Skip to Main Content

NURS_DNP/PhD School of Nursing Library Instruction Session Fall 2024

Other Common Tools

There are a number of various tools to finesse a search, but some of the most commonly used tools are:

  • truncation
  • exact phrase searching
  • nested searching

Truncation:

To search for different forms of a root word, such as vaccin* to find vaccine, vaccines, vaccinate, vaccination, vaccinations, etc..  You can use a wildcard to look for alternate letters within a word, such as wome*n to find woman as well as women.  The asterisk * is used in the library catalog and many databases for this. 

  • vaccin*
  • vaccin* AND wom*n  

There is no wildcard in PubMed and the wildcard in CINAHL is #

Use the * thoughtfully.  It can result in false hits (gam* will bring gaming and gamer as well as gambling and gambler). 

To find a specific phrase, with the words next to each other in order, use double quotation marks around the phrase:

  • "flu vaccine" 

Use the " " thoughtfully.  It can eliminate some relevant articles.  Using "" will turn off term mapping in PubMed. 

To build a search to combine the concepts, use a nested search:

  • vaccin* AND (influenza OR flu) AND ((college OR university) AND student*)

When combining searches, use parentheses ( ) around different parts of the search, as in the example above or the Scopus search below.

 

( (TITLE ( hypertension  OR  "high blood pressure"  OR  "elevated blood pressure"  OR  htn  OR  hypertensive ) )  OR  ( ABS ( hypertension  OR  "high blood pressure"  OR  "elevated blood pressure"  OR  htn  OR  hypertensive ) ) )  AND  ( ( TITLE ( mhealth  OR  m-health  OR  "mobile health"  OR  ehealth  OR  e-health  OR  telehealth  OR  tele-health  OR  tele-medicine  OR  telemedicine  OR  phone  AND  app*  OR  "mobile app*"  OR  apps  OR  app  OR  "health technology"  OR  "mobile phone*"  OR  "cell phone*"  OR  "cellphone*"  OR  "smartphone*"  OR  "smart phone*"  OR  "web based"  OR  "web-based"  OR  website  OR  "web-site"  OR  "web site"  OR  "internet-based"  OR  "internet based" ) )  OR  ( ABS ( mhealth  OR  m-health  OR  "mobile health"  OR  ehealth  OR  e-health  OR  telehealth  OR  tele-health  OR  tele-medicine  OR  telemedicine  OR  phone  AND  app*  OR  "mobile app*"  OR  apps  OR  app  OR  "health technology"  OR  "mobile phone*"  OR  "cell phone*"  OR  "cellphone*"  OR  "smartphone*"  OR  "smart phone*"  OR  "web based"  OR  "web-based"  OR  website  OR  "web-site"  OR  "web site"  OR  "internet-based"  OR  "internet based" ) ) )  AND  ( ( ABS ( "self-care"  OR  "self care"  OR  selfcare  OR  "self-manag*"  OR  "self manag*"  OR  "selfmanag*"  OR  "self-monitor*"  OR  "self monitor*"  OR  selfmonitor*  OR  coach*  OR  interven*  OR  "patient educat*" ) )  OR  ( TITLE ( "self-care"  OR  "self care"  OR  selfcare  OR  "self-manag*"  OR  "self manag*"  OR  "selfmanag*"  OR  "self-monitor*"  OR  "self monitor*"  OR  selfmonitor*  OR  coach*  OR  interven*  OR  "patient educat*" ) ) )  AND  ( LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR ,  2022 )  OR  LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR ,  2021 )  OR  LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR ,  2020 )  OR  LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR ,  2019 )  OR  LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR ,  2018 )  OR  LIMIT-TO ( PUBYEAR ,  2017 ) )  AND  ( LIMIT-TO ( LANGUAGE ,  "English" ))

Query 

Limiters/Expanders 

Last Run Via 

Results 

S30 

S9 AND S17 AND S20 AND S24 AND S28 

Limiters - English Language; Peer Reviewed 
Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

396 

S29 

S9 AND S17 AND S20 AND S24 AND S28 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

423 

S28 

S25 OR S26 OR S27 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

1,546,008 

S27 

pediatric* OR child* OR paediatric* OR adolescen* OR teen* OR "young adult*" OR infan* OR toddler* OR neonat* OR newborn* OR juvenile* OR boy* OR girl* 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

1,532,146 

S26 

(MH "Adolescence") OR (MH "Adolescent, Hospitalized") OR (MH "Child") OR (MH "Child, Hospitalized") OR (MH "Child, Medically Fragile") OR (MH "Child, Preschool") OR (MH "Infant") OR (MH "Infant, High Risk") OR (MH "Infant, Hospitalized") OR (MH "Infant, Newborn") OR (MH "Infant, Large for Gestational Age") OR (MH "Infant, Small for Gestational Age") OR (MH "Infant, Low Birth Weight") OR (MH "Infant, Very Low Birth Weight") OR (MH "Infant, Premature") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

1,056,987 

S25 

(MH "Pediatrics") OR (MH "Neonatology") OR (MH "Perinatology") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

22,661 

S24 

S21 OR S22 OR S23 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

1,071,240 

S23 

train* OR teach* OR educat* OR workshop* OR curricul* 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

1,071,240 

S22 

(MH "Teaching") OR (MH "Communication Skills Training") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

11,452 

S21 

(MH "Education") OR (MH "Curriculum") OR (MH "Education, Continuing") OR (MH "Education, Medical, Continuing") OR (MH "Education, Nursing, Continuing") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

75,046 

S20 

S18 OR S19 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

746,787 

S19 

communicat* OR conversation* OR discuss* 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

746,787 

S18 

(MH "Communication") OR (MH "Communication Barriers") OR (MH "Communication Skills") OR (MH "Conversation") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

104,492 

S17 

S10 OR S11 OR S12 OR S13 OR S14 OR S15 OR S16 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

321,431 

S16 

app OR apps OR "mobile application*" OR internet OR "web site" OR website OR "educational technolog*" OR "instructional technolog*" OR smartphone* OR "cell phone*" OR cellphone* OR mhealth OR ehealth OR "mobile health" OR virtual OR asynchronous OR online app OR apps OR "mobile application*" OR internet OR "web site" OR website OR "educational technolog*" OR "instructional technolog*" OR smartphone* OR "cell phone*" OR cellphone* OR mhealth OR ehealth OR "mobile health" OR virtual OR asynchronous OR online 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

221,825 

S15 

(MH "Computers, Hand-Held+") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

8,002 

S14 

(MH "Internet+") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

161,601 

S13 

(MH "Educational Technology") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

2,303 

S12 

(MH "Smartphone") OR (MH "Cellular Phone") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

5,532 

S11 

(MH "Telemedicine") OR (MH "Telenursing") OR (MH "Telecommunications") 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

19,043 

S10 

(MH "Mobile Applications") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

10,143 

S9 

S1 OR S2 OR S3 OR S4 OR S5 OR S6 OR S7 OR S8 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

1,031,133 

S8 

"end of life" OR "palliative care" OR "terminal care" OR "terminal* ill*" OR dying OR hospice* OR "poor prognosis" OR death OR "advance care planning" OR cancer OR oncolog* OR death 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

776,717 

S7 

(MH "Advance Care Planning") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

4,357 

S6 

(MH "Neoplasms+") 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

613,823 

S5 

(MH "Hospices") 

Expanders - Apply equivalent subjects 
Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

3,382 

S4 

(MH "Terminally Ill Patients") OR (MH "Hospice Patients") 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

12,470 

S3 

(MH "Terminal Care") OR (MH "Hospice Care") OR (MH "Resuscitation Orders") 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

30,224 

S2 

(MH "Palliative Care") OR (MH "Hospice and Palliative Nursing") OR (MH "Palliative Medicine") 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

43,714 

S1 

(MH "Death") OR (MH "Infant Death") 

Search modes - Boolean/Phrase 

Interface - EBSCOhost Research Databases 
Search Screen - Advanced Search 
Database - CINAHL Plus with Full Text 

19,837