NURS 240
Avoid plagiarism by properly citing your sources. Please go to the Citations webpage to learn how.
Starting your Research
Most of us start doing research using a search engine, such as Google. Because of the vast amounts of information and misinformation that can be found on the Internet, you must be sure to critically evaluate all information found on websites. Please see Criteria for Evaluating a Website for help with determining if a source is reliable.
If you're going to Google, Google Smart!. Consider using the Google Advanced Search or Google Scholar. You can set-up Google Scholar so that it will link you into articles that the library subscribes to. To learn how, click here.
Using Library Resources to Find Reliable Information
**Remember the easy path to finding library materials: Library Homepage> Find Menu>
Reliable information may be found in many types of library materials. Some examples are:
- Books that may be found in the online catalog. If you specifically want online books, please click here.
- Encyclopedias and other reference books can also be found in the online catalog, or please see our collection of Online Encyclopedias.
- Articles from Journals, newspapers, newsletters, and more can be found in Databases.
Using FLITE Databases to Find Articles, Dissertations, Reference Materials, etc.
What is a database?? A nice definition is available from the Univeristy of Manitoba, that states that a database is "A collection of information organized in such a way that a computer program can quickly select desired pieces of data. You can think of a database as an electronic filing system." So, if you want to find information on a certain topic, such as HIPAA, you can do a keyword search to find the related files.
Some recommended databases for finding information on health and medical topics include:
Stat!Ref
As stated above, Stat!Ref is an excellent starting point for researching medical topics. Enter your search term into the search box and you will obtain a rank-ordered list of results taken from various medical encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, and other medical reference books. A very helpful feature of this database is the Related Concepts box to the left of the results that will provide you with synonyms for your topic. These related concepts or synonyms can be used to enhance your searches in this database, as well as the other databases.
Click here for a Stat!Ref Database Guide.
PubMed with FLITE licensed Journal link-out
This is the largest biomedical database, with over 19 million citations. Search using keywords and then limit your search if necessary using the limits tab, related articles link, or selecting the Review tab to see only review articles. Other highly useful resources linked from PubMed include Single Citation Matcher and Consumer Health.
Click here for PubMed Database Tutorials.
CINAHL
The Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) gathers information from more than 1800 journals. Use the CINAHL Headings tab to get more subject-specific information on various topics. When you have found your subject heading, you may click on it to break your topic down by subdivision. Click on the search options link to the right of your results to add limits such as peer-reviewed or publication date limits. You can narrow and expand your search using the options available in this database.
General OneFile
This is a general database that will be useful for searching many subject areas. Health Reference Center is a subset of General OneFile and operates in the same manner as General OneFile. For both General OneFile and Health Reference Center, the default search is a subject guide search. In the subject guide search you can only search one term at a time. If you are having difficulties finding the proper subject term, switch to the Basic Search or Advanced Search and perform a keyword search, then select a pertinent article to find the proper subject heading. Also use the Basic Search or Advanced Search if combining search terms. In the Advanced Search you can limit your articles to particular journals, full-text, peer-reviewed, etc.
Cochrane Library
The Cochrane Library is a valuable resource for evidence-based medicine. The reviews in this library are meta-analyses, meaning that each review contains pooled data from numerous independent studies on a particular topic. The pooled data has been synthesized and scrutinized to arrive at a statistically valid conclusion regarding the effectiveness of a treatment/procedure. This library is growing, so be sure to check back at a later time if you are not currently finding information on your topic. You can search using keywords, such as disease names and treatments, or browse Cochrane Reviews by topic. *Please note that Cochrane Reviews can also be found in PubMed. If you find a Cochrane Review in PubMed, open the Cochrane Database and search for the review within Cochrane to get the full text.
Publicly Available Databases
You can use these even after you graduate!!!!
PubMed
Yes, you saw this database listed above, but it is also publicly available, so get accustomed to using this wonderful resource!! You won't always have the FLITE-licensed journal link-out, but there will still be tremendous resources at your fingertips.
Click here for PubMed Database Tutorials.
Trip Database
This well known database is freely available on the Internet and provides evidence-based information. Search the entire database, or proceed to the specialist site of interest.
Obtaining the Full-Text of Articles
In some databases you will see an option for a Text version of the document or a PDF version. In general, the PDF version is preferable as it is most often a scanned version of the original and will therefore contain the graphics. When e-mailing, printing, or saving a group of articles, be sure to select the full-text or PDF option if available.
Some databases contain little full-text, but allow you to link out to Ferris' holdings or the interlibrary loan request form. You will notice the Find it! links following individual citations that will indicate the availability of the article online, in the library, or the need to interlibrary loan the article. Click on the Go button and you will be taken to the online version, library holdings record, or interlibrary loan form to obtain the article you desire. See the example below:
Sample Article Link-Out
Evaluating your Articles
The guide, Guide to Popular vs. Scholarly Journals is helpful for determining if the article that you are utilizing is from a scholarly source. Also, the EBM Guidebook from the University of California, Irvine, also listed below, has an excellent section on Appraising information sources, and draws off of the "CAMEL" method of evaluation.
An interlibrary loan reminder, before requesting articles from interlibrary loan, please review the abstract and make sure that the article is on-topic. Also, please insure that the article is in a language that you speak, as some databases, such as PubMed index many non-English articles that have abstracts written in English. After you have evaluated the topical coverage and language of the article, please do not hesitate to request it through interlibrary loan if it is not available on campus.
Evidence-Based Practice Websites:
EBM Guidebook from the University of California, Irvine
National Guidelines Clearing House
University of Minnesota Guide on Evidence Based Nursing
Other Useful Library Links
Find Books: You may also want to look at the guide for Finding Online Books.
Citation Help for APA Format: (These are all current guides, as APA recently released a new edition)
Northern Michigan University's APA Style Guide: A great APA style guide.
APA Citation Style Guide Quick Reference Sheet in PDF format
New APA standards for citing Electronic Resources
Any more questions? Contact: Alison (Ali) Konieczny / Email / Phone: 231-591-3696 / Office: FLITE 315
Don't forget, you are welcome to come to the Oval Information Desk and ask for help any time. You can also call us 231-591-3602 or chat with us.
Last update: Sept. 28, 2009