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 Homehttp://www.library.kent.edu

How do I get there?

• Through Flashline, LIBRARY tab

• Through www.kent.edu using Quick Links

• Directly at: www.library.kent.edu

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, email, 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 reviewedarticles”

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.