NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
The Information Needs and Behaviors of Nursing Students:
An Annotated Bibliography
Amy C. Studer
INFO510—Winter 2009
Drexel University
1
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
Introduction
Professional nurses are called upon to incorporate evidence-based approaches into their
clinical practice to assure safe and effective care for their patients. This requires that they have
sufficient information literacy to access high quality research and evaluate its usefulness.
Increasingly, the acquisition of information literacy skills is an important part of nursing
education and preparing students for future clinical practice. This paper discusses characteristics
of nursing students as an information user group, including their information needs and
behaviors. An annotated bibliography of current scholarly research related to this topic is
included, along with a list of recommended resources.
A systematic literature search of scholarly journal articles was conducted using electronic
databases. Databases included those with an education and information science focus (ERIC,
LISA, LISTA, Library Literature & Information Science Full Text, and DIALOG OneSearch
category INFOSCI). Searches of nursing and medical databases were also included (CINAHL,
Medline). SocialSci Search was used to conduct author and citation searches. Although there
was much discussion in the nursing literature about information literacy, the information science
literature was a richer source of user studies for nursing students. After review of the available
articles, only those published in the last five years were included in this paper. Academic and
health care information services have been revolutionized over the past decade and older articles
were felt to be outdated. The majority of the articles presented in this paper report studies of
nursing students in the United States. Select articles from the United Kingdom and Sweden that
apply to nursing students in the United States are included. Because nursing students typically
are preparing for future clinical practice and part of their education involves direct clinical
experience with practicing RNs, article selection was broadened to include select studies of the
information needs and behaviors of registered nurses.
Description of User Group
Nursing students, as a user group, include individuals in a variety of educational settings.
This is a reflection of the many paths that nurses take to professional education and practice.
Drawn most broadly, “nursing students” include all students enrolled in classes in a nursing
education program who have a goal of either sitting for the registered nurse (RN) licensing exam
2
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
or who already have achieved RN licensure and are returning to a formal education setting for
additional study in nursing. Among the articles accessed for this paper, nursing students were
either bachelor’s degree (BSN) candidates or graduate students, a term that encompasses
master’s degree, PhD or doctoral students. In at least one of the studies, the students were
enrolled in an RN to BSN program. Nursing students enrolled in traditional on-campus study
programs, as well as, distance learning programs are represented. Remarkably, absent from the
literature were user studies of associate degree nursing (ADN) students. In California, seventy
percent of candidates who take the RN licensing examination are graduates of ADN programs
(State of California, 2008). This represents a significant gap in coverage of this topic.
User Studies of Nursing Students
In their course of study, nursing students need to routinely access information to
accomplish academic goals. They seek information to support evidence-based practice in
clinical rotations, to complete classroom assignments such as scholarly papers and research
projects, and to participate in class discussions on current and relevant health care issues
(Morgan, Fogel, Hicks, Wright & Tyler, 2007). Nursing students also need to develop
information skills to support lifelong learning and professional development (Barnett-Ellis &
Restauri, 2006). To this end, they use a variety of information sources.
Nursing students use different information seeking paths depending on the need to be
filled. In two studies by Dee & Stanley (2005a, 2005b) the information seeking approach that
nursing students used most frequently was personal communication with other people, such as
professional superiors, clinical supervisors, nurse colleagues, physicians, or other health care
providers. Thirty-eight percent of the student nurses consulted human resources daily and 100%
at least weekly. Separate statistics were kept for use of drug representatives as an information
resource with 71% of the students reporting at least monthly use. The authors also studied the
behaviors of clinical nurses and found that they had even higher frequency rates of human
resource utilization. Participants stated in interviews that they consult a human source because
they believe it to be the fastest way to obtain concise and reliable information (Dee & Stanley,
2005a).
3
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
Despite a desire to provide well-informed patient care, time pressures in clinical patient
care settings limit the ability of nurses to use other information resources. McKnight (2008)
studied the information seeking behaviors and uses of critical care nurses during a typical work
shift. She characterized the work of the nurses as a near constant process of information seeking,
recording, or passing on of information. Work shifts had a clear structure supporting the use of
human information resources, such as shift change reports and physician rounds. McKnight
observed that the nurses in her study had no time available in their shifts to consult more than a
few paragraphs of available written information. None of them had time to retrieve reliable
literature and systematically review it during their work day. Nursing students are exposed to the
profession’s reliance on human information sources through clinical experiences.
Human information sources are not the only resources used by nursing students. They
also report high utilization of books in both print and electronic formats. Twenty-five percent of
students reported using books daily (Dee & Stanley, 2005a). Consulting textbooks and drug
reference books satisfied their need for information within clinical time constraints. One study
looked at e-book use and found that the small sample of nursing students limited their use to
reference sources, such as drug handbooks and medical dictionaries (Hernon, Hopper, Leach,
Saunders & Zhang, 2007). The authors noted that the students were very likely to browse or
scan the content of e-books. However, most were not familiar with the options available for
manipulating e-book content electronically. Different results were reported in a study of nursing
students’ information seeking and use while researching an evidence-based practice assignment
(Gannon-Leary, Walton, Cader, Derbyshire & Smith, 2006). The authors of this study found
that, while 27% of references cited were books, only 1% were secondary sources (textbooks or
drug reference books). Many written assignments for nursing students require that they use
primary sources. The discrepancy in use of books between the studies demonstrates that different
types of resources are consulted for different purposes.
Nursing students use journal articles frequently with 54% reporting weekly use (Dee &
Stanley, 2005a). Thirty-seven percent of references cited by the students in the study by
Gannon-Leary et al. (2006) were journal articles, which included nursing, medical and social
science journals. The emphasis that instructors placed on primary sources led the nursing
students to prefer journal articles when researching evidence-based practice. A study of clinical
4
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
nurses (Johannisson & Sundlin, 2007) identified a preference for primary medical references
over nursing literature. The authors found that complex power relationships between nurses and
physicians informed which sources were more highly valued. Information seeking needs and
behaviors of students may also be influenced by the culture and requirements of practicing
nurses and nursing faculty.
Nursing students use electronic databases to meet their information needs. Dee &
Stanley (2005a) reported that 84% of the students in their study used the internet and 67%
searched electronic databases at least weekly. The electronic sources they consulted included
CINAHL, Medline, National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) cancer.gov, and MedlinePlus. The major
deterrents to database searching included insufficient time (28%), followed by inadequate
computer skills (20%), and lack of perceived usefulness (8%). Very few nursing students lacked
access to a computer, although when they did it presented a large deterrent. Most students used
the internet search engines for information (Yahoo and Google). Their search skills consisted of
common internet search strategies, such as keyword searching and subject directories. While
these skills were adequate for internet searches, they often were not sufficient for searching the
Library of Medicine’s databases. Other studies describe difficulties that nursing students had
when searching electronic databases. Challenges included: Evaluating the relevancy of
resources; assessing the accuracy, reliability and validity of internet information; using search
methods like expanding & narrowing; and feeling overwhelmed by the volume of information
that searches generated (Brook, Pattern & Anderson, 2005; Cader, Derbyshire, Smith, Gannon-
Leary & Walton, 2006). Students described feelings of frustration, confusion, and distraction.
These types of challenges have led educators and information science professionals to call for
more interventions to improve information literacy in this population (Barnett-Ellis & Restauri,
2007).
A relatively new technology that is making electronic databases accessible to the students
in clinical rotations is the personal digital assistant (PDA). Guillot & Pryor (2007) issued PDAs
with access to PubMed to nursing students for use during their pediatric clinical rotations. The
students found the tool helpful and easy to learn to use. The stated benefits included portability,
improved time management, and bedside access to information on health and medications. The
authors reported that the PDA resolved the problem of relatively scarce print resources in their
5
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
study’s clinical setting. The benefit of point of care access to information via PDA was
especially appreciated by the students in this study because they were unexpectedly called upon
to assist children displaced by Hurricane Katrina in disaster shelters.
Another aspect of information seeking behavior is the utilization of library services.
Several studies have documented infrequent library use patterns by nursing students (Dee &
Stanley, 2005a; 2005b). Barnett-Ellis and Restauri (2007) found high utilization of electronic
databases and identified a preference to accessing services from locations remote from the
library. The majority of nursing students accessed sources from home (89%), followed by the
nursing school’s computer lab (69%), and the library (59%). While less than half indicated an
interest in utilizing more resources for learning about the library, 46% used the reference desk
and 44% contacted a nursing librarian for questions about resources. Most of the students (70%)
either were satisfied or very satisfied with the assistance they received from library personnel.
There was a significant correlation between student’s satisfaction with library personnel and their
tendency to come to the library for assistance. Schutt & Hightower (2009) reported high levels
of satisfaction with support from librarians consulted in person, by phone, or via email. Nursing
students in their study were completing library skills modules that were a course requirement.
Students valued the database search skills that they acquired through the instruction.
Several new technological approaches have been studied to improve access to
information sources for nursing students. One library research aid is the subject specific
academic study guide, available electronically. Staley (2007) found that nursing students
reported high use of the library study guide, most often using it to access online articles and
electronic databases, but also e-journals, library reference books and circulating library books.
A correlation was noted between high use patterns for study guides and previous formal library
instruction during which study guides were discussed. Hightower, Rawl & Schutt (2007)
described a strategy to increase access to and use of remotely available library resources by
embedding links in the course management system, WebCT. An analysis of library server logs
revealed that the students readily adopted this approach for accessing library services.
In summary, nursing students seek information from a variety of sources in order to
complete their academic requirements. Contextual issues, such as time limitations and
professional nursing practice culture, influence information seeking behaviors. Frequently
6
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
utilized sources include human resources, books, journal articles, electronic databases, and the
internet. Computer skills and information literacy are often described as deterrents in
information seeking. This calls for increased collaborations between nursing faculty and
information specialists to provide the necessary skills to support evidence-based practice.
Annotated Bibliography
Barnett-Ellis, P., & Restauri, S. (2006). Nursing student library usage patterns in online
courses: Findings and recommendations. Internet Reference Services Quarterly,
11(4), 117-138.
Abstract & Annotation: Describes a study of the information seeking behaviors and preferences
of 82 undergraduate nursing students. Data collection was by survey. Student sample self
identified as “traditional” full-time, but many were enrolled in on-line classes. Discusses
students’ preferences for consulting information sources, including electronic databases, Web
search, other students, faculty, and librarians. Includes a description of students’ computer use
for information purposes, including location for access. Satisfaction with library services and
interest in more formal library research training examined. Cited references include studies of
interest from the broader topic of information literacy and technology in academic settings.
Offers useful recommendations about incorporating library training and support services into
electronic platforms, such as Blackboard.
Search Strategy: Drexel Library online database search
Database: Library & Information Science Abstracts (LISA)
Method(s) of searching: Controlled subject vocabulary (thesaurus) and Boolean/phrase
and limited to peer reviewed journal articles
Search String: ((DE=nurses or nursing) or nursing students) and (DE=information
seeking behaviour or search strategies)
7
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
Brook, J., Pattern, D., & Anderson, S. (2005). The INHALE (Information for Nursing and
Health in a Learning Environment) Project. VINE: The Journal of Information and
Knowledge Management Systems, 35, (1/2), 28-38.
Abstract & Annotation: Describes the INHALE Project which evaluated the information-
seeking skills of over 1,600 nursing and other health students and developed a database of
information instructional modules for use in higher education in the UK. Used survey and focus
group sessions to identify internet information seeking behaviours, skill levels, user needs, and
awareness before and after administering an instructional module. Over the course of the
project, student use of the internet increased by 39% (to 99%) and use of print sources decreased
(8%). A majority of students had difficulty finding relevant information over the internet and
were overwhelmed by the volume of their searches despite the module. Students had problems
with: Formulating keywords; assessing for the accuracy, reliability and validity of internet
information; feelings of frustration, confusion, and distraction; and, difficulty narrowing
searches. Students expressed interest in further module instruction. Authors found that
embedding the modules in Blackboard resulted in more student utilization. Useful statistics
about student use and experiences of internet searches. The population group studied was not
described adequately.
Search Strategy: Drexel Library online database search
Database: Library & Information Science Abstracts (LISA)
Method(s) of searching: Controlled vocabulary (thesaurus) and Boolean/phrase and
limited to peer reviewed journal articles.
Search String: (nurses or nursing) and ((information seeking behaviour) or (search
strategies))
Cader, R., Derbyshire, J., Smith, A.G., Gannon-Leary, P., & Walton, G. (2006). In search
of evidence: A small scale study exploring how student nurses accessed information
for a health needs assignment. Nurse Education Today, 26(5), 403-408.
Abstract & Annotation: Presents a grounded theory analysis of the focus group discussions of 38
nursing students in a pre-registration program in the UK. The focus groups were used to discuss
8
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
students’ difficulties in information gathering during a health needs analysis assignment. Data
was organized into three main themes: Challenges of evidence gathering, nature of support that
the students’ needed, and understanding the importance of evidence for practice. Students
expressed difficulty in accessing specific information and evaluating its quality. They felt
challenged by the process in terms of needing to search broadly, but then apply the broader
information to a narrow, condensed topic. The difficulty of evaluating government publications
and geographical profiles for relevancy was especially noted. Although the article does not
reference Gannon-Leary, Walton, Cader, Derbyshire, & Smith (2006) , it expands on their
results through the application of grounded theory methodology.
Search Strategy: Dialog OneSearch INFOSCI
Database: SocialSci Search (7)
Method(s) of searching: Boolean/phrase
Search String: INFORMATION()NEED? AND NURS?(N)STUDENT
Dee, C., & Stanley, E.E. (2005). Information-seeking behavior of nursing students and
clinical nurses: Implications for health sciences librarians. Journal of the Medical
Library Association, 93(2), 213-222.
Abstract & Annotation: Presents research describing 25 clinical nurses’ and 25 graduate nursing
students’ use of library and information resources and barriers to use of electronic sources for
clinical information. Data gathered from questionnaires, interviews and observations. Reports
the frequency of use for information sources, which included human resources, textbooks, PDAs,
electronic journals, electronic books, and drug representatives. Includes specific databases
referenced. Results and Discussion sections provide useful insight into information-seeking
behaviors and comparisons within these two groups. Since the student sample was drawn from
an elective nursing informatics class, their computer skills and interest may not be representative
of nursing students in general. This article is frequently cited by others who study the
information behaviors of nursing students. Various works by author Dee have been cited over
100 times since 1993.
Search Strategy: Dialog OneSearch INFOSCI
9
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
Database: INSPEC
Method(s) of searching: Boolean/phrase
Search String: INFORMATION()NEED? AND NURSING()STUDENT?
Additional Search Strategy: Cited author and reference search
Database: SocialSciSearch (7) using DialogClassic
Search String: CA=Dee C (Note: Records also uncovered as Dee CR)
CR=Dee C
Dee, C.R., & Stanley, E.E. (2005). Nurses’ information needs: Nurses’ and hospital
librarians’ perspective. Journal of Hospital Librarianship, 5(2), 1-13.
Abstract & Annotation: Article discusses a study of the information needs and information-
seeking behaviors of 25 clinical nurses who were also enrolled in graduate nursing classes. Each
of the nurses had received training from a librarian on basic skills necessary for database
searches in MEDLINE and CINAHL. This was followed by the study intervention, an NIH
grant funded database training program, that included MedlinePlus and PUBMED. Data
collection was by questionnaire and interview. In addition, surveys were sent to 8 hospital
librarians to identify resources and library use patterns for the nursing students. Nurses reported
heavy daily reliance on human resources (supervisors, physicians, and other nurses) followed by
print resources (books, journals). Of the electronic resources, internet search engines were used
more frequently than authoritative electronic databases. Deterrents to use of authoritative
electronic sources included lack of perceived usefulness, time constraints, and insufficient
computer skills and training. The study reports low utilization of available library resources.
Authors recommend that librarians market their expertise to nurses. Of note was a judgmental
tone that crept out of one of the quotations attributed to a librarian in the study sample when
describing the challenge of marketing services to nursing students.
Search Strategy: Drexel Library online database search
Database: CINAHL
10
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
Method(s) of searching: Boolean/phrase search using controlled (thesaurus) vocabulary
Search String: students, nursing and information seeking behavior; limited to English,
peer reviewed and publication year 1999-2009
Gannon-Leary, P., Walton, G., Cader, R., Derbyshire, J., & Smith, Ann. (2006). Use of
evidence by nursing students: An interdisciplinary study. Library & Information
Science Research, 28, 249-264.
Abstract & Annotation: Discusses a study of information-seeking behaviors of 40 Bachelor’s
degree nursing students in the U.K. in the context of completing an evidence-based practice
assignment. Methods include focus group discussion and citation analysis. The results section
offers useful information about information behaviors, including currency and types of
references cited, including books, journals, government and other agency publications. Includes
extensive literature reviews of evidence-based practice in nursing and citation analysis as a
research method. Discussion section is very limited. One of the weaknesses of the study is that
it was impossible to ascertain through citation analysis the true source of the references (Web vs.
print). Despite this, 12% of the cited references were clearly Web-based. Limited access to the
web was identified as an issue for the study sample.
Search Strategy: Dialog OneSearch INFOSCI
Database: INSPEC
Method(s) of searching: Boolean/phrase
Search String: INFORMATION()NEED? AND NURSING()STUDENT?
Guillot, L., & Pryor, S. (2007). PDA use by undergraduate nursing students on pediatric
clinical rotations. Journal of Hospital Librarianship, 7(3), 13-20.
Abstract & Annotation: Authors conducted a quasi-experimental study of 140 senior
undergraduate nursing students’ use of PDA technology to access health and drug information.
Data collected by pre/post test. Reported benefits to students include portability, improved time
management, and bedside access to information. Nursing students in PDA group reported
positive attitudes and rapid skills acquisition in relation to PDA use. No medication errors were
11
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
observed in experimental group. In addition to their regular pediatric clinical rotations, this
group of students found PDAs to be helpful when called to provide relief to Hurricane Katrina
victims. Article lacks descriptive statistics or comparisons with control group in the results
section. This makes it impossible to interpret the significance of the lack of medication errors n
the experimental group (PDA).
Search Strategy: Drexel Library online database search
Database: Library, Information Science, & Technology Abstracts (LISTA)
Method(s) of searching: Boolean/phrase; advanced search limited to Scholarly (Peer
Reviewed) Journals; Publication Type: Academic Journal
Search String: nursing students and library
Hernon, P., Hopper, R., Leach, M.R., Saunders, L.L., & Zhang, J. (2007). E-book use by
students: Undergraduates in economics, literature, and nursing. The Journal of
Academic Librarianship, 33(1), 3-13.
Abstract & Annotation: Presents research describing the patterns of e-book use of a small
sample of undergraduate students (n=5 for each specialty). Study methods were interview and
observation using think-aloud protocol as students worked through a pre-determined search task.
Results include type of e-books used and how students use and manipulate e-books. The nursing
students in the study limited their use of e-books (scanning and reading) to reference sources,
such as drug handbooks and medical dictionaries. The authors describe their skills as beginning
or adequate in terms of their use of the available tools for manipulating e-book content
electronically. Included in the results are descriptions of each student’s information behaviors
while completing the search task. The authors state that the use of e-books may be limited by
nursing instructors’ preference that cited references be journal articles. This study is limited by
small sample size.
Search Strategy: Drexel Library online database search
Database: Library Literature & Information Science Full Text
12
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
Method(s) of searching: controlled vocabulary (thesaurus) terms and Boolean/phrase;
limited to peer-reviewed articles
Search String: nursing students and use studies
Hightower, B., Rawl, C., & Schutt, M. (2007). Collaborations for delivering the library to
students through WebCT. Reference Services Review, 35(4), 541-551.
Abstract & Annotation: This article describes a collaborative effort between librarians and
nursing faculty to incorporate library services into the online course management system at
Auburn University. Discusses the program’s implementation and faculty’s participation in
depth. Faculty participation assessed by survey and interview. The libraries monthly server logs
were evaluated to identify the numbers of students’ who accessed the library using WebCT links.
Referrals from the WebCT links increased from 57 incidents prior to the intervention with
faculty to 191 after. While the study’s intervention was aimed at faculty, one of the outcomes
was a change in nursing student behavior. It is unknown from the study design whether the
intervention actually increased library utilization or whether the students simply used a different
path of access. This study overlaps the study intervention described in Schutte & Hightower
(2009). It is difficult to identify which aspects of the two studies impacted the behaviors of the
nursing students.
Search Strategy: Dialog OneSearch INFOSCI
Database: INSPEC
Method(s) of searching: Boolean/phrase
Search String: (nursing(n)student? or nursing or nurse?) and (information(w)need or
librar?(w)use or information(w)seeking or information(w)seeking(w)behavio? or
information need?) and PY>1999
Johannisson, J., & Sundlin, O. (2007). Putting discourse to work: Information practices
and the professional project of nurses. Library Quarterly, 77(2), 199-218.
Abstract & Annotation: This article from Sweden interprets data from interviews with 20 nurse
specialists about their production, seeking, evaluation, and use of professional information. Uses
13
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
neopragmatism and information seeking in context as the theoretical framework for
understanding information behaviors in the nursing profession. Information practices serve as a
basis for decision making, but also serve a purpose in terms of the professional development in
nursing. Despite the development of a unique body of nursing knowledge, power and legitimacy
issues in relating to the powerful medical profession result in nursing experts’ emphasis on
information seeking in terms of medical information. The corollary of diminishing the
importance of often qualitative nursing research is identified. Reports perceived variations in
information seeking based on age and education backgrounds of nurses. This article offers the
expanded perspective of information seeking behaviors as being more than just an individual’s
efforts to fill an identified gap in understanding. Information seeking is best identified in
context. An unfortunate aspect of this article is the overwhelming theoretical language which
makes the content less accessible.
Search Strategy: Drexel Library online database search
Database: Library & Information Science Abstracts (LISA)
Method(s) of searching: Controlled subject vocabulary (thesaurus) and Boolean/phrase
and limited to peer reviewed journal articles
Search String: ((DE=nurses or nursing) or nursing students) and (DE=information
seeking behaviour or search strategies)
McKnight, M. (2007). A grounded theory model of on-duty critical care nurse’ information
behavior. Journal of Documentation, 63(1), 57-73.
Abstract & Annotation: Describes a study of the information behaviors and uses of 6 critical
care nurses in a community hospital during a routine shift. Analyzed 50 hours of observation
notes and recorded interviews. Found that information behaviors focused on patient-specific
information and most frequently included interactions with patients and the patient record. Other
routine interactions involved other hospital personnel, medical staff, family members, and nurses
during change of shift report. The author attributes the nurses’ reliance on interpersonal
information sources to time constraints. For the nurses studied in the context of their workday,
there was an absence of consultation of published or electronic references in support of nursing
14
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
research utilization or evidence-based practice. The author questions whether academic models
of information searching and retrieval can be successful in a time-pressured patient care
environment. The implications section is particularly interesting. McKnight is frequently cited
in the specialty of nursing and librarianship.
Search Strategy: Drexel Library online database search
Database: Library & Information Science Abstracts (LISA)
Method(s) of searching: Controlled subject vocabulary (thesaurus) and Boolean/phrase
and limited to peer reviewed journal articles
Search String: ((DE=nurses or nursing) or nursing students) and (DE=information
seeking behaviour or search strategies)
Additional Search Strategy: Cited author search
Database: SocialSciSearch (7) using DialogClassic
Search String: CR=McKnight M
Schutt, M.A., & Hightower, B. (2009). Enhancing RN-to-BSN students’ information
literacy skills through the use of instructional technology. Journal of Nursing
Education, 48(2), 101-105.
Abstract & Annotation: Describes a program to increase information literacy skills for RN-to-
BSN students. Program elements included classroom instruction in foundational computer
technology and database searching skills followed by completion of an online database module
and communication with instructor via the online course management system (WebCT). Data
are included for follow-up surveys by 20 students which document high satisfaction with the
program. Most students found the program helped them improve their database searching skills
and felt that the skills would be useful for their current job. They also voiced positive
experiences with the librarians involved in the process. Communications with librarians
occurred in person, via email or by phone. Article includes useful review of literature about
nursing students and literacy skills.
Search Strategy: Citation searching
15
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
Database: Social SciSearch in Dialog
Method(s) of searching: Cited author search
Search String: ca=Dee C
Staley, S.M. (2007). Academic subject guides: A case study of use at San José State
University. College & Research Libraries, 68(2), 119-137.
Abstract & Annotation: Discusses results of a study on the use of academic subject guides by
students in three majors: Nursing, Journalism & Mass Communications, and Organization &
Management. Reports the information-seeking behaviors and attitudes of 255 undergraduate
Nursing students related to their use of library academic study guides. Method was survey by
random sample. A high percentage of nursing students reported using the study guides with the
list of online databases receiving the most use. A correlation was noted between high use
patterns for study guides and previous formal library instruction during which study guides were
discussed. Article includes helpful tables describing the use of different research tools by
nursing students and their perceived usefulness. These include reported use of both print and
electronic sources.
Search Strategy: Drexel Library online database search
Database: Library Literature & Information Science Full Text
Method(s) of searching: controlled vocabulary (thesaurus) terms and Boolean/phrase;
limited to peer-reviewed articles
Search String: (nursing students) Smart Search AND (information needs)
Smart Search
16
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
Annotated List of Recommended Resources
CINAHL (Ebsco)
An authoritative index of the nursing literature. This electronic database
ndexes/abstracts books, journals and dissertations in nursing, physical therapy, medical
technology and allied health areas. Records from 1982 to present. Field searching available in
advanced search option. Includes a thesaurus with subject headings. Some access to full text
available. Website has an uncluttered appearance and beginning search option is user friendly
for students with beginning search skills. Database is closed source and available through
Drexel University Library.
CINAHL( Database). Accessed 9 Mar 2009 via
http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.drexel.edu
Drexel University Library Research Guide for Nursing
Subject guides available for nursing and evidenced-based practice in nursing through
Drexel library website. Includes electronic journals, selected electronic reference and textbooks,
recommended electronic databases (including some already listed in this annotated reference
list), and links to academic and professional associations. A very good first source for nursing
students who are either interested in quick answers to clinical questions or doing more in depth
research for class projects.
Drexel University Library Research Guide for Nursing. Accessed 9 Mar 2009 at
http://www.library.drexel.edu/resources/guides.
PubMed
Offers open source access to Medline, an authoritative index of the biomedical literature
and journals in the life sciences. Medline is the National Library of Medicine’s premier
bibliographic database that contains references to journal articles from 1950 to the present, with
some older material. Indexes over 5,000 journal titles. Database is updated daily with newly
indexed articles. PubMed site includes topic, author, title searching as a basic feature.
Advanced search also available with a variety of optional limits. A distinctive feature of
17
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
MEDLINE is that the records are indexed with NLM's Medical Subject Headings. Some full
text articles are available through link with PubMedCentral. Otherwise, does not include full
text. Closed source options for access to Medline are available through Drexel Library via:
DIALOG, OCLC First Search, and OVID. The closed source options include more access to
full-text articles.
National Library of Medicine. (2009). PubMed (Internet website). Cited 8 Mar 2009. Available
from www.pubmed.gov
MedlinePlus
This open source website is designed to help consumers and health professionals access
health information, MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related
organizations. Pre-formulated MEDLINE searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy
access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, a
medical dictionary, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, latest health
news, and links to clinical trials. Coverage includes over 750 diseases and conditions. Includes
health information in Spanish and in “easy to read” formats. No company or product
endorsements are included. Content updates on a variable schedule according to type: News
updates daily and topic pages update every six months. Topic searches are done by browsing
several types of user friendly indexes.
National Library of Medicine. (2009). MedlinePlus (Internet website). Updated 6 Mar 2009,
cited 6 Mar 2009. Available from: http://medlineplus.gov/
NursingConsult
Mosby’s Nursing Consult brings together nursing resources to help nurses efficiently find
answers to clinical questions. Includes the following categories of content: Drug Information,
Patient Education Information, Professional Journals, Reference Books, Current News, Clinical
Practice Information, Evidence-based Content, and Care Planning Tools. NursingConsult also
18
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
includes the database, Mosby’s Nursing Index, which has journal titles that CINAHL does not
own. Includes a dictionary feature.
This resource is available electronically through Drexel’s Libraries and also comes in
PDA format. It is not open source. After Drexel authentication, an additional user login is
required to access many features of the website. Advanced search feature enables user to search
by a topic and yields sources from all of the categories of content. An advanced search using the
subject term “labor support” brought up resources in all categories, but not all were pertinent to
subject. Website includes user friendly features including tabs and drop down menus. However,
it has a cluttered appearance and requires some time to gain familiarity.
Mosby. 2009. NursingConsult (Internet website). Cited 8 Mar 2009. Available from
http://www.nursingconsult.com.ezproxy.library.drexel.edu
PsychINFO
Closed source electronic database that indexes and abstracts books, dissertations and
journal articles in the psychological and behavioral sciences, including the creative arts therapies.
Covers 1872 to present. Accessible via Drexel Library through OVID. The OVID search user
interface is a little confusing at first, but can accommodate beginning searchers with a little
patience. Includes a basic search function that is plain text, as well as advanced search options.
Has subject heading thesaurus with scope notes. Results have link to SFX resolver. Useful
database for nursing students who are researching topics in the related fields of psychology and
the behavioral sciences.
PsychInfo (Electronic Database). Accessed 8 Mar 2009 via
http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.ezproxy.library.drexel.edu
Summary
This project provided me with an opportunity to practice some new skills. Prior to this
class, I did not have much experience with electronic database searching. I found it interesting to
note that the most precise research strings do not always yield the best results. Much like the
19
NURSING STUDENTS AND INFORMATION
nursing students in the studies (Brook et al., 2005; Cader et al., 2006), I needed to practice
broadening and narrowing a search. Because the user studies for nursing students are limited, I
was forced to consider the broader topic of nurses and their information behaviors. In addition,
when I noticed that almost all of the studies were of bachelor’s or graduate degree nursing
students, then I had to make decisions about whether to expand the search into more general
topics such as user studies for associate degree students. Once I had broadened the search, then I
needed to narrow it back to fit the requirements of the assignment. It illustrated the complexity
that was involved in covering what seemed like it should be a straightforward topic.
In terms of my future professional development as an information specialist, I was
encouraged by the current emphasis in the nursing and information science literature on
professional collaboration to enhance the literacy skills of nursing students. When I was
reviewing older articles to get a historical sense of the literature, I was struck by the judgmental
tone of one of the articles I read (Tyler & Switzer, 1991). A negative perception of nursing
students was also present in the form of reported content of interviews with librarians in one of
the articles I included in the annotated bibliography (Dee & Stanley, 2005b). I learned from
writing this paper that a number of contextual issues influence the information seeking of nursing
students and I am hopeful that negative perceptions toward nursing students by librarians are not
serving as a deterrent to library utilization. Nursing students need support as they attempt to
master the information skills required for evidence-based practice.
Additional References
Morgan, P.D., Fogel, J., Hicks, P., Wright, L, and Tyler, I. (2007). Strategic enhancement of
nursing students information literacy skills: Interdisciplinary perspectives. The ABNF
Journal, 18(2), 40-45.
State of California. (2008). California Nurse Education Initiative: Annual report 2007.
Retrieved 6 Mar 2009 at http://labor.ca.gov/nurseinitindex.htm
Tyler, J.K, & Switzer, J.H. (1991). Meeting the information needs of nursing students. Medical
Reference Services Quarterly, 10(3), 39-44.
20