Rx for Library Success Today: Finding a good article in a nursing journal

Presentation Pieces/Parts 1.The Library On the Web Connecting from off-campus Getting help 2.“Journals”, “Databases” 3.Getting an article: Search -> limit -> evaluate -> find

Library Home

How do I get there? Through Flashline, LIBRARY tab Through using Quick Linkswww.kent.edu Directly at:

What if I want to do this from off- campus? Good question--our best stuff is restricted to KSU users. –So, from off-campus, you must authenticate using your Flashline credentials

Aaagghh, can I get HELP? Absolutely—in person, phone, , IM Click on this icon for assistance--

“Journals?” Special type of periodical/magazine –Scholarly content –For Nursing, the source of current information in the profession “Peer-Review” – process by which the best journals critically evaluate submitted papers to determine if they meet their standards required for publication.

Okay…now “Databases” Databases (or specifically Research Databases) are the finding tools for identifying journal articles on a given topic. CINAHL [Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature] is the #1 research database for Nursing.

Where are the research databases? Alphabetical listing (over 100 choices) OR Subject listing through left navigation bar

Time to get a peer-reviewed nursing journal article Step 1: connect to CINAHL [remember to authenticate if you are off-campus] This will be the QUICK and DIRTY approach to get started— more advanced approaches will be introduced in later semesters

Step 2: Change to “Basic Search” CAUTION: this is for only simple searches.

Example: handwashing Step 3: search on handwashing Step 4: limit to “peer reviewed articles”

Okay, what if I want something more specific? OK, then… Step 5: use your logical operator (AND or OR) handwashing AND nurses

What’s next? Step 6: Choose an interesting article and click on the title—often a summary is given. Step 7: Click on the link to determine availability.

“Find It” Possibilities 1.Article is available online — yellow-highlighted link. 2.Article is in the Libraries’ paper journal collection (2d floor Main Library) 3.Only available if we get a copy from another library for you—ask us.