Fogler Library

NUR 505: Nursing Research Course Guide


Introduction | General Tips on Library Use | Nursing Databases | Searching Databases | Evidence Based Literature Searching | From Citations To Articles | Questions?

Introduction

This page presents an overview of the resources and services currently available to students. Services, resources, and locations are all subject to change, particularly during academic year breaks. What's new at Fogler library.

General Tips on Library Use

Nursing Databases

Use Indexes and Databases (on the Fogler Library page) to find citations or references to journal articles.

Selected databases for nursing available at Fogler Library
Database Subjects covered Materials covered Notes
CINAHL
CINAHL database guide
Nursing, allied health Journal articles, dissertations, software, etc.
1982+
Includes non-English publications
Pre-CINAHL Nursing, allied health Current journal articles & other materials "in process" for CINAHL Lacks subject headings. Includes non-English publications.
Cochrane Library Diseases, conditions, treatments, interventions Full text systematic reviews, clinical trials, technology assessments  
MEDLINE
MEDLINE database guide
Medicine, related health sciences Journal articles.
~1950+
Includes non-English publications. Includes references on animal research.
PubMed Medicine, related health sciences Journal articles.
Pre-1950+
More current and comprehensive than MEDLINE. Includes clinical query filters. Includes non-English publications. Includes references on animal research.
PsycINFO
PsycINFO database guide
Psychology, psychiatry, educational psychology Journal articles, book chapters.
1887+
Includes non-English publications. Includes references on animal research.

Searching Databases for Scholarly References

See the database guides for CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO for detailed instructions.

Search steps

Note: Click Advanced Search for most effective use of the databases.
  1. Document your research process--list the databases you used, the search terms you tried, etc.
  2. Define your topic and parameters.
  3. Identify individual concepts within your topic.
  4. Search for each concept separately. Use subject headings or terms from the thesaurus whenever possible.
  5. Combine the concepts.
  6. Apply limits to the results.

Use subject headings or terms from the thesaurus

No thesaurus or subject headings?

Combining concepts

Combine subject headings, sets, or search ID #s using ANDs
Socialization and Students, Nursing
s1 and s2
  AND narrows a search, 
      finding only results containing both terms.
and ORs.
Students, Nursing or Education, Nursing
s1 or s2
  OR expands a search, finding 
      results containing either or both terms.

Applying limits

Evidence Based Literature Searching in Fogler Library Databases--Quick Tips and Simple Strategies

Selected strategies for finding evidence based literature in CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO, Fogler Library
Search Target CINAHL MEDLINE PsycINFO
Meta-Analysis or Systematic Review

These approaches can be used to find literature on diagnosis, therapy, etc. as well.

Subject headings:

  • Literature Review+
  • Meta Analysis
  • Professional Practice, Evidence-Based+
  • Systematic Review

Limit:
Evidence-Based Practice

Limits--Publication Type:

  • Practice Guidelines
  • Review
  • Standards
  • Systematic Review

Subject headings:

  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review Literature+

Limit:
EBM Reviews

Limits--Publication Type:

  • Consensus Development Conference
  • Guideline
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Multicenter Study
  • Review [or more specific review types]

Subject headings:

  • Evidence Based Practice
  • Literature Review
  • Meta Analysis
  • Professional Standards

Limits--Methodology:

  • Literature Review
  • Meta Analysis
  • Systematic Review
Diagnosis or Etiology

Subject headings:

  • Case Control Studies+
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies+
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

 

Subject headings:

  • Case-Control Studies+
  • Cohort Studies+
  • Risk+
  • Sensitivity and Specificity+

Subject headings:

  • Cohort Analysis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Statistical Validity
  • Test Validity

Limits--Methodology:

  • Longitudinal Study
  • Prospective Study
  • Retrospective Study
Therapy or Prognosis

Subject headings:

  • Clinical Trials+
  • Disease Progression
  • Placebos
  • Prognosis+
  • Prospective Studies+
  • Treatment Outcomes+

Subheading:
Prognosis [/PR]

Limit--Publication Type: Clinical Trial

Subject headings:

  • Clinical Trials+
  • Cohort Studies+
  • Disease Progression
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Placebos
  • Prognosis+
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Treatment Outcome

Limit--Publication Type: Clinical Trial [or more specific types]

Subject headings:

  • Clinical Trials
  • Cohort Analysis
  • Disease Course
  • Followup Studies
  • Placebo
  • Prognosis
  • Treatment Effectiveness Evaluation
  • Treatment Guidelines
  • Treatment Outcomes

Limits--Methodology:

  • Followup Study
  • Longitudinal Study
  • Prospective Study
  • Treatment Outcome/Clinical Trial

From Citations To Articles

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

More information about interlibrary loan:

Notes for distance education students:

Questions?

Nancy Curtis, 581-1679
UMaine Science & Engineering Center, 581-1691
UMaine Reference Desk, 581-1673
Ask A Librarian at UMaine
OCLS, 1-800-339-7323
Ask A Librarian at Off-Campus Library Services

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


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