Find information resources about using and doing research including key resources, books, and journal articles. This guide is for RCN members including nursing students, nursing support workers, and registered nurses.

• Key Resources
• Books
• Journals

Key Resources Books Journals

Key Resources

RCN: Nursing research

• Why nursing research matters and how to pursue it.
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Hui A and Ball J (2025) RCN research strategy: maximising impact and outcomes through research. London: RCN.

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EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) Network

• Reporting guidance for health research: this contains a comprehensive searchable database of reporting guidelines and also links to other resources relevant to research reporting.
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Health Research Agency (HRA)

• The HRA protects and promotes the interests of patients and the public in health and social care research.
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National Institute for Health and Care Research: Public involvement in research.

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PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis)

• PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) is a guideline designed to improve the reporting of systematic reviews.
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PROSPERO

• An international systematic review registry that aims to promote transparency and open science, reduce reporting bias and help prevent unintended duplication and research waste.
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Think. Check. Submit.

• Tools and practical resources to help researchers identify trusted journals and publishers for their research and to avoid predatory publishers.
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World Health Organization (2017) Facilitating evidence-based practice in nursing and midwifery in the WHO European Region. Copenhagen: WHO.

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We would like to thank the RCN Research member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.

Books

Aveyard H (2023) Doing a literature review in health and social care: a practical guide. 5th edn. London: Open University Press.

• Access through RCN library

Booth A, Sutton A, Clowes M and Martyn-St James M (2026) Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. 4th edn. London: Sage.

• Access through RCN library

Boswell C and Cannon S (2023) Introduction to nursing research: incorporating evidence-based practice. 6th edn. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

• Access through RCN library

Bowling A (2023) Research methods in health: investigating health and health services. 5th edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

• Access through RCN library

Ellis P (2025) Understanding research for nursing students. 6th edn. London: Learning Matters.

• Access through RCN library

Flanagan J, Beck C T and Polit D F (2027) Polit and Beck’s essentials of nursing research. 11th international edn. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

• Access through RCN library

Greenhalgh T and Dijkstra P (2025) How to read a paper: the basics of evidence based healthcare. 7th edn. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

• Access through RCN library

Grove S K and Cipher D J (2025) Statistics for nursing research: a workbook for evidence-based practice. 4th edn. St. Louis: Elsevier.

• Access through RCN library

Holland K and Watson R (2021) Writing for publication in nursing and healthcare: getting it right. 2nd edn. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.

• Access through RCN library

Holloway I and Galvin K (2024) Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare. 5th edn. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

• Access through RCN library

Johnstone M J (2024) Effective writing for healthcare professionals : a pocket guide to getting published. 2nd edn. Abingdon: Routledge.

• Access through RCN library

Parahoo K (2024) How to design studies and write research proposals. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

• Access through RCN library

Book subject searches

Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.

• Critical appraisal
• Evidence-based practice
• Research methods
• Statistics

Journal articles

Use these links to see details of journal articles on each topic.

• Critical appraisal tools
• Evidence based practice
• Practice development
• Qualitative research (research methods)
• Quantitative research (research methods)

Journals

Journals of interest for the novice researchers. Use these links to see details of availability.

• Journal of Research in Nursing
• Nurse Researcher
• Nursing Open