PN 115 Information Literacy Program

Using CINAHL Ultimate to find original research articles

The SC4 library subscribes to a number of excellent nursing and allied health databases. When looking for research articles, it is sometimes easiest to use a nursing database to find information because it automatically narrows down your results to medical information.

CINAHL Ultimate is the largest nursing database. CINAHL stands for Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. Although you could conduct the search OneSearch on the library homepage, it is often best to start with the subject database such as CINAHL Ultimate. CINAHL will automatically narrow your results to nursing materials. 

How do you identify an original research article?

Look for these features in an article to verify that is a research article:

• Introduction. The beginning of the article might include a survey of existing research on the topic.
• Methods. How the research was conducted, and the pool of subjects used for the study. There is usually a control group, too. 
• Results. The cut and dried results of the research conducted without opinion added. This section usually includes charts or graphs.
• Discussion. The researchers' interpretations of the results. Was their hypothesis met? What additional research might need to be done?
• References. A list of articles, papers, and books the researchers consulted. 

An additional resource which may help you identify a research article is linked to below.

• What's the difference between a research article (or research study) and a review article?  (2018). Richard G. Trefry Library. American Public University System. Retrieved from https://apus.libanswers.com/faq/2324

Finding Original Research Articles

How do you find "original research" articles on nursing topics? 

A research article is a primary source of information. It may be referred to by an instructor as an "original" research article. 

• There is a research article limiter in CINAHL. Narrow the results in CINAHL complete to research articles by using the Research Article limiter in the search screen.
• Research articles may or may not include the term "original" on the full text.
• Do not add "original research" to the search string. It doesn't work that way. 

Using CINAHL Ultimate to Find an Original Research Article - Written Directions

• There is a research article limiter in CINAHL.
• Research articles may or may not include the term "original" on the full text.
• Do not add "original research" to the search string. It doesn't work that way. 

Begin by finding CINAHL Ultimate either using the A to Z Databases link on the library homepage to by using the Nursing Library Research Guide. 

Entered below is the search string: "breast feeding" AND nursing

To narrow the results to research articles, the Research Article box is checked as indicated below.

Use the date scroll bar in the left-hand column of your results to narrow to a specific date range. 

The results are narrowed to articles published from 2018 to date. 

The 13th article in the result list looks relevant to the topic. 

More information about the article and a link to the PDF is given by clicking on the title.

Using CINAHL Ultimate to Find a Research Article - Video

Updated December 2023.

Selected Nursing Databases

Nursing Video Databases