When looking for information remember to use whatever is available to you. This includes your local library and state resources. States and counties subscribe to various databases that are free to use by residents. Let's take a look at a few.
http://www.sailor.lib.md.us/
This is Maryland's resource website. Clicking on the Research Database button takes you to the services the state offers to all who have a library card for one of the county library systems. MasterFILE Premier is a journal and reference database with a large selection of articles just remember to search for full text.
http://www.finditva.com/
This is Virginia's resource website. Again, if you have a library card for a Virginia library you can use these databases. Their PowerSearch looks through a large number of resources all at once. Again, remember to limit your search to full text. If you click on the Public Libraries link on the home page you can choose from a number of subjects, including health. There you have access to the Nursing and Allied Health collection and the Health Reference Center.
http://www.dclibrary.org/research/databases
Here is DC's database page. They also have a health section where you can find the Health and Wellness resource center and their virtual reference collection.
Each county in has their own online reference collection as well so it's important to remember to go to your library's website to see what's there. Another thing to remember: You can get a library card for most of these counties if you live in the area. DC gives cards to anyone who lives in the surrounding counties. Northern Virginia and Maryland counties do the same. So all databases are available as long as you apply for a card in that system.
Prince George's County has a Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition database. Fairfax and Alexandria counties have a Health and Wellness Resource center. Look around and see what you can use.
Showing posts with label Resources. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Resources. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
New books
The library has acquired four new books.
First up, The Portable LPN: The all-in-one reference for practical nurses, 2nd edition. This is "a one-stop source of relevant facts and clear-cut guidelines." As this is a reference book, it cannot be checked out but you are welcome to use it in the library.
The next is Chart Smart: The A-to-Z guide to better nursing documentation, 3rd edition. This book will show you "how to chart safely and responsibly in all clinical settings." It has "hundreds of practical examples" to help you "learn how to document routine nursing care as well as essential details."
Next we have two books from Lippincott's Incredibly Easy series. I.V. Therapy and Medical-Surgical Made Incredibly Easy! Good for any sticky points you've been having difficulties with.
First up, The Portable LPN: The all-in-one reference for practical nurses, 2nd edition. This is "a one-stop source of relevant facts and clear-cut guidelines." As this is a reference book, it cannot be checked out but you are welcome to use it in the library.
The next is Chart Smart: The A-to-Z guide to better nursing documentation, 3rd edition. This book will show you "how to chart safely and responsibly in all clinical settings." It has "hundreds of practical examples" to help you "learn how to document routine nursing care as well as essential details."
Next we have two books from Lippincott's Incredibly Easy series. I.V. Therapy and Medical-Surgical Made Incredibly Easy! Good for any sticky points you've been having difficulties with.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Source evaluation
All right, so you've found an article, website, etc. and it has information that you want to use as a reference for your paper. The next step is deciding if this is a reliable resource. Does it have good information and can you trust it?
There are several pieces of information you should look for.
First, look at the Author. Do they have any credentials? Do they know what they're talking about? Why did they write this? Was it for their job, do they want to inform? Do they have their own point to push? If somebody works for a cigarette company you probably don't want to get cigarette related health information from them.
Next, when was it written? Is it current? Is it out-of-date? A paper written in 1992 on how to use a computer isn't going to be very useful. Some things may not go out of date; When I was in school we still had to read papers on good library service that were written in the 1920's. For anything to do with a fast-paced field like technology or certain aspects of medicine, five years is a good rule of thumb.
What was the article published in? Is it a good, respectable journal? Is it a newspaper? Is it a blog? Did it have to go through some sort of process to make sure that all the facts were correct? The top articles come from peer-reviewed journals. This means that experts in the field read them over and gave the go-ahead for publication.
Another thing to look at about a publication is their audience. Who was the article written for? People like to read things that conform to their own views. Some publications cater to this and therefore write pieces that are biased in favor of a particular view.
Does the article have any references? Does it cite other works? If they're citing someone else that means they've done their research. Who did they cite?
Look at all of these points before you read and use an article to help you decide if it's trustworthy.
There are several pieces of information you should look for.
First, look at the Author. Do they have any credentials? Do they know what they're talking about? Why did they write this? Was it for their job, do they want to inform? Do they have their own point to push? If somebody works for a cigarette company you probably don't want to get cigarette related health information from them.
Next, when was it written? Is it current? Is it out-of-date? A paper written in 1992 on how to use a computer isn't going to be very useful. Some things may not go out of date; When I was in school we still had to read papers on good library service that were written in the 1920's. For anything to do with a fast-paced field like technology or certain aspects of medicine, five years is a good rule of thumb.
What was the article published in? Is it a good, respectable journal? Is it a newspaper? Is it a blog? Did it have to go through some sort of process to make sure that all the facts were correct? The top articles come from peer-reviewed journals. This means that experts in the field read them over and gave the go-ahead for publication.
Another thing to look at about a publication is their audience. Who was the article written for? People like to read things that conform to their own views. Some publications cater to this and therefore write pieces that are biased in favor of a particular view.
Does the article have any references? Does it cite other works? If they're citing someone else that means they've done their research. Who did they cite?
Look at all of these points before you read and use an article to help you decide if it's trustworthy.
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