[laurainri]

As a new grad RN I have never done a research paper before (including the whole time I was in school) and I really don't know where to start. please help me on where to begin. I am looking for research about training new graduates in the ED. I was a student intern and took a position after i graduated so I knew what I was in for. The retention rate of new grad hires is really low. and since I have graduated, student intern positions have been eliminated due to budget cuts. I want to show that it is fiscally prudent to let students work in the ED and the retention rate would be higher after the oriention period. I don't know where to begin.....but I know that it would cost less in the long run. please help...

thank you

[llg]

I would recommend you start by teaming up with some people in your institution with more experience than yourself -- people who know the "players" and the "politics" of the situation. You can collect all the data/information in the world and it won't do any good if you don't have the political skill to use it effectively.

To find articles about your topic of interest. ... Talk with an educator at your hospital (preferably one with a Master's Degree, if you can). It's usually the educators who are most familiar with the library system that is most available to you. Educators should be using the library regularly to find material for their classes, write policies, etc. Clinical Nurse Specialists are also usually good at that sort of thing.

If you don't have anyone like that working at your hospital ... Who writes your policies and/or does staff development? Those people can probably orient you to the library resources available at your facility.

If you can't find a colleague familiar with the resources at your hospital, then your best bet is to walk into whatever health sciences library is most available to you (at your hospital, a local school of nursing, etc.) and ask the librarian for help. That is their job. Tell her that you don't know how to use the library and you need to do a literature search. Tell her about your topic of interest and the types of information you hope to find in the nursing literature. He/she should be able to help you get started.

[nursprof2b]

Hi laurainri,
Do you have an advisor? I can't imagine your school not providing you with resources on how to do research. It is very involved and you will need some guidance. I would ask to speak with your advisor.... I am also in the beginning process of my grad research project. It is very involved with massive literature searches and learning where and how to maneuver through databases...I agree that if your hospital has a library or at your college, that you seek out the reference librarian.
Best wishes!!!

[laurainri]

Originally Posted by nursprof2b

if your hospital has a library or at your college, that you seek out the reference librarian.
Best wishes!!!

I just found out today that at the hospital that I work at has a reference librarian and my plan is to go and speak to her and maybe she can help me. thank you