This library skills exercise is designed by the MEC Library for:
MDL 100

It will cover four types of research tools:

• Catalog
• eBooks
• Databases
• Web Sites

How to get there:

1. From the NVCC Libraries site, click on Books & More (middle of the page).

Things to know about the catalog:

• It's used for finding books, DVDs, and videos in the seven NVCC libraries.
  
  
• You can search all seven NVCC libraries at once, or limit to one campus.
  
  
• You can do several kinds of searches in the catalog, including Subject (LC Subject) and Keyword (Anywhere).

Subject (LC Subject) Searching: This is the most precise kind of search. It is based on specific words that have been assigned to topics by librarians. Do this search when you have a general topic and you know (or can easily guess) the subject heading.

Example:

Research Question: How many books/e-books/DVDs do the NVCC libraries have on the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders?

Hint: This is a general topic. Try a Subject search, using the official subject heading.

Your search can be: Hematology

 

Keyword (Anywhere) Searching: Do this kind of search when you don't know the specific words that have been assigned to your topic, or when you want to search a combination of topics.

Take your research question and break it down into the most important words and phrases, and use "AND" in between.

Example:

Research Question: What books can I find on medical laboratory testing?

Hint: You are combining three topics: medical, laboratory, and test. Try a Keywords (Anywhere) search.

Your search can be: medical AND laboratory AND test?

You should get a list of results that looks like this:

Remember: You have access to books at all 7 campuses! If you see something at another campus that you want, click on the link for that campus (in the Campus column- see above) and log in using your myNOVA username & password. Be sure to select the campus at which you want to pick up the book.

 

The NVCC libraries subscribe to a number of e-book (electronic books) collections, several of which support medical laboratory technology.

How to get there:

1. From the NVCC Libraries site, move your mouse over the box in the middle of the page that says Books & More to reveal more choices.
   
   
2. In the expanded Books & More window, click on E-books.

You should see a menu that looks like this:

Things to know about eBooks:

• eBooks are electronic versions of printed books.

• You do not need to "check out" most of our eBooks. You can access them as long as you have an Internet connection and are a student at NVCC. If off-campus, log in using your myNOVA username and password.

• Each eBook collection has different books. You can read the eBooks from cover to cover, view just selected chapters, or do a keyword search to find the pages that contain the information you need.

• Most collections will allow you to bookmark and print or email certain sections, but in limited quantities. Copyright restrictions do apply.
  

R2 Library and Stat!Ref have over 180 core titles in nursing and allied health.

For this part of the exercise you'll use 3 databases to search for journal articles.

Things to know about Databases:

• Databases are the best tools for finding articles from magazines, journals, and newspapers.
  
• Databases are very expensive, but NVCC students, faculty, and staff can use them for FREE.
  
  
• Using databases from off-campus:
  Because they are expensive, the databases are only for NVCC students and staff. You must enter a user ID and password to use databases from off-campus (it should be the same ID and password that you use to access myNova.

Database to try:

Health Reference Center Academic

How to get there:

1. From the NVCC Libraries site, click on Articles (middle of the page).
   
   
2. Scroll down until you see Subject Specific Databases. Under Health & Medicine, click on Allied Health & Nursing . You will see a list of databases that are useful for finding articles on Nursing and Allied Health.
   
   
3. Select the database called Health Reference Center Academic.

Do a search!

Let's say you want to find current articles on anthrax and antibodies.

1. Be sure to select Basic Search (see picture).

2. For your topic, this is one search you could try: anthrax AND antibodies

Note that you can limit your results to full-text (complete) articles, peer-reviewed journal articles, articles with images, etc. by clicking on More search options.

3. Click Search. You should get a list of articles that looks something like this:

Whenever you see the words “Full-text” or “Full-text with graphics” (see above), this means that the complete article is available in the database.  Just click on the article title or the words “Full-text” to read it. See box below for what to do when full-text is not available.

• Note that the results are organized by tabs. For the search we just did, we retrieved articles from academic journals, magazines, and "books" (which may be information from books or pamphlets).

To print, email, or save articles, or to get assistance with creating a citation for an article, go to the Tools box on the right (this box appears once you have selected an article).

Let's do another search!

Let's say you are interested in finding articles on serology, but you're not sure which aspect of serology you want to study.

1. Click on Subject Guide Search at the top of the screen (see picture below)

2. Type serology into the search box.

You should get a page that looks like this:

3. Click on Subdivisions (see above).

4. Choose Research. How many articles are there?

5. Look at the first article that has full text available. Look at the retrieval options. You can also mark the item to retrieve later.

Database to try:

CINAHL

How to get there:

1. From the NVCC Libraries site, click on Articles (middle of the page).
   
2. Scroll down until you see Subject Specific Databases. Under Health & Medicine, click on Allied Health & Nursing . You will see a list of databases that are useful for finding articles on Nursing and Allied Health.
   
3. Select the database called CINAHL.

Do a search!

Let's say you're interested in finding information on phlebotomy.

1. Type phlebotomy in the search box. Check the box next to Suggest Subject Terms (see below) to get assistance in locating the best subject heading for "phlebotomy".

(Note that there are many ways to limit your search, included by full-text availability and publication date)

2. Click Search.  You should get a screen that looks like this:

The database tells us that Plebotomy is the official subject heading.

3. To use Phlebotomy n as your search term, put a check in the box next to it (see above).

4. Click Search Database, at the top . You should get a list of articles that looks similar to this one:

If it says PDF Full Text or HTML Full Text under that citation for the article, the full-text of the article is available in CINAHL. If full-text is not available, use the previous instructions for finding full-text articles in a different database.

Medline (PubMed):

How to get there:

1. From the NVCC Libraries webpage, click on Articles (middle of the screen)
   
2. Scroll down the page until you see Allied Health & Nursing (on the right). Click.
   
3. You will see a list of databases that are useful for topics in Nursing and Allied Health.
   
4. Select MEDLINE (PubMed) .

Do a search!

Let's say you're interested in blood screening guidelines for labs..

1. Type blood AND screening AND laboratory into the search box. Click Go.

You should get a list of results that looks similar to this:

If you see an icon like this next to the article, the article is available in full-text in PubMed. If full-text is not available, use the previous instructions for finding full-text articles in a different database.
= abstract; = citation.

2. Click on the Limits tab (see above picture).

3. Try putting some limits on your search. Check the boxes next to Human, English language, and Clinical Trial. This will find English-language articles about clinical trials on prenatal nursing using human subjects.

Note: For some research topics, PubMed is the best database to use (for example: information on health care for particular religious or ethnic groups). Also, you can use the MeSH browser under PubMed Services (on the left sidebar) to identify precise subject headings for your topic. Ask a librarian for help.)

.

(Web resources for nursing students)

How to get there:

1. From the NVCC Libraries webpage, click on Web Sites (middle of the screen)
   
2. Choose Best of the Web.
   
3. Choose Nursing and Allied Health.

The categories of Core Resources, Pharmacy and Medical Laboratory Technology all have relevant links:

Try a Search!

1. Choose Core Resources, then click on Reference.

2. Scroll down to Encyclopedias and click on Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine.

3. Click on L and scroll down to Leukemias, acute.

Try another search!

1. Choose Core Resources, then click on Biomedical Links.

2. Choose CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

3. In the middle of the page, note the Data & Statistics link.

4. Use the search box at the top right of the page or the A to Z Index to search your topic.

5. Choose XDR Tuberculosis. What kinds of results do you get?

©Copyright Northern Virginia Community College. Last updated August 14, 2008. Comments to Beth DeAngelo.