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Graduate Nursing Course LibGuides

This page is linked from the Health Science Virtual Library

Getting Started

Introduction to the Library

Selecting a Topic & writing a Research Question Tutorial

Checkout these suggestions on selecting a topic and writing a research question:

Boolean Operators & Other Searching Techniques

How Boolean Operators Work
Placing the words “AND” and “OR” (also called Boolean operators) between your search concepts and synonyms can help you create a search statement that retrieves the most relevant sources.
As the diagrams illustrate, using the word “AND” reduces the number of results you get, by requiring that both terms appear in each result. Placing “OR” between search terms expands the number of results because it retrieves sources that use any of the words. Generally speaking, you should use “AND” between each of your concept terms, since you want to find books and articles that address all the aspects of your topic. You should use “OR” between synonyms, to make sure that you find closely related sources.

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Searching Techniques
Truncation
Phrase Searching
Wildcards
Nesting
Broaden your search to include variant word endings and spellings. Enter the root of the word then the truncation symbol, usually the asterisk *.
Use quotation marks " " around search words to search for a phrase - only use this around two or more words. Using the phrase search will help you narrow your results.
Substitute a symbol for just one character. The most commonly used wildcard symbol is a pound sign #
Use parentheses () to put search words into sets. Terms in the parentheses are processed first. Use nesting with AND, OR, & NOT.
Examples:
nurs* = nurse, nurses, nursing
religio* = religion, religions, religious, religiosity
Examples:
"end of life"
"spiritual care"
Examples:
wom#n = women, woman
m#n = men, man
Examples:
(screening or detect*) and lupus
(cancer* or neoplasm*) and "spiritual* care"
More information on Effective Search Techniques can be found on this tutorial:

Materials Listed in the Syllabus

Course Description from the Academic Catalog

This course examines questions about the nature and construction of theory and how theoretical ideas are developed and used in nursing practice and research. Philosophical ideas underlying theory are examined, and selected theoretical models and theories are explored.

Your Librarian is Denise Gehring