NUR 200: Professional Concepts in Nursing Course Guide

Coming Attractions...

Services, resources, and locations are all subject to change, particularly during academic year breaks. What's new at Fogler Library.

Use Databases to Find Citations to Journal Articles

CINAHL is the most useful database for this and many other nursing classes. For some paper topics, you might also use MEDLINE, PsycINFO, or other databases.
Indexes and databases are designed for use worldwide (not just here), so they refer to items we don't own.
Sometimes the full text of articles is included in databases. However, you will find additional articles online through links in the URSUS catalog, and even more articles in the print journals at the library.
Different companies produce different interfaces to CINAHL. Consequently, the database may look very different at other libraries, or even from one year to the next.
Planning to do library research off campus?
- Activate your library card at the Fogler Library circulation desk so you can use library resources off campus. Wait a day or two for complete activation.
- Computer problems? See How to Connect.

Citation from the CINAHL database

Educational innovations. Avoiding socialization pitfalls in accelerated second-degree nursing education: the returning-to-school syndrome model. (includes abstract) Utley-Smith Q; Journal of Nursing Education, 2007 Sep; 46 (9): 423-6 (journal article - tables/charts) CINAHL AN: 2009662962

Same citation, 5th edition APA format

Utley-Smith, Q. (2007). Avoiding socialization pitfalls in accelerated second-degree nursing education: The returning-to-school syndrome model. Journal of Nursing Education, 46, 423-426.

Searching Databases

See the CINAHL guide (or other database guides) for detailed instructions.

Before you search:

Document your research process--list the databases you used, the search terms you tried, etc.
Click on for the most search options.
Running out of time? Save your search strategy (and maybe some results).

Identify individual concepts within your topic.
Search for each concept separately, using the Exploded official subject headings.
Combine the subject headings.
Apply limits.
Evaluate your results BEFORE you print them--read the abstract, skim full text, look at the subject headings.

Combining subject headings

AND Socialization and Students, Nursing
OR Students, Nursing or Education, Nursing

Limits

Commonly used limits in CINAHL: Publication Year, Peer Reviewed, USA (in Journal Subset), and sometimes Research (in Publication Type).
Commonly used limits in MEDLINE: Date of Publication, English Language, Humans.

Finding Journal Articles at Fogler Library...and Beyond

See Finding Items at Fogler Library and Getting Items From Other Libraries.

Notes:

Most article copies are free, but sometimes other libraries charge delivery and copying fees. On the request form, indicate the maximum cost you are willing to pay in case there is a charge.
Paper copies are sent to Fogler Library.
If you are going to visit another library, call before you travel. Check hours, policies, copying fees, and whether the issue you need is available.
Some of the links on the Ejournals list may not work for distance education students.
Distance education students can use the Off-Campus Library Services Document Delivery System to get copies of articles
Distance education students: Only Off-Campus Library Services delivers paper copies directly to your preferred address (and this adds to the delivery time).

Questions?

Nancy Curtis, 581-1679
Science & Engineering Center, 581-1691
Reference Desk, 581-1673
Ask A Librarian

Off-Campus Library Services:
1-800-339-7323 (Maine)
1-888-266-4950 (National)
Ask A Librarian at Off-Campus Library Services

Created by: Nancy Curtis | Revised: 01/25/2008