get email help, select Ask-A-Librarian from the library’s
home page.
Call 803-643-6808.
Call Rose Marshall, the nursing contact person.
Off Campus Access
You may access USCA resources from home. For some, you will
just need to provide your name and SSN; for some databases,
you will to set up VPN, a software that will authenticate you as a
USCA student. Call the CSD Help Desk at 803-641–3502 with
questions about the VPN setup. From the Library’s homepage,
click on page to get more information.
Students who live in or near Columbia are welcome to use the
resources in the USC Thomas Cooper Library. Nursing
resources are collected on Level 4.