Dana Library

Nursing Guide

A. How can I access library resources efficiently?

1. Get access to library resources by finding the Rutgers University Libraries Webpage (http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu)

2. Find the books, periodicals, videotapes, and information in other formats owned by the Rutgers Libraries using the IRIS online catalog.

Some useful books on instruments and nursing research include:
  • Encyclopedia of Nursing Research. Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, editor. New York: Springer, 1998. (DANA REF RT 81.5. E53 1998)
  • Instruments for Clinical Health-Care Research. Marilyn Frank-Stromborg and Sharon J. Olsen, editors. 2nd ed. Boston : Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 1997. (DANA REF RT 48. I57 1997)
  • Instruments for Measuring Nursing Practice and Other Health Care Variables. Mary Jane Ward and Carol Ann Lindeman, editors. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Health Resources Administration. Hyattsville, Md. : The Administration, 1979. 2 volumes. (DANA REF RT 73 .U56)
  • Measurement in Nursing Research. Carolyn Feher Waltz, Ora L. Strickland, and Elizabeth R. Lenz. 2nd ed. Philadelphia : F.A. Davis Co., 1991. (DANA REF RT 81.5 .W36 1991)

3. Click on Indexes to find articles in periodicals. Useful indexes include:
  • CINAHL (Nursing)
  • HealthSTAR (Health Services, Technology, Administration, and Research) (http://igm-01.nlm.nih.gov/index.html) -- free on the Web at NLM Grateful Med site. The print Hospital and Health Administration Index is located in Dana Reference Index Table K, REF Z 6675 .H75 A42.
  • Medline (Medicine)
  • PsycINFO - Psychological Abstracts
  • Social Science Abstracts (Interdisciplinary) -- particularly useful for the social implications of medical practice and managed care

4. Click on IRIS and then periodical title to find the periodicals owned by the Rutgers Libraries using our online catalog. Search by the periodical title, often found in periodical index entries under "Source".

B. Where can I find the statistical data I need?

Statistical Abstract of the U.S.
Tables of governmental and privately-produced data, with original sources clearly identified. Available in paper at the reference desk of nearly every library on earth and on the Web at the Census site. More convenient to browse in paper. (http://www.census.gov/stat_abstract/) and (Dana Reference Desk #259)
Statistical Resources on the Web
Maintained by the Documents Department of the University of Michigan Libraries. (http://www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/Documents.center/stats.html)
National Center for Health Statistics
A wealth of statistical data, from the Centers for Disease Control. (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/)
State of New Jersey Center for Health Statistics
From the State Health Department. (http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/) Annual print compilation from the State of New Jersey is New Jersey Health Statistics, [Trenton] Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Dept. of Health, [1982?- ], (DANA DOCNJ RA 407.4 .N5 A35 1988- ; latest edition Reference Desk)
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report
Issues of MMWR in pdf format dating back to 1993. (http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/mmwr.html) Latest print versions held at Serials Desk on the Lower Level of the Dana Library.

C. What are some good Web sites in nursing and related areas?

Organizations

American Nurses Association (ANA)
(http://www.nursingworld.org)
National League for Nursing (NLN)
(http://www.nln.org)
National Student Nurses Association (NSNA)
(http://www.nsna.org)

Government Sites

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Links to CDC publications and data, including many statistical publications. (http://www.nln.org)
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
NLM services, databases, images, and publications. (http://www.nlm.nih.gov)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH news, information, and grant resources. (http://www.niv.gov)

Other Useful Sites

Nursingcenter.com
Lippincott Publishing Company. Full text or abstracts of the Lippincott nursing journals, career information, discussion groups, shopping opportunities (!), and more. (http://www.nursingcenter.com)
American Psychological Association FAQ about psychological tests
Good advice about how to search for information on psychological tests. Most of the print resources described are held at the Dana Library. (http://www.apa.org/science/test.html)
ERIC/AE Test Locator
Typical entries include description of the test and suggestions for where to find more information about it. The original citation describing the test is listed. (http://ericae.net/testcol.htm)

D. What are some good Web search engines?

Altavista
One of the earliest "industrial strength" search engines, and still one of the best in terms of coverage. Use the advanced mode to search using exact quotes. (http://www.altavista.com)
Northern Light
Northern Light provides standard search results as well as "search folders" that can help group and limit results. This site searches both the World Wide Web and a collection of copyrighted documents (the "special collection") which are for sale. Elegant and sophisticated searching with good Web coverage. (http://www.northernlight.com)
Google
Unlike many other search engines, Google uses network assessment and evaluation techniques to "focus" a search rather than "scatter" it. Try it when you are looking for a few good sites rather than every possible site on a subject. I find that the failure rate for this engine is extremely low, but, of course, failure does happen. That is why you need multiple engines. (http://www.google.com)

E. Where can you find more information about searching and evaluating the Internet?

Evaluation of Internet Resources (Ka-Neng Au, Rutgers University)
Clear and to the point, with great links to other evaluation pages. (http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/guides/glo-res4.html)
Evaluating Web Resources (Tate and Alexander, Widener University)
Tate and Alexander were pioneers in the art of formal Web page evaluation. They advocate five basic criteria (accuracy, authority, objectivity, coverage, currency) with variations in approach for different types of Web pages. (http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/webeval.htm)
Thinking Critically about World Wide Web Resources (Esther Grassian, UCLA)
Presents an excellent checklist of criteria and questions relevant to Web page evaluation. (http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/instruct/web/critical.htm)
Internet Searching Strategies (Rice University)
Information about search engines, Web page evaluation, and citation of electronic resources. (http://www.rice.edu/Fondren/Netguides/strategies.html)
Return to Library Guides
Ann Watkins and Roberta L. Tipton
26 January 2000
For questions and comments, send email to ewatkins@andromeda.rutgers.edu or tipton@andromeda.rutgers.edu