Research Tips & Techniques Guide

There are two search interfaces in most databases: 

• Basic Search ​

• Advanced Search                                                                             

Always use Advanced Search, when available to:

• combine keyword concepts with the connectors AND, OR, NOT 

• manage your results through use of the search, field and results limiters

1.  Find articles on nursing leadership in the hospital setting

Break the topic into searchable keywords and phrases​:

• nursing leadership

• hospitals

• hospital setting

2. Apply:

• truncation  *

• proximity quotes  "   "

​Using Truncation

• when there is a common root prefix increase results with truncation:

•   child* = child, childish, children, childless, childlessness

• saves time on repetitive searches.  

Using Proximity Quotes

• to keep the words together and increase relevant results                                                     

• Eg. "United States"    "Climate Change"

3. Put keywords into advanced search boxes.                                                                                                                                

"nurs* leadership"

AND hospitals

4. Apply other Field or Search limiters as desired and then  hit Enter  

• After searching, apply Results Limiters

•  See Using Limiters page for more ideas