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NU481 - Issues in Nursing Research & Management: Finding Articles

Finding Articles Using Library Databases

Staley Library has plenty of online resources that will help you locate the primary sources you need for your research paper. This page includes tips on how to use the many helpful advanced search features included by CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Proquest Nursing and Allied Health Source.

Since we do not have access to all the full text, please make use of the interlibrary loan request system. Articles can take up to two days to be delivered to your email; however, it usually takes less time.

If you're having troubles locating sources, reach out to your liaison librarian, Liz Hollendonner via email or set up an appointment.

CINAHL Complete

CINAHL Search Filters

There are other, useful search limiters on the main search screen, below the search box that allow you to limit your results to certain options before you even perform your search. Look for the "Search Options" area of the screen.

Search Options

  • If you need to find an article in a nursing journal, select "Nursing" from the "Journal Subset" limiter

  • If you need an author to be a nurse, use the "First Author is Nurse" or "Any Author is Nurse" limiters

  • You may need a "Peer-Reviewed" article, an "Evidence-Based Practice" article, or a "Research Article."  There are limits for these as well!
   

 

  • You may want to limit your journal to "English Language," or limit your results to the languages you are able to read (hold down the "ctrl" button on your keyboard and click on each option to choose multiple languages).

  • Your professor may ask you to find article within the last five years. Use the date limiter for this!

PubMed Search Filters

PubMed includes options to filter your search results after you perform a search:

Screen shot of PubMed search screen with filters on left side of screen

On the left side of the screen, filter/limit options include:

  • Publication dates - 5 years

Screen shot of PubMed limit to published within the last 5 years

  • Article types - Review, Randomized Controlled Trial, Systematic Reviews, Meta Analysis, Case Reports, etc.  Just click "Customize" to see the full list of article type options.

Screen shot of additional PubMed article type limit options

  • To see more limit options, including a "Journal Categories" limit that will allow you to limit to article published in nursing journals, select the "Show Additional Filters" option.

Screen shot of additional PubMed limitsScreen shot of PubMed nursing journals limit option

Searching Proquest Nursing and Allied Health Source

This database does not have as many specific limiters as CINAHL, but is still useful for locating sources for your care plans.

1. Start by typing your search term(s) into the search boxes at the top of the screen.

Screen shot of Proquest Nursing search screen

2. Next, scroll down the page to the search options to find the option labeled "Document Type." Choose "Evidence Based Healthcare," then click "Search."

Screen shot of Proquest Nursing evidence based healthcare limit

3. Results will be limited to evidence-based practice publications like systematic reviews, evidence summaries, and best practice information sheets.

Finding Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses

One of the highest levels in the hierarchy of evidence based practice is evidence from a systematic review or meta-analysis of relevant randomized controlled trials (RCT).

Systematic Review- through a well-defined process, researchers identify and analyze multiple research studies addressing the same clinical issue to come to a conclusion on the effectiveness of a specific intervention, diagnostic test, or methodology.

Meta-Analysis- quantitative statistical analysis of data collected from the many studies in a systematic review.

To locate and access this type of evidence, use one of the following databases:

For more about Cochrane Reviews, see: http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/view/0/AboutCochraneSystematicReviews.html

For Cochrane Library tutorial videos, see: http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/view/0/HowtoUse.html

1. Start your search by typing keywords for the disease, condition, intervention, or methodology into the search box and click "Go":

Screen shot of Cochrane Library search screen

2. Results will display where your search term(s) appear in the title, abstract or assigned keywords of the systematic review. Click on a title to view the full text of the review.

Screen shot of Cochrane Library search results.

3. Once you have chosen a specific result, you will be shown the abstract for the review. To view the summary or full version of the review, or just the figures, tables, or references, choose one of the options in the middle of the screen:

Screen shot of Cochrane viewing options

but, you will probably want to scroll down the screen a bit and start with reading the plain language summery:

Screen shot of Cochrane plain language summary

1. Start by typing your search term(s) into the search boxes at the top of the screen.

2. Next, scroll down the screen into the portion labeled "Filters" until you see the limit labeled "Publication Type." Scroll through these options and click on the selection "Meta Analysis," "Meta Synthesis" or "Systematic Review."

There is also a filter option for "Meta-Synthesis."

3. Then click "Search" to see search results related to your search terms with that publication type. Click on full text links to view the systematic review or meta-analysis:

Screen shot of full text of systematic review

1. Start by searching your search terms in the PubMed search box and hit enter.

2. As described above, in the PubMed Search Limits guide, on the left side of the screen, select "Customize" under "Article Types."

3. Select "Systematic Reviews" or "Meta-Analysis" from the list of article types and and click "Show."

Screen shot of how to select Systematic Reviews in PubMed