It is also important in writing a nursing paper to understand how to use research databases that can be relied upon to generate the right papers. No matter what you are looking for, a specific scientific journal, peer-reviewed articles, and a historical database. The use of high-quality sources can greatly improve your nursing research.
But how do we determine if a given source of information is accurate? Where can one find these databases, and as far as libraries are concerned, are those databases credible? This guide is a step-by-step guide that will help users define and select suitable databases for conducting research.
What Are Credible Databases?
Credible databases give users academic reviews and academic material that is measured in educational and occupational fields. These sources have been well evaluated in many ways, they are recommended for use in writing nursing papers and other projects. While using databases, one does not need to worry much about the credibility of information, content is picked from some of the most authoritative publishers on the Web.
Why Accurate Databases Are Essential For Nursing Papers
Nursing research requires accuracy as well as adherence to facts. It improves the quality of the paper as well as provides support for arguments with accurate, reliable data derived from research. When you are writing papers, professors and other academic evaluators usually grade part of the credibility that you put in your sources. When you use reliable databases, you prove the work dedicated to the proper and moral strategy of the research.
Best Sources Of Nursing
Database shielding relevant information is not efficient if the source is not credible.
1. PubMed
Of all the available healthcare and nursing databases, PubMed is one of the most recognizable as well as reputable. This is another NIH database that allows finding millions of articles, journals, clinical trials, and medical research from peer-reviewed publications. You should also have confidence in the quality, relevance, and timeliness of the sources found here.
2. CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature).
For those in the nursing profession, CINAHL is a must-use database. It provides an opportunity to use journals, research articles, and other evidence materials concerning nursing and allied health. This database is recommended for all healthcare fields and is considered to be full of reliable sources only.
3. Cochrane Library
In the case of systematic reviews and evidence-based healthcare information, the Cochrane Library is an excellent starting point for a librarian. Cochrane reviews are highly valued for their systematic method to evaluate evidence, it would be the most useful database for nurses involved in any research related to nursing.
4. JSTOR
JSTOR is an easily accessed database. It provides academic articles for almost all fields of study. Potential students can rely on it when searching for articles in counseling, social sciences, and nursing disciplines. They can be sure that the articles they find are credible. JSTOR assembles an impressive list of peer-reviewed journals. You can easily select topics for your purpose. These journals consist of well-researched and credible sources. They are ideal for a nursing paper.
5. MEDLINE
Like Health Source, it is also a very good research database for nursing professionals, which is maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine: It gives the user information about biomedical literature, clinical research, and medical journals. MEDLINE is better recognized as one of the leading databases in the sphere of science and healthcare.
6. Nursing And Allied Health Database
Developed for nursing specialists, the Nursing & Allied Health Database is provided by ProQuest and includes a rich choice of journals, dissertations, evidence-based reports, etc. Any nurse in search of relevant research papers will find this tool very useful.
How To Access Accurate Research Databases
When locating credible databases for research, it is essential to evaluate them using key factors:
- Publisher: Sometimes, it is advisable to check where the database is hosted by a government department, a university, or a professional body, among others.
- Peer-Review: Make sure that the articles and research work in the database have been reviewed by other developers and not just a few people, since this increases the quality of credibility.
- Relevance: Is the database accredited to your area of specialization? Medical and any kind of healthcare databases are relevant to the nursing papers among all available ones.
- Currency: Ensure the information in the database is current since some fields related to the present research change quickly, e.g., nursing.
Are All The Sources In Library Databases Research & Education Reliable?
Some of the questions include how are databases credible?’’ Although, in most cases, library databases are more credible than open web sources, not all sources in a library database are equally credible. Always try to confirm if the sources used were from peer-reviewed journals to cross-check with other related research.
The overwhelming majority of sources available in the databases of reputable libraries can be regarded as credible. However, these sources should be chosen and viewed critically.
Conclusion
Making a connection with accurate databases is an essential aspect of the research process, particularly for areas such as nursing that highly depend on research studies. When using reputed and credible sources, including PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library, the nursing paper that you develop will be backed by sound research data. Never ignore the process of evaluating the sources because not all registered databases are credible.
By understanding the meaning of credible research databases, you are in a better position to search for research and conduct efficient and effective nursing research papers. As much as possible, remain credible in your work so that your work will bear the professional touch and accuracy.
Frequently Ask Questions
What characteristics of a database make it suitable for use in nursing research?
A database is viewed to be reliable if it presents articles with sources from peer-reviewed academics, or evidence-based articles from known academic institutions or authors. For nursing research, there are standard databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library.
How do I assess the credibility of a source obtained from a particular database?
Always ensure that the article is peer-reviewed, and consider the qualifications of the authors and the credibility of the publishing company. It is also possible to compare the findings with other data sources that are available from a credible database.
Is the World War 2 database reliable for historical purposes?
The information in the World War 2 database can include historical facts good for specific kinds of research in terms of credibility. But for nursing papers, databases, linked to medical and healthcare fields are more appropriate.
Are all these library databases appropriate for nursing?
The above realization indicates that not all of the available databases are specialized in the healthcare sector. As a general rule, the library databases provide reliable information; however, they confine the searches to databases related to medicine, nursing, and allied health.
