Q. I need to do some research in Nursing and/or Health Sciences. Where should I begin?

Start with the Nursing & Health Sciences Portal, which provides links to key databases and web resources, subject and course guides, news, and new books in the BC Library collection.

CINAHL, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, is the premiere Nursing Database, which should be searched first before all other databases in order to retrieve Nursing Research Articles.

I. For effective online literature search strategies follow these steps:

1. State Research Problem
2. Choose Database(s)
3. Set Parameters/Limits
4. Determine Concepts
5. Use CINAHL Headings, or Thesaurus Headings in other Databases
6. Make your Headings either more Specific or more General if necessary
7. Add Other Headings
8. Connect with AND/OR
9. Perform Search
10. Modify Topic as needed 
11. Assess and Evaluate Results

II.  To perform your online search using Evidence-Based Nursing Research/Practice strategies use the PICO framework to determine the Research Problem:

• P Patient or Problem
• I  Intervention
• C  Comparisons
• O  Outcomes

III.  Apply Research Methodology EBN Filters to your Search Strategy as appropriate:

• ETIOLOGY
• DIAGNOSIS
• THERAPY
• PROGNOSIS

If you need further assistance, please contact the Nursing & Health Sciences Librarian.