Searching the CINAHL Database

Centennial College Libraries

Collaborative Nursing Program

2012

Search Example

• The following search is based on an

assignment where students need to find

nursing journal articles that “pertain to

portfolio development for nurses/nursing

students”

• This is not your assignment, but the step-

by step illustrations will help you in

searching for articles for your own topics in

CINAHL.

First Step

Go to the Centennial College

Libraries website at:

library.centennialcollege.ca

If you are outside the College network (at home) you will

need to login with your student number and your PIN (last 4

numbers of your student number).

Accessing Full Text

• The full text of articles from a CINAHL

record come from a number of sources:

– Other Library databases including ProQuest

Nursing and Allied Health, Science Direct,

YourJournals@Ovid and Health Source

Nursing Academic Edition

– Hard copy journals subscribed to by the

Library – look for these on the Periodical

Shelves

Saving your Results

• You can print, download and, depending on the

database, email the article to yourself.

• Many of the databases also have citation tools,

sometimes in the email function, to help you

format your article citation into APA style.

• You can also import the article citations from

your database search into RefWorks, a

bibliographic citation tool that can help you

create a bibliography in APA format

Make sure you choose RefWorks

when you are exporting a citation.

DOI

The CINAHL database often does not

include the DOI in the record,

especially in the case of older

articles. If there is a DOI you may find

it in the database record of the full

text article or within the article itself.

DOI

APA format for journal articles should

include a DOI (digital object identifier)

if available. The CINAHL database

often does not include the DOI in the

record, especially in the case of older

articles. If there is a DOI you may find

it in the database record of the full text

article or within the article itself.

DOI (cont.) If there is a DOI in the record of the full

text or in the article itself, substitute it for

the database retrieval statement in your

APA citation from the CINAL database:

Twaddell, J., & Johnson, J. (2007). A TIME for nursing

portfolios: a tool for career development. Advances in

Neonatal Care,7(3), 146-150.

doi:10.1097/01.ANC.0000278213.41510.22

DOI (cont.) If there is no DOI in the record of the full

text or in the article itself, substitute the

name of the database where you

retrieved the full text in for “CINAHL” or

“EBSCOhost” in the database retrieval

statement in your APA citation:

Twaddell, J., & Johnson, J. (2007). A TIME for nursing portfolios:

a tool for career development. Advances in Neonatal

Care,7(3), 146-150. Retrieved from YourJournals@Ovid.

Good Luck!

Ask for help if you need it.

Helpful Links

• How to Find Articles:Search Assistance Guide: includes more database searching tips including how to connect ideas.

• Research Tips and Writing Help: includes research tips, links to APA style and help on avoiding plagiarism.

• RefWorks: includes links to RefWorks tutorials.

• Off Campus Access Troubleshooting: if you are having trouble connecting to the E-resources.

Help Available@

• Science and Technology Centre Library: (416) 289-5000 ext. 8000

• library.centennialcollege.ca/ask (links to AskON

Online Chat Research service and AsktheLibrary email)

Gail Alexander, Librarian

Centennial Libraries

416-289-5000 ext. 8107 (Morningside Campus), ext 8607 (CCC Campus)

galexand@centennialcollege.ca