This video helps you to understand and use CINAHL.
This tutorial provides an overview of how to use key features in CINAHL and how to print a search history.
Please go to the library’s homepage and select CINAHL Plus with Full Text.
Let’s demonstrate with the example of social media and ethics in nursing.
At the top of the page, we enter key words in the search box one at a time to find matching or relevant subject headings.
First I enter the keyword “ethics” and I select “search.” I can determine from the subject headings located on the left that “Ethics, Nursing” is the most relevant subject heading because I need it to be about nursing practice. It’s important to highlight the scope note located on the right to make sure my definitions are correct. I select “Ethics, Nursing.” Usually I highlight “Explode” to increase the number of articles, but if you can’t do it then you just select “Search” database.
I clear “Ethics, Nursing” from the search box and enter the key concept, “social media” and highlight “Search.” From the list of subject headings located on the left I can determine that “Social Media” is a relevant subject heading to use. I always make sure that I highlight the scope note to make sure my definition is correct. Now I select “Social Media.” Normally I like to “Explode” or increase the search results, but the database doesn’t always allow it. So in this case I highlight “Search” Database.
I highlight “Search History” located under the search boxes so that I may combine and limit search results. I highlight “Ethics, Nursing” and “Social Media” and then I select “Search with AND” because I want my results to be combined and relevant.
I would like to limit the number of search results and I do that by locating the “Edit” icon towards the right. I can limit my results by the English language, by peer-reviewed, and by publication year of 2010 to 2018.
Please don’t click on “Full Text” in CINAHL as this limits the number of full text available to you. I enable those results by highlighting the “Save” icon. I highlight “View Results” to see what journal articles were retrieved. Number ten in my result list is PDF Full Text which means the whole article is full text and I access it by clicking on “PDF Full Text.” Number eleven isn’t full text in CINAHL, but please highlight “Check for Item” to determine if the article is available elsewhere.
Lastly, we can print out our search history by going to the top of the page and highlighting the link “Print Search History.” This outlines all the steps you took.
This concludes the tutorial on how to search the CINAHL database.
Types of Articles in Nursing Literature
□ Research – Structured description of a research study written by the original researcher(s). These articles are primary sources of information. They always include the characteristics of a methodology, that is how the study was conducted, what instruments were used, a data analysis, a conclusion and references.
□ Literature Review – Written summary of the state of existing knowledge about a specific topic or issue. These articles are secondary sources of information because they are descriptions of studies prepared by someone other than the original researcher.
□ Systematic Review – Comprehensive, unbiased analysis of primary research findings that address specific clinical questions and use strict scientific design to systematically select and assess various related scientific studies.
□ Continuing Education Unit – A measurement used in continuing professional development to award credit for participation in workshops and seminars that include some form of response, interaction or participation and sponsored by an approved provider.
□ Case Study – In depth, retrospective and real life exploration of a situation created for the purpose of gaining understanding into the issues being investigated. It also involves the collection of data through observation, interviews and the collection of documentary evidence.
□ Clinical Exemplar – Stories of skilled nursing practice about a specific patient care experience. They can be used to demonstrate acquisition of new knowledge or describe effective teaching or coaching. Overall, they reflect the interpersonal, ethical and clinical judgement that nurse make in practice.
□ Commentary – An informed evaluation, interpretation or analysis of a particular subject. Commentaries frequently critique previously published articles.
□ Editorial – States an author’s opinion or point of view on a particular topic. They are usually short in length, have no references and are often written by members of the publication’s staff.
□ Vignette Study – Simulation of real events which can be used in research studies to elicit subjects’ knowledge, attitudes or opinions according to how they state they would behave in the depicted hypothetical situation.
□ Column – Brief article which outlines perspectives, provides information on a particular topic, or answers “reader” questions by a column editor. eg) clinical practice column.
□ Position Paper – Detailed policy report which usually explains, justifies, or recommends a particular course of action. Often there is discussion of scopes of practice, core competencies and issues for consideration.
□ Conference/Symposium Proceedings – Reports of the findings presented at conference sessions given by practitioners in a given profession. Many times nurses relay information from conferences in these articles.
□ Research or Evidence Summaries – Summaries synthesize existing research or summarize research evidence. They represent formal ways of pulling research together from a number of published sources, eg) Evidence-based resources from the Joanna Briggs Institute.
