The document provides an overview of library research methods and resources for nursing graduate students at Southern University. It discusses how to develop effective search strategies, access relevant databases and other resources, and use tools like Boolean logic and subject headings. Library services explained include interlibrary loan, research guides, and assistance from the nursing liaison librarian. The presentation aims to simplify the research process and maximize students' ability to find appropriate sources.

1. Library Research
Methods for
Nursing
Graduate
Students
Maletta Payne
Emerging Technologies/Reference Librarian
Library Liaison for the School of Nursing
Southern University and A & M College
John B. Cade Library
www.subr.edu/library
Library Research
Methods for
Nursing
Graduate
Students

2. Agenda
• Turning a research question into a keyword
search
• How to access databases
• Overview of Nursing databases
• On/Off Campus Access
• What’s included in a database
• Research methods
• Library services for Nursing Graduate
Students

3. New Library Website
& URL
http://www.subr.edu/library

4. How to access library databases

5. How to access databases
• Go to the library’s website:
http://www.subr.edu/library
• Locate FIND
• Click Databases A –Z
• Locate the name of the
databases you wish to search.
Option #1: Library’s Website

6. Databases A-Z

7. How to access databases
Option #2: Nursing LibGuide
Go to your Nursing LibGuide
• Enter subr.libguides.com
• Locate NURSING
• Select: Library Resources for
Nursing Graduate and PhD
Students
• Locate/Click NURSING
DATABASES
• Select/Click Database
• Enter your search

8. LibGuides
COURSE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM USED BY
LIBRARIANS
ONE-STOP RESEARCH
PORTAL (YOUR PERSONAL
NURSING LIBRARY)
LIBRARIANS ARE ABLE TO
PERSONALIZE LIBRARY
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
**GOAL: SIMPLIFY
RESEARCH PROCESS BY
SAVING YOU TIME!**

9. Databases and Nursing Students
Core Nursing Databases
• AHFS Consumer Medication
Information
• ALT Health Watch
• CINAHL Plus with Full-Text
• Health Source
• JSTOR: Health Sciences
• Medline
• ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health
Source
• PubMed
• Science Direct: Health Sciences Edition
Secondary Supporting Databases
• Academic Search Complete
• Credo Reference
• Dissertation Abstracts
• Ebsco Discovery Service
• Lexis Nexis
• Mental Measurement Yearbook
• Psychology & Behavioral
• Psych Info
• WorldCat

10. Searching the Internet for
Research Articles
• Hits that consist mainly of citations,
books and articles.
• Require you to pay an access fee.
(fees can range from $25.00 or higher)

11. Benefits of using
John B. Cade
Library for Articles
Journal articles are free. You have more control
over the type/amount of
information you need.
You will save time &
money.
There are databases
geared toward your area
of study.

12. Off-Campus Access
• Select your database
• Click “Office Campus”
• You will be prompted to
enter a User Name and PIN.
• User Name= Banner ID #
Ex. S0123456
• Pin=CHANGEME
• Click “Authenticate”
Contact Ms. Payne for
access problems.
S0123456
CHANGEME

13. Report Access
Problems
• Contact Ms. Payne if you
encounter any problems accessing
databases remotely.
• Office Number: (225)771-2604
• Email: maletta_payne@subr.edu
*Report problems directly from your
LibGuide.*

14. It’s always a good idea to plan your research.
Planning your research will save you time, and will allow
you to focus your research question.

15. SEARCH STRATEGY SHEET
• This process is recommended for
researchers to guides you through the
research process.

16. Let’s explore the elements of
the Search Strategy Sheet!

17. “Measuring the effects of high blood pressure in African Americans.”
Step 1: Write down your research topic

18. Step 2: Identify keywords from your research topic
“Measuring the effects of high blood pressure in African Americans.”
Keyword #1= high blood pressure Keyword #2= African Americans

19. Step 3: Find Alternative Words using Subject Headings
Keyword #1= high blood pressure
Alternative word= Hypertension

20. Find Alternative Terms for your keyword(s) by
consulting the Subject Heading in CINAHL

21. Search Strategy (Subject Headings)
Subject Headings
Databases
CINAHL
Health Source Complete
Medline
Strategy for finding alternative terms/words.
Thesaurus
=
MeSH
CINAHL Headings
Subjects
Strategy for finding alternative words for your research

22. Step 4: Combine keywords using Boolean Operators
Boolean logic is the relationship between keywords found in your research topic.
Boolean logic consists of three operators: AND, OR, NOT, also known as Boolean
Operators.
Boolean Operators are used to narrow, broaden, or exclude words from your search
results.
 Boolean Operator AND is used to narrow your search
 Boolean Operator OR is used to broaden your search
 Boolean Operator NOT is used to exclude words from your search

23. Step 5:
Construct database search using Boolean Operators: AND, OR & NOT
Search Strategy 1:
High Blood Pressure AND African Americans
Search Strategy 2: Hypertension OR High Blood Pressure
Search Strategy 3: Women NOT MEN

24. Step 6: Perform a database search using search strategies
(BASIC SEARCH)
#1: Enter your keywords
#2: Select Search Options (Basic set at the default)
#3: Select a specific search mode
#4: Apply Limiters
#5: Click Search

25. Perform a database search using search strategies
( Advance Search)

26. Search Modes (Featured in Basic/Advance Search)
Search modes offer four different ways to conduct a search.
You can select from:
• Boolean/Phrase – Supports Boolean searching or exact phrase searching.
 Find all of my search terms – Auto AND all search terms entered
(e.g. hypertension AND women)
 Find any of my search terms – Auto OR all search terms entered (e.g. hypertension
OR high blood pressure)
 SmartText Searching – Allows you to place your topic to search for results.

27. Step 7: Apply Limiters (Advanced Search)
Allows you to limit search to
include scientifically and sound
clinically relevant study reports

28. Reading Results

29. Step 8: Redefine Search (Recommended when results are minimal)
•Use another database
•Use less limiters
•Try different search strategies
•Perform a broad search

30. Putting it all together
(Video)
https://youtu.be/h0KwPp-1ruk

31. Advanced Search Techniques “Truncation”
What is Truncation?
Truncation, also called stemming, is a technique that allows you to
search for various word endings and spellings simultaneously.

32. Advanced Search Techniques “Truncation”
To use truncation enter the root of a word and put the truncation symbol at
the end. The database will return results that include any ending of that root
word.
Examples:
child* = child, child’s, children, children’s, childhood
*GOAL in using truncation is to retrieve more results.

33. Advanced Search Techniques
“Truncation”
Truncation symbols may vary by database, the most common truncation symbols are:
* Asterisk
! Exclamation Mark
? Question Mark
# Hashtag
Look at the database “Help” screens to find out which symbol to use.

34. Creating “My EBSCOhost Account”
1. From any EBSCO Database
click on Sign-in.
2. Create a new account
#1
#2
With your personalized account you can
• Save preferences
• Organize your research with folders
• Share your folder with others
• View others’ folders
• Save and retrieve your search history
• Create email alerts and/or RSS feeds
• Gain access to your saved research
remotely

35. Finding
Dissertations

36. Dissertations
• Comprehensive collection of
Dissertations and Theses from around the world.
• Coverage 1861-Present
• Full-text coverage 1997-present
• SU Dissertations/Theses 2009-present
• Access Dissertations Abstracts Online via the
Library’s Databases A to Z List, and your
LibGuide
Dissertation Abstracts Online (ProQuest)
* SU print Dissertations/Theses are available from 1987-2009.

37. Locating Books

38. Electronic Book
Collection
EBSCOhost E-Book Collection Facts
Contains over 60,000 electronic books
covering multiple disciplines.
E-Books can be accessed on
campus/remotely.
You cannot print the entire book, 60 page
limit.
4718 E-Books on Health and Medicine.
Available through Databases A to Z, and
your Nursing LibGuide.

39. Accessing e-Books
Library’ Website E-Book Database Search Screen
Click Here
Remember if you are working off-campus you will be required to enter USER NAME & PIN.

40. Finding Print Books

41. Finding a Print Book
Go to the library’s website
 http://www.lib.subr.edu
 Locate FIND
 Click: Books and Journals

42. Finding Print
Books/Online
Catalog

43. Results

44. Title Record

45. Library of Congress Classification System
•John B. Cade Library uses
the Library of Congress
Classification System
•LC Classification (Books
are arranged by Subject)
Call Numbers “R- RZ” contain medical and health books.
R General Medicine.
RA Public Aspects of Medicine.
RB Pathology.
RC Internal Medicine.
Surgery.RD
RE Ophthalmology.
RF Ear, Nose, and Throat.
RG Gynecology, Obstetrics.
RJ Pediatrics.
RK Dentistry.
RL Dermatology.
RM Therapeutics, Pharmacology.
RS Pharmacy.
RT Nursing.
RV Botanic, Eclectic Medicine.
RX Homeopathy.
RZ Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Mental Healing.

46. Library of Congress Classification System
 Graduate Students can
check-out library materials for
4 weeks/28 days.
Call Number

47. Where to check-out
books
• Books can be checked-out at the
Circulation Desk located on the 1st
Floor of Library
• Circulation is located across for the
Ask Here Desk
• You will need your Southern University
ID. Card to check-out a book.

48. 4th Floor Under
Construction
• 4th floor is temporarily closed for repairs.
• Please submit request for books found on the 4th
floor to Ms. Payne.
• Call numbers found on 4th floor: Q-Z

49. Library Services for
Graduate Students

50. LIBGUIDES
Linked in Blackboard
Access from:
 Library’s website
 Directly from the LibGuide
Page

51. Interlibrary Loan/ “Get It Now”
Interlibrary Loan Service
Interlibrary loan allows SU Students to
request materials not available in the
library’s collection through the ILL
Program.
You can submit a request via your
Nursing LibGuide under the Request
Article Tab.
Interlibrary Loan is used to request
books, journal articles, and more.
Please allow 1-2 weeks for print book
delivery.
Allow 1-48 hours for electronic journals.

52. Ingenta
Ingenta
1
Ingenta library service
obtains articles not
included in the library’s
collection free of-charge to
Southern University
students.
2
Submit a request via your
Nursing LibGuide under the
Request Articles Tab.
3
Ingenta is used for article
request only. Please allow
24-48 hours for your
request to be processed.
4

53. LALINC
• LALINC (Louisiana Academic Library Information Consortium)
• Grants graduate students permission to check-out books not owned
by John B. Cade Library from other Louisiana Libraries *some
restrictions apply.*
• Complete the LALINC Application (Print, Electronically via Nursing
LibGuide.
• Valid for 1 year only.

54. Computer Labs
2 computer labs are located on the 2nd floor of the library.The Information Technology
Center (ITC)
• 2 plasma televisions,
• 2 group study rooms
• over 30 computers equipped
with:
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• SPSS
The Library Learning Resource Center
(LLRC) has over 50 computers, &
4 Scanners.

55. Southern University ID Card
YOU WILL NEED A VALID
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
IDENTIFICATION CARD TO:
CHECK-OUT PRINT BOOKS STUDY CARRELS, GROUP
STUDY ROOMS
ELECTRONIC DEVICES PRINTING AND COPIES

56. Library Hours
Main Library Hours
(Fall/Spring)
7:30 am-12 midnight (M-Thur.)
7:30 am-5:00 pm (Friday)
1:00 pm-5:00 pm (Saturday)
2:00 pm-12 midnight (Sunday)

57. Need help
with your
research?
Ms. Payne
School of Nursing Library Liaison
Phone: (225) 771-2604
Email: maletta_payne@subr.edu
Consultation: Schedule an appointment

58. New to SU?

60. Emma Bradford Perry
Dean of Libraries
2018