NSG505: Informatics for Healthcare

Library Instruction Sessions for 2009 Class. 

 Note: You will need QuikTime to watch the podcasts and Adobe Reader to view or download some of the materials.

Session 1: Accessing Information

• Library Orientation: if you miss the library orientation, you need to listen to this podcast. Or you can take the 360° Tour  of the library.

• Get Connected: a podcast demonstrates how to access library's resources at home.
• Library tutorial module 1: Basic Library Skills

• Catalog Search Podcast: searching the online catalog for books and journals.
• Get Help@the Library: a podcast shows where to get help when you have questions using library resources. 

• Patient Education Materials: Locating patient education materials using library resources. 
• Medical Information on the Run: A podcast  include  registration, access, key databases, and resources available in  the UTHSC Library.
• Nursing Subject Guide: includes key databases, books and journals, and useful web sites.
• PDA Resources from the libary: a list of library PDA resources that you can download onto your PDA

Session 2: Screening Information

• What are Peer-Reviewed Journals?

• Primary vs. secondary sources: What they are and what to use primary and secondary sources.
• Library tutorial 4: Using the Web: information about the organization of the Web, its strength and weakness, search engines, and tips for better search results.
• Scholarly publications vs. popular publications: Use this table to judge the information you found for your project.

Session 3: Searching Information 

• Finding Articles for Class: You have a list of readings for the class, where and how to get them?
• Finding Articles from PubMed: a podcast demonstrating a quick way to retrieve full text articles from PubMed
• Finding articles in CINAHL: a PDF file demonstrating a quick and dirty search for articles on your topic including how to manage the search results and convert them into APA format.
• Catalog Search Podcast: Search the online catalog for books and journals.
• Are You a Smart Googler: searching Google wisely
• Library tutorial module 2: Finding Library Resources
• Library tutorial 3: Finding Articles
• Database searching basics: a PDF file explains some basics in searching a database such as indexing terms and Boolean Operators.
• CINAHL Plus with Full Text Help sheet

Session 4: Evaluating Sources

• Evaluating Sources: Have difficulty judging information found on the Internet? Visit this PPT version in Google Doc.
• Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask: From UC Berkeley.
• Criteria for Evaluating Web Resources: A Web site evaluation form--in PDF or Microsoft Word or RTF format--designed to be used in conjunction with these criteria developed by Kent State University. 
• Evaluating Information Found on the Internet: from John Hopkins University libraries discussing the criteria by which scholars in most fields evaluate print information, and shows how the same criteria can be used to assess information found on the Internet.
• Evaluating Internet Health Information -- Developed by the National Library of Medicine, this tutorial teaches you how to evaluate the health information that you find on the Web.

Session 5: Searching for Best Practices and Practice Guidelines

Best practices are available from many sources, including journals, government Web sites, and other resources indexed in CINAHL and MEDLINE. CINAHL publication types to consider include Care Plan, Clinical Innovations, Critical Path, Practice Guidelines, Protocol, and Standards. Also, consider Evidence-Based Care Sheets available in CINAHL. “Practice Guideline” is also available as a MEDLINE publication type. The following Web sites provide information on best practices and practice guidelines. 

• AHRQ Evidence Based Practice: Links to Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Evidence Reports by topics A-Z.
• JBI Best Practice Information Sheets: From Joanna Briggs Institute by title or by issue.
• National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC): From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), US Department of Health and Human Services.You can browse or search the site.
• Nursing Best Practice Guidelines: From Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). You can search the site.
• RCN Clinical Guidelines: From Royal College of Nursing. Guidelines areas include falls, pain, ... and more.
• MD Consult Guidelines: To access this resource, you will have to start with the library's home page. Then, use the Popular Resources drop-down menu to connect to MD Consult. You can search for a particular topic or you can browse by A-Z topic, or by specialties, or by organizations.

Contact the librarian if you  need further assistance.