Nursing Theory Research Guide
Library Catalog Search Strategies:
You can begin your search in the UMSL Library Catalog at http://www.umsl.edu/library. You may notice that some books are not available on the shelves in the Barnes Library; these are most likely located in the closed stacks. Feel free to ask for a “Closed Stacks Request Form” from the Reference Desk. If a book is checked out or you are not finding enough resources you can search the MOBIUS Union Catalog and request items. MOBIUS is a consortium of all the academic libraries in the state of Missouri. Remember UMSL students are in the “Merlin” cluster, and have your student ID# ready.
Keyword search: Looking for theorists or theories by name either as a keyword or as a subject, also looking for the keyword area “nursing theory” gives a lot of results.
Call Number Range for Nursing Theory: RT 80’s (particularly RT 84) will yield the most books on nursing theory, other books not as specific to nursing theory will be available in other call number areas.
Subjects (Library of Congress)
Use these suggested headings when performing a keyword search in the Library Catalog:
Nursing models
Nursing -- Philosophy
[Nurse/Theorist’s name] last, first
Medical Subjects (MESH)
Use these suggested headings when performing a keyword search in the Library Catalog:
Nursing Theory
Nursing Theory -- collected works
Models, Nursing
[Nurse/Theorist’s name] last, first
ENCYCLOPEDIAE:
Encyclopedia of Nursing Research. (1998)
[hardcover] New York : Springer
BARNES REFERENCE
RT81.5 .E53 1998
This encyclopedia covers nursing research and theories looks at epistemologies in nursing.
CD-ROM:
Nurse Theorists Portraits of Excellence. (1997)
[CD-ROM] Ohio : Fitne.
BARNES RESERVE
RT 34 .N8 1997
v.1-v.16
This CD-ROM resource presents highlights and insight into the lives of the theorists in the history of nursing.
DATABASES:
Look under the “Databases Sorted by Subject” under “Health Sciences”
There are many Databases to choose from, we will look at CINAHL.
CINAHL Search Strategy:
CHOOSING KEYWORDS AND SUBJECT HEADINGS:
Start by selecting a broad topic such as “Nursing Theory,” you may truncate this by using the symbol “*” – this will be written out as such “nurs*” AND “theor*.” You will see the results of this; and on the left, using EBSCO Host, you can place and combine subject heading filters to narrow down your search.
GETTING THE MOST POSSIBLE RESULTS:
Many full text articles are available in almost all of the UMSL databases. To get ultimate access to the most full text articles do not check the “full text” box in any of the databases – because this may limit your overall search. When you see the article linker button on the right, click on that and often this will direct you to another university-owned database where your article may be, or to information on how to get the article through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
RSS FEEDS:
Using the EBSCO host service you can set up RSS feeds to deliver any additions or changes to your search results directly to your RSS reader, no need to revisit and remember your search.
WEBSITES:
NURSING THEORY PAGE UCSD
The University of California San Diego Nursing Theory site has links to issues, groups, and many contemporary nursing theorists and theories.
AAHN
American Association for the History of Nursing
Barbara Bates Center for The Study of The History of Nursing
Primary source documents on Nursing's history collected and preserved by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.
CONTACT THE WARD E. BARNES LIBRARY REFERENCE DESK:
If you have any further questions or wish to set up a research consultation please contact us.
Phone: (314) 516-5576
Created 10/08 John Muhrer