Using and Doing Research
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.
Last updated:
24/07/2026
Key Resources
RCN: Nursing research
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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.
EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) Network
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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)
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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.
PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis)
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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
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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.
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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.
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.
Booth A, Sutton A, Clowes M and Martyn-St James M (2026) Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. 4th edn. London: Sage.
Boswell C and Cannon S (2023) Introduction to nursing research: incorporating evidence-based practice. 6th edn. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Bowling A (2023) Research methods in health: investigating health and health services. 5th edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Ellis P (2025) Understanding research for nursing students. 6th edn. London: Learning Matters.
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.
Greenhalgh T and Dijkstra P (2025) How to read a paper: the basics of evidence based healthcare. 7th edn. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
Grove S K and Cipher D J (2025) Statistics for nursing research: a workbook for evidence-based practice. 4th edn. St. Louis: Elsevier.
Holland K and Watson R (2021) Writing for publication in nursing and healthcare: getting it right. 2nd edn. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.
Holloway I and Galvin K (2024) Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare. 5th edn. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
Johnstone M J (2024) Effective writing for healthcare professionals : a pocket guide to getting published. 2nd edn. Abingdon: Routledge.
Parahoo K (2024) How to design studies and write research proposals. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Book subject searches
Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.
Journal articles
Use these links to see details of journal articles on each topic.
Journals
Journals of interest for the novice researchers. Use these links to see details of availability.
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Hong-Anh Nguyen
Editor of this guide
RCN Library and Museum
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Page last updated - 24/07/2026
