Virtual enquiry service
Databases to search
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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 use the Brief Guide to Searching British Nursing Index (PDF 95KB) or the more detailed Step-by-step guide to British Nursing Index (PDF 3.2 MB)
For help accessing full text articles in British Nursing Index see the FAQs and troubleshooting 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 also provides references and abstracts to journal articles.
It is an excellent database for more detailed searching on topics, and is recommended as an additional source of references after BNI.
There will be a free webinar (web based training session) about how to search CINAHL on Wednesday 15 May from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Find out more and register on the Webinar training sessions page.
For help using this database go to the Guide to Using the CINAHL database (PDF 351KB) . This guide may also be used with the AMED and MEDLINE databases (listed below).
ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source
ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source provides details of articles from hundreds of journal titles, many of which are available in full text. It also includes a range of other materials covering nursing, allied health, alternative and complementary medicine.
ProQuest psychology journals
ProQuest Psychology Journals provide abstracts and indexing for more than 640 titles. Coverage ranges from behavioral, clinical, cognitive, developmental, experimental, industrial and social psychology, along with personality, psychobiology and psychometrics.
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 go to the Ovid SP Quick Reference Card (PDF 1 MB) or Ovid online tutorial: Ovid SP Advanced Search Overview.
Medline
MEDLINE® indexes the latest articles from more than 3,900 biomedical journals published in more than 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 CINAHL guide above.
AMED - The Allied and Complementary Medicine Database
AMED provides an alternative medicine based database for health care practitioners and researches who wish to learn more about alternative treatments. AMED contains details of articles from more than 500 journals, with the scope of coverage being mainly European. it is produced by the Health Care Information Service of the British Library.
For help using this database go to the CINAHL guide above.
HMIC - The Health Management Information Consortium
The Health Management Information Consortium (HMIC) database is a compilation of information from two sources, the Department of Health's Library and Information Services and The King's Fund Information and Library Service.
It includes details of official publications, journal articles and grey literature related to health service policy, management and administration.
For help using this database see the Maternity and Infant Care links above.
Social Policy and Practice
Covering evidence-based social policy, public health, social services, and mental and community health. Social Policy and Practice is particularly strong on social care of the young and elderly. It includes references from ChildData, AgeInfo and Social Care Online.
RCN full text journals@Ovid
Use the RCN full text journals@Ovid database to search for full text content from this supplier.
Cochrane Library
The Cochrane Library provides high-quality, independent evidence to inform health care decision-making.
Visit the Cochrane Library website for help on how to use the Cochrane Library.
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.
OSH-Update
OSH-Update provides easy, searchable access to the latest information and legislation on occupational health, safety, hygiene and environment trends.
Legislation.gov.uk
Legislation.gov.uk is the official home of revised enacted UK legislation. Legislation is available in full text online through this website.
If you experience technical problems using these resources please refer to the FAQs and troubleshooting page and contact e.resources@rcn.org.uk if problems persist.
For advice on using any of the resources above telephone 0345 337 3368 or email rcn.library@rcn.org.uk, or use the virtual enquiry service (available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am-4pm Saturdays between September and July - this service is not available on Saturdays in August).