SCHOOL OF NURSING
RN-BSN PROGRAM

COLLEGE 
OF 
HEALTH 
AND URBAN AFFAIRS

COURSE
DESCRIPTION

GENERAL INFO REQUIREMENTS

SCHEDULE
DUE DATES

 

RN-BSN MAIN PAGE

Transition to Professional Nursing
Internet Library Assignment (10%)

To e-mail the instructor  phillips@fiu.edu

NNOTE: In order to complete this assignment, you MUST obtain an FIU PantherCard.  Link to GENERAL INFO/REQUIREMENTS for
information on obtaining the card so you can access databases from home.  

Connecting to the FIU libraries from an off-campus computer, such as your home computer:

  • GO to www.fiu.edu
  • CLICK on LIBRARIES
  • CLICK on CONNECT FROM HOME
  • Follow instructions. (You will need your Panther ID card with the bar code on the back side). 
  • Why do you have to type in your bar code?  Because many of the journal databases in the library (i.e., CINAHL, MEDLINE) are restricted to students who are currently registered for FIU courses.

NOTE:  If you are using a computer on-campus, you do not have to click on the “Connect from Home” link.  All computers on campus are already wired into the libraries.

The objectives of the INTERNET LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT are to:

ACQUIRE PROFICIENCY IN USING FIU LIBRARY RESOURCES BY:

ACQUIRE PROFICIENCY IN USING INTERNET RESOURCES BY:

Your INTERNET LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT is the following:

Click on the following:  Internet Paper Assignment and choose a topic from ONE of these units: (NOTE: You are NOT writing the Internet Paper now!  The Internet Paper is NOT due until the end of the semester.  All you are doing for this library assignment is using the list below to choose a topic that you can look up in the library).  

(NOTE:  Choose whatever topic strikes your interest.  Choose one topic (you do NOT have to use the same topic when you write your Internet Paper).
 

PART 1.  First, search the library CATALOG for a  book or audiovisual materials. 

    To complete Part #1 of the assignment:

    • GO to LIBRARIES home page. (If you are connecting from home, see the top of this page)
    • CLICK on FIND BOOKS AND MATERIALS (what used to be the old card catalog!)
    • For this search, select KEYWORDS
    • Type in your search keyword (Example:  "stress management").   For this search, you are searching for books, so keep your keywords very general or broad.  Try different topics.
    • You now will see a list of books, etc.  Note the book titles are underlined, so they are links. 
    • CLICK on one of the book title links.
    • You will now see a page with more information about the book: author, publisher, publication year, # pages, brief contents, related subjects (more links) and the most important—where to find it- which campus- and if it is checked out.
    • Now send the results to me:
      • CLICK on the little box □ just to the left of the title of the book.
      • CLICK on the SAVE/EMAIL (found at the top of the screen)
      • Type in your email address and click GO.
    • NOTE:  Do NOT send the results of your search directly to my email address.  If you do that, the header will show that it came from the library, not you.  Send the results to your email address first, then forward it to my email address. 
    • Your results should include author, title, publisher, year, library location and "call" number.
    • You have now completed Part #1 of the assignment  (10%). 
PART 2.  Second, search the nursing journals database (CINAHL) for an article with an abstract. 

    To complete Part #2 of the assignment:

    • GO to LIBRARIES home page.  (If you are connecting from home, see the top of this page).
    • CLICK on FIND ARTICLES & DO RESEARCH.
    • CLICK on NURSING (found under HEALTH & MEDICINE)
      • NOTE:  There are many specialty areas listed on this page.  Each of these specialty areas is a large data base of journal abstracts and full text articles (in case you are interested in psychology, medicine, etc.).
    • CLICK on CINAHL via EbscoHost. 
      • NOTE: CINAHL is Nursing’s journal database.  CINAHL = Cumulative Index of Nursing & Allied Health Literature.
    • For this search, you can be much more specific on your keywords.  Type in specific keywords, such as “guided imagery.” Try different topics.
    • WAIT!  Do NOT click on SEARCH!
    • Look at the LIMIT YOUR RESULTS box. 
      • You want articles published only in the nursing literature, so you go to the JOURNAL SUBSET box and select NURSING from the pull-down menu.
    • Now CLICK on SEARCH.
    • You will now see a list of titles of articles that are in nursing journals.  The titles are links.
    • CLICK on an article title that says (Includes Abstract)
    • You will now see more information about the article: author, journal, related subjects, abstract, etc., and--if you click on the S*F*X link—you can find out if the library has the journal on its shelves (if you want to read the entire article).
    • Now send the results to me:
      • CLICK on the email picture link at the top of the page.
      • Type in your email address and hit SEND.
    • NOTE:  Do NOT send the results of your search directly to my email address.  If you do that, the header will show that it came from the library, not you.  Send the results to your email address first, then forward it to my email address.
    • Your results should include author, year, journal title, related topics, etc. with the abstract.
    • You have now completed Part #2 of the assignment  (20%). 
PART 3.  Third, do another search in CINAHL to find a "full text" nursing article. 

  • To complete Part #3 of the assignment:

    • GO to LIBRARIES home page.  (If you are connecting from home, see the beginning of this page).
    • CLICK on FIND ARTICLES & DO RESEARCH.
    • CLICK on NURSING (found under HEALTH & MEDICINE)
      • NOTE:  There are many specialty areas listed on this page.  Each of these specialty areas is a large data base of journal abstracts and full text articles (in case you are interested in psychology, medicine, etc.).
    • CLICK on CINAHL via EbscoHost. 
      • NOTE: CINAHL is Nursing’s journal database.  CINAHL = Cumulative Index of Nursing & Allied Health Literature.
    • For this search, you can be much more specific on your keywords.  Type in specific keywords, such as “therapeutic touch.” Try different topics.
    • WAIT!  Do NOT click on Search!
    • Look at the LIMIT YOUR RESULTS box. 
      • You want articles published only in the nursing literature, so you go to the JOURNAL SUBSET box and select NURSING from the pull-down menu.
    • WAIT!  Again—do NOT click on Search!
    • Again—Look at the LIMIT YOUR RESULTS box.
      • You now want only those articles that are FULL TEXT (i.e., Full text is the entire article, not just the abstract (or summary of the article). Click on the FULL TEXT box □.  
      • NOTE—If you are wondering why every article found in the CINAHL database is not “full text,” it has to do with money.  Journal publishers want individuals and institutions to buy subscriptions, so they provide only an abstract (or summary) of the article.  An abstract is great just to get an idea of what the article is about.  However, providing only the abstract is slowly changing.  I am seeing more and more full text articles in the CINAHL database. 
    • Now CLICK on SEARCH.
    • You will now see a list of titles of full text articles that are in nursing journals along with a link that says HTML FULL TEXT.
    • CLICK on HTML FULL TEXT.
    • You will now see the entire article.
    • NOTE:  I prefer that you find a full text article that is a research article.  How do you know it is a research article?  A research article refers to a study, subjects, methodology, statistics, and findings.  How do you limit the results to research articles? Look at the LIMIT YOUR RESULTS box.  Go to PUBLICATION TYPE, and select RESEARCH from the pull-down menu.  Then CLICK on SEARCH.
    • Whether or not it is a full text article is a research article, send the results to me:
      • CLICK on the email picture link at the top of the page.
      • Type in your email address and hit SEND.
    • NOTE:  Do NOT send the results of your search directly to my email address.  If you do that, the header will show that it came from the library, not you.  Send the results to your email address first, then forward it to my email address. 
    • Your assignment should include a full text (entire) research journal article related to your topic.
    • You have now completed Part #3 of the assignment. (30%)
PART 4.   Fourth, find and evaluate at least ONE (1) WEB SITE  RESOURCE  related to your chosen topic, using the web site evaluation guidelines listed below. 

To complete Part #4 of the assignment:

  • Open up your web browser (i.e., Internet Explorer, AOL, etc.)
  • Go to your browser’s search engine (i.e, Google, etc.)
  • Type in a topic word in your search engine (Example: "hypnosis")
  • Open up one of the web sites that come up on the list.
  • Critique the web site using the criteria shown on the table below.  (Address each of the criteria using 1-2 sentences or a short paragraph).
  • Write the critique in your word processor (i.e., Microsoft Word, Word Perfect).
  • Name your file and close it. (Remember the file name).
  • AFTER YOU HAVE WRITTEN YOUR CRITIQUE, YOU ARE READY TO SEND AN ATTACHMENT USING THE UNIVERSITY E-MAIL .  THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SENDING AN ATTACHMENT ARE FOUND AT THE END OF THIS PAGE.

 

WEB SITE RESOURCE EVALUATION GUIDELINES 
(At least 125 words for web site evaluation (40%)
(You will receive points for each section you discuss) 		 Points
Effectiveness of Introduction or Introductory Page:  Does the site indicate its audience, in other words, who is it for (professionals or laypersons)?  Does the introduction draw the reader in, that is, relate to socially relevant, important, or interesting information, questions or problems?  Do you want to read on? 5
Quality of Material:  Is the information relevant and grounded in research and fact?  Is it easily understandable (not confusing, disjointed)?  Is there enough information provided so research studies and facts (such as statistics) can be retrieved?  Or, are there many anecdotal reports and un-referenced generalizations?  Does the site offer both sides of an issue--pro and con--or does the site espouse one view only?   40
Quality of References:  Are references from scientific research-based journals or lay magazines?  Does the site report research studies that support and do not support the information?   Or, does it report just one side?  Does the site refer to material from respected organizations or agencies or from unknown entities?  Do references reflect foundational as well as current knowledge? 15
Quality of Site-User Interaction:  Does the site allow the user to give feedback to or ask questions of the site creators?  If yes, is a reply received in an appropriate amount of time (less than five days)?  Does the site allow interaction with other site users (chat room, message board, etc.)? 10
Quality of Links:  Do the links easily allow the user to navigate the site?  Does the site provide links to reputable organizations or agencies for additional information?  Are the links relevant and current to the site information?  Are there broken links (links that do not work or work incorrectly)?   10
Navigation and Flow:  Does the site provide the reader with a clear idea of the entire site and how to navigate it?  Is the navigation seamless?  Or, is getting through the web site confusing (such as pages that cannot be found easily or the way back isn't clear)?   10
Overall Visual Appeal:  Are there graphic elements or a variation in layout (size, colors)?  Are colors washed out or does the background interfere with readability?  Do the visual elements contribute to an understanding of concepts, ideas, and/or relationships?  Or, is it text only? 5
Mechanical Aspects:  Are there misplaced or missing images, badly sized tables, misspellings, or grammatical errors? 5
TOTAL  To e-mail the instructor  phillips@fiu.edu 100

 

STEPS FOR SENDING AN ATTACHMENT THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY'S WEBMAIL:

  • GO to www.fiu.edu
  • CLICK on WEBMAIL  (found on the menu at the left—last on list).
  • TYPE in your User Name (assigned by the University)
  • TYPE in your Password (assigned by the University)
    • NOTE:  If you do not know your User Name and/or your Password, follow the instructions on the page.
  • CLICK on CHECK MAIL
  • CLICK on COMPOSE (found on the menu at the left)
  • In the TO box, TYPE in Phillips@fiu.edu
  • In the SUBJECT box, TYPE in Web Site Critique
  • CLICK on BROWSE (this command will allow you to view files on your hard drive).
  • Find the file name.
  • CLICK on the file name.
  • CLICK on OPEN
  • CLICK on ADD This command will attach the article to your email message.
  • CLICK on SEND

You have now successfully sent an attachment to me!  I can now open up and print out your file. 

By the way, if you are unsure if an email gets to me, I suggest you always send an email to yourself in the TO box.  When the email shows up in your box, you know I got it also.