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This Library Research Guide will provide information about and access to some of the most significant research materials available from McFarlin Library related to Nursing. The tabs above cover research options such as:
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Selecting a research topic is much like deciding on a travel destination. Once you have narrowed your ideas to an interesting subject, write down a brief statement about this topic. For example: "Rock groups of the 60s, their popularity and major influence on the music industry." Once the topic is selected, write down specific questions that you'll want to answer. The research process will drive your destination. Your original topic may develop into something entirely different. You may choose to follow an alternate path and go down a different road.
After determining the topic, you can map out your route. You must identify the types of sources that will provide the information needed, then determine where to find these sources. Types of sources that should be considered include books, periodicals, the Internet, and other libraries (through interlibrary loan).
The key to finding books is the online library catalog called Discovery. Search in Discovery by selecting a keyword that best describes your topic. You can also search by title, author, subject, or keyword. In addition to books, the catalog allows you to search for periodicals, government documents, audiovisual material, and Special Collections.
If you get lost during your sight-seeing trip, stop and ask directions. The following reference sources will be most useful to acquire quick answers to any questions you may have.
Begin with Encyclopedias, then to get off the main drag, use Subject Encyclopedias.
What does it mean? Use a Dictionary.
How much, how many? Find Statistical Information.
Who? Find Biographical Information.
How can I get in touch? Use a Directory.
Where do I go from here? Bibliographies.
Periodicals include newspapers, magazines, and journals. They are published regularly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly. Journals are periodicals containing articles written by experts in a particular field of study. If the researcher wrote the article, is it a primary source. If reporters write the article, such as in popular magazines, it is a secondary source. Typically, journal articles contain extensive bibliographies that lead to additional sources.
Journal List - If there is a specific journal that you are looking for, this will take you directly to McFarlin's holdings.
Discovery - If there is a specific article that you are looking for, you can search Summon with that article's title.
Database List - If you don't have a specific journal or article in mind, then McFarlin's databases will allow you to search multiple journals with a keyword.
Clinical Documentation
A crucial aspect of nursing practice, clinical documentation refers to the written or electronic records that nurses create to document the care provided to patients. Clinical documentation facilitates effective communication among healthcare professionals, ensuring continuity of care and promoting patient safety by providing a comprehensive record of the patient's condition, interventions, and responses. The key elements and best practices for writing effective clinical documentation in nursing is as follows.
Subjective Data
Document the patient's complaints, symptoms, or concerns verbatim using quotation marks.
Example: "My chest feels tight and I'm having trouble breathing," stated by the patient.
Objective Data
Record observable and measurable data obtained through assessments, such as vital signs, physical examination findings, and laboratory results.
Example: Blood pressure 160/92, respiratory rate 24, pulse oximetry 92% on room air.
Assessment
Provide the nurse's analysis and interpretation of the subjective and objective data.
Example: Patient experiencing shortness of breath and hypoxia, likely due to exacerbation of COPD.
Plan
Document the proposed interventions or actions to be taken based on the assessment.
Example: Administer prescribed bronchodilator nebulizer treatment, obtain order for supplemental oxygen, monitor respiratory status.
Implementation
Describe the interventions carried out, including medications administered, treatments provided, and patient education.
Example: Albuterol 2.5mg nebulizer treatment administered at 1400, patient educated on pursed-lip breathing technique.
Evaluation
Assess the patient's response to the interventions and the effectiveness of the care provided.
Example: Respiratory rate decreased to 18 after nebulizer treatment, oxygen saturation improved to 96% on 2L nasal cannula.
Other Best Practices
In Nursing, as in other fields of study, it is very important that you cite the sources that you use to form and articulate your ideas. Nurses follow the American Psychological Association (APA) citation style for documenting sources in their writing and research papers.
For an excellent and free citation management software option, check out our page on Zotero.
