Databases to search

Members may experience occasional technical problems with the service. Please refer to the FAQs and troubleshooting page or contact e.resources@rcn.org.uk if problems persist.

For advice on using any of the resources below telephone: 0345 337 3368 or email: rcn.library@rcn.org.uk, or use the virtual enquiry service (available 11am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm Saturday)

Learn how to start using the RCN databases with this short online demonstration:

Databases demonstration

British Nursing Index (BNI)

Members should begin their search using the British Nursing Index (BNI) for full text articles and print journal references from all the major British nursing and midwifery titles.

For help using this database go to the Guide to British Nursing Index (Word 1.62MB) or refer to the FAQs and troubleshooting page for help with accessing Ebsco full text from BNI.

New: E-library webinars (web-based training sessions) are now available and the next one will specifically focus on how to search the British Nursing Index efficiently. It will take place on Thursday 15 July and will run from 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

If you would like to take part to this innovative training session, register by sending an e-mail to information.literacy@rcn.org.uk indicating your RCN membership number and the date of the webinar.

To attend, all you will need is a computer with internet access and a telephone.
To find out more about our webinar programme, visit the webinar training sessions page.

CINAHL

CINAHL Plus with full text provides access to a wide range of full text articles, many published in the United States, relating to nursing and allied health.

It is an excellent database for more detailed searching on topics and is recommended as an additional source of references after BNI.

For help using this database go to the EBSCO CINAHL Pocket Guide (PDF 889KB) [see how to access PDF files] or EBSCO online tutorial CINAHL in Depth Review.

Medline

MEDLINE® indexes the latest articles from more than 3,900 biomedical journals published in over 70 countries. Use Medline if you are looking for articles on a medical rather than a nursing topic.

For help using this database go to the OvidSP Quick Reference guide (PDF 1.57MB) [see how to access PDF files] or Ovid online tutorial OvidSP: Advanced Search Overview.

Maternity and infant care (formerly known as MIDIRS)

Use the Maternity and infant care database to find online journal articles and print journal references on midwifery, pregnancy, labour and early infant care.

For help using this database see the Medline links above.

ChildData

Search ChildData for references on the care of children and young people from the National Childrens' Bureau.

AgeInfo

AgeInfo contains references to social gerontology literature from the Centre for Policy on Ageing.

Cochrane Library

The Cochrane Library provides high-quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision-making.

For help using this database go to the Wiley InterScience Cochrane Library Quick Reference Guide (PDF 721KB) [see how to access PDF files] or Cochrane Library User Guide (PDF 3MB)

Social Care Online

Social Care Online is the UK's most extensive database of social care information and includes references and abstracts to research briefings, reports, government documents, journal articles and websites.

TRIP Database

Turning Research into Practice (TRIP Database). A quick and easy source of evidence-based information, TRIP will search across a range of resources to find evidence-based synopses, answers to clinical questions, systematic reviews, guidelines, articles from MEDLINE and more.