Literature searching and reviewing

Abstract

As veterinary nursing evolves as a profession in its own right with a greater importance being placed on evidence-based nursing care, it is vitally important that all veterinary nurses (VN) are able to both search for information and evidence to support and justify their nursing actions, and review these to ascertain their meaning and benefits to their practice. Information and evidence, or literature as it will subsequently be referred to throughout the article, is presented in a variety of different ways and typically categorized as primary, secondary or tertiary literature. A fourth category of information source is also described, which is called Gray literature. The difference between these categories of literature are considered. Depending on the status of the VN at any given point in time, for example whether they are a student VN, an undergraduate student VN, a graduate student VN or a qualified VN, the reasons for their literature searching and reviewing will be different. VNs studying towards a qualification will be required to search for and review literature to support their academic work, whether this relates to their discussions in an assignment or whether it relates to them trying to identify a gap in existing knowledge on a subject to justify their desire to conduct a piece of research. Having initially outlined what is considered to be a source of knowledge or piece of literature, this article aims to explore some of the problems associated with literature searching, provide guidance with regards to conducting an effective literature search, before finally considering how a VN can effectively and appropriately review a piece of literature; all VNs must be able to decide whether an article, research report or book they read is valid, current and reliable.