DNP Library Resources

Step 1 - Develop a research question.

Start your research process by identifying a topic or what you have an interest in investigating. What do you want to know? Who do you want to help? Is there a specific population, medication, treatment, or therapy you want to focus on? Remember, the more focused your topic or research question, the less you may find published in a database or online. Try to start your search with a broader topic or question to determine what has been published related to your topic.

PICO can be a useful tool to help develop your research question. Check out the PICO Questions page to learn how to use this tool.

Step 2 - Brainstorm search terms, including subject headings and MeSH terms, that should be included in your search.

Databases typically will search the exact word or phrase you enter and only that word or phrase. These databases are not like Google, which will search for similar terms (automatic term mapping). You can search a database's controlled vocabulary to identify appropriate subject headings or MeSH terms. Look for the Thesaurus, Controlled Vocabulary, or Subject Headings within an advanced search area.

Step 3 - Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to combine your search terms.

Boolean logic is an important concept to use when searching a database. Boolean operators can help you conduct a successful search and find what you need.

There are three Boolean operators: AND, OR, and NOT.

• AND narrows a search by locating results that include all of the search terms. Most databases default to using the AND operator.
• OR broadens a search by searching for either term included in a search. This is a helpful operator to use if you are searching for synonyms or similar spellings of a term.
• NOT narrows a search by excluding the second term. For example, in the search diabetes NOT children, results would return items that contain the word diabetes but not ones that contain the word children.

If you are searching for a specific phrase, you will want to use quotation marks. For example, searching for "heart disease" will return only items with that exact phrase.

Step 4 - Perform an initial search to determine if there is any literature on your topic.

This will help you determine what literature has been published related to your research question or topic. You can then identify any gaps in the literature or better refine your search terms. 

If you need help developing your search strategy or locating relevant research on your topic, schedule an appointment with a librarian. Librarians are available to meet in person or online.

Step 5 - Keep track of your searches.

It will be helpful to keep track of what searches you conduct so you can alter searches to find exactly what you need. Some databases have a search history tool that will keep track during your search session, but these may not maintain a record long-term.