1. Searching the CINAHL Database
Centennial College Libraries
June 2011

2. Search Example
The following search is based on an assignment where students need to find nursing journal articles that “pertain to portfolio development for nurses/nursing students”
This is not your assignment, but the step-by step illustrations will help you in searching for articles for your own topics in CINAHL.

3. Go to the Centennial College Libraries website at:
First Step
Go to the Centennial College Libraries website at:
library.centennialcollege.ca

7. If you are outside the College network (at home) you will need to login with your student number and your PIN (last 4 numbers of your student number).

21. Accessing Full Text
The full text of articles from a CINAHL record come from a number of sources:
Other Library databases including ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health, Science Direct, and Health Source Nursing Academic Edition
Hard copy journals subscribed to by the Library – look for these on the Periodical Shelves

28. Saving your Results
You can print, download and, depending on the database, the article to yourself.
Many of the databases also have citation tools, sometimes in the function, to help you format your article citation into APA style.
You can also import the article citations from your database search into RefWorks, a bibliographic citation tool that can help you create a bibliography in APA format

32. Make sure you choose RefWorks when you are exporting a citation.

33. DOI
The CINAHL database often does not include the DOI in the record, especially in the case of older articles. If there is a DOI you may find it in the database record of the full text article or within the article itself.

34. DOI (cont.)
If there is a DOI in the record of the full text or in the article itself, substitute it for the database retrieval statement in your APA citation from the CINAL database:
Twaddell, J., & Johnson, J. (2007). A TIME for nursing portfolios: a tool for career development. Advances in Neonatal Care,7(3),
doi: /01.ANC

35. DOI (cont.)
If there is no DOI in the record of the full text or in the article itself, substitute the name of the database where you retrieved the full text in for “CINAHL” or “EBSCOhost” in the database retrieval statement in your APA citation:
Twaddell, J., & Johnson, J. (2007). A TIME for nursing portfolios: a tool for career development. Advances in Neonatal Care,7(3), Retrieved from

36. Ask for help if you need it.
Good Luck!
Ask for help if you need it.

37. Helpful Links
How to Find Articles:Search Assistance Guide: includes more database searching tips including how to connect ideas.
Research Tips and Writing Help: includes research tips, links to APA style and help on avoiding plagiarism.
RefWorks: includes links to RefWorks tutorials.
Off Campus Access Troubleshooting: if you are having trouble connecting to the E-resources.

38. Help
Science and Technology Centre Library: (416) ext. 8000
library.centennialcollege.ca/ask (links to AskON Online Chat Research service and AsktheLibrary )