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NURS MSN NP School of Nursing Library Instruction Session Spring 2023

Library resources to support the M.S.N. Online degree program at SLU's Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing.

A Bit About Google Scholar

Google Scholar might seem like the best collection of information to search, but it still has limitations.  Be aware:

  • While some library databases are interdisciplinary, many are discipline specific and deep--whereas Google Scholar tends to be broad and shallow.
  • Library databases provide multiple means of sorting results, Google Scholar does not.
  • Library databases provide multiple means of refining searches.  Google Scholar does not.
  • Library databases are indexed by professionals and/or AI; Google Scholar 's metadata depends upon the source.

  • Predatory Journals are likely to be found within Google Scholar, but rarely in PubMed and CINAHL.  

  • “Predatory journals and publishers are entities that prioritize self-interest at the expense of scholarship and are characterized by false or misleading information, deviation from best editorial and publication practices, a lack of transparency, and/or the use of aggressive and indiscriminate solicitation practices.”

Quotation and Illustration (illus.by David Parkins) from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03759-y

Dr. Thanavaro listed w/o permission as editor of predatory journal