module 2 question1

Module 2 Question 1—Clinical problem and choice of electronic index

I currently work in the Pediatric Intensive Care (PICU) at Primary Children’s Hospital. While working in the PICU I have taken care of many children with heart failure and many with chemotherapy. Sometimes side effects of chemotherapy result in congestive heart failure. I wanted to find out if certain chemotherapeutic agents were more likely to induce heart failure and what precautions may be taken to reduce the risks? I started first with the PubMed tutorial offered by the Eccles library. I tried several search strategies somewhat unsuccessfully. I started from square one and completed the CINAHL tutorial. Using CINAHL and some of its features I was able to locate a few articles that related to my clinical problem. The searches in CINAHL as well as PubMed took quite a bit of time. I believe this was in part because I was unsure of how to use the features of the programs efficiently and what the best search terms would be. I realized the importance of beginning your search with a clear question in mind, brainstorming possible terms and documenting the searches that have already been attempted. I believe that it will be imperative in my future as a nurse practitioner that I become proficient completing a search. With my current literature review abilities using PubMed and CINAHL is a barrier. With practice I believe I will no longer find the electronic databases a hurtle but rather a resource that will assist me in becoming a more knowledgeable practitioner.