Discussion replies
Response 1
1. Literature search was not too easy for me at the beginning but it is getting better, especially with the fear of not getting the right or most updated information. Sometimes to get the relevant information for the topic was quite challenging because of a lot of available information, but with time and practice the process has started making sense and getting easier.
The majority of the literature search I have done has been through Walden Library as I was concerned about the reliability and credibility of the information. From my previous experience, I know that libraries subscribe to various journals, and databases that provide high-quality and peer-reviewed content (Dang et al, 2021).
So far I have been able to get the necessary information I need by logging into Walden Library after deciding the topic of interest, selecting nursing, and typing in the topic, after selecting the topic, the date range and peer-reviewed will be selected, and updated. This brings up the article topics within that year and the peer-reviewed most relevant topics selected. This was exactly how my week 7 discussion board was planned and written.
The only issue of concern I have so far was the beginning of this class I struggled with getting information from the library, I reached out to the librarian from the information I got from the library, but I have yet to hear back from anyone. I struggled so badly and later figured things out myself, so I was discouraged from contacting them again since then. That notwithstanding, I will contact them again if l have to as I continue to learn in this academic journey.
In general, the instructors have been great, their feedback, advice, and direction have been tremendously helpful. The weekly reading resources have been very useful as well.
Response 2
2.Clinical research is paramount for ascertaining the effectiveness of new treatments compared to existing ones. Healthcare workers must remain current. Gaining familiarity with the library databases at Walden University is essential for accessing relevant evidence-based practices. The initial encounter with literature reviews proved to be a formidable and labor-intensive task. During my project, I extensively examined scholarly articles published between 2018 and 2023 that discuss preventive and interventional approaches to addressing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI), specifically in the context of nursing home patients. The primary databases employed in this study were CINAHL, EBSCOhost, MEDLINE, and PubMed, accessed via the university's online portal. The search strategy encompassed diverse filters and focused on prioritizing peer-reviewed sources. I placed particular emphasis on scholarly studies that incorporated meta-analyses and systematic reviews.
Starting a Literature Search
The methodology employed in conducting literature searches is contingent upon the subject matter under investigation and the accessibility of relevant resources. This is my proposed methodology:The initial step involves the establishment of a clear definition for the subject matter at hand, followed by identifying and formulating relevant keywords to facilitate compelling exploration of scholarly resources in physical libraries and online databases.I begin a comprehensive exploration to understand the existing literature before narrowing down my research focus.The utilization of topic-specific keywords facilitates the optimization of search processes. The writing process can be accelerated by giving precedence to full-text articles from academic institutions, the internet, or paid platforms.After locating many relevant articles, I further focused my search by incorporating other criteria. In addition, I engage in a cursory examination of recent journal publications to identify pertinent material and conduct a retrospective analysis of earlier references.Saving search strategies for future reference can be advantageous. I meticulously verify articles for their credibility and rigor. Walden Library's resources have been indispensable in this process, and I document articles systematically.
Literature Search Strategy
· Start by identifying the main concepts or keywords related to your topic.
· Choose suitable databases or other resources based on the nature of the literature needed.
· Systematically search for literature using your identified keywords.
· Critically evaluate the retrieved literature for its quality and pertinence.
· Summarize, analyze, and discuss the implications of the found literature.
· Formulate a plan for subsequent research based on the reviewed literature.
During my search, the abundance of external sources was overwhelming. Consequently, I limited my search to retain only essential data. While I encountered valuable blog content, the lack of peer review made it unsuitable for citation. Some articles, despite being relevant, were too dated to cite. The search process, being intricate, highlights the necessity for libraries to have dedicated personnel and advanced search engines. Training on efficient library resource utilization is also paramount for students and staff.
Response 3
3.A literature search is a systematic procedure for acquiring and analyzing previously published writing, including books, research papers, articles, and other sources, to obtain data and support for a specific topic or research issue. (Walden University Writing Center, 2020). To locate pertinent literature, it entails employing various search tools and databases, including libraries, academic databases, and search engines. A literature search aims to identify and access the most pertinent and current sources to help with research, give evidence for claims made in a paper or project, or provide background knowledge.
Enrolling in Walden University's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, I immediately learnt that doing literature searches is essential to developing my academic and professional skills. Students in DNP programs must stay up to date with the most recent nursing and healthcare research and literature because these programs strongly emphasize evidence-based practice. (Dang et al., 2021).
Here is the experience I’ve had as a new DNP student when beginning my literature search and assessing initial progress.
Beginning my literature search:
The first step as a new DNP student is to thoroughly comprehend the research topic one is interested in. This entails determining the industry's key ideas, problems, and gaps. The second step is establishing specific and clear research questions. This is crucial and the literature search will be focused and guided by the answers to these questions. The third but not the least step is accessing the Walden University Library. The library at Walden University is an excellent resource for DNP students. It offers accessibility to many scholarly databases, journals, e-books, and other study resources. One must make sure there is an understanding of how to use and navigate these resources efficiently. (Walden University Writing Center, n.d.).
For assessing Initial Progress:
I Created well-organized search queries using relevant keywords, boolean operators, and filters. Checked to see if the results from your initial inquiries are relevant. And then write a literature review by summarizing the available literature. Evaluating one’s success in locating the significant themes, patterns, and literature gaps pertinent to one’s research.
What's Working for me.
The following worked for me- Library resources, peer-reviewed journals and the Walden Writing Center; Support for writing and referencing sources is available from the Walden Writing Center. The writing center services can be used to sharpen one’s citation and literature review abilities. (Walden University Writing Center, 2020).
Issues of concern and specific questions regarding the search process.
Too Broad or Narrow searches, sometimes the original search terms are too general, producing many results, or too specific, producing few options. Also, access to full text is sometimes challenging, one needs help getting the entire text of pertinent articles or papers, I wish there any services like interlibrary loans that can fill this gap. Lastly, time management- efficiently managing my time for literature search, review, and synthesis. Establishing a precise deadline for finishing projects can be challenging. (Walden University Writing Center, n.d.).
Conclusion
Keep in mind that the process of finding literature is iterative. As one goes forward and develops research topics, one is expected to modify the search tactics. To increase one’s performance in this phase of the DNP program, it is also crucial to ask for advice from professors, peers, and the support services Walden University offers.
Response 4
4.One of the most challenging issues I have faced with my literature research is not becoming overwhelmed by the amount of available information. I have found that focusing on the direction I want my research to go has been more beneficial. I typically use the search databases CINAHL and MEDLINE through the Walden Library to get my research articles. The textbook also offered great strategies for searching for research, such as using resources outside of nursing literature
The Boolean Phrase can filter a broad topic into articles that focus on the specific topic being searched for. Another strategy that I found helpful was keyword searching. It can be challenging to sift through thousands of articles and find the ones that are relevant to your research. These two strategies can help narrow the search results to the articles most relevant articles needed for research.
I still struggle with finding articles within the five-year range, but I have been successful in learning how to synthesize my sources as well as learning how to evaluate my article by using the John Hopkins EBP evidence hierarchy to determine the level and strength of the literature review.
Utilizing all the resources available to help find and rate articles has been beneficial in my research.