Searching for Dissertations

Three main resources to search for dissertations:

Theses Canada Portal (free to search for abstracts)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/thesescanada/index-e.html

ProQuest Dissertation Express (free to search for abstracts)
http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/disexpress.shtml

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database (subscription requested in order to search)

Many academic libraries have instructions on their website on how to search for dissertations. Check the link below for an example from University of Alberta Libraries:

http://www.library.ualberta.ca/databases/databaseinfo/index.cfm?ID=168

Just-In-Time Information Services Improved Decision-Making in Primary Care: A Rondomized Controlled Trial

An interesting article. It can be accessed from:

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0003785

Nursing Standards Information

Below are four websites providing nursing standards and guidelines. Got them from emails on CANMEDLIB listserve.

Nursing Best Practice Guidelines from Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario at http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=861&SiteNodeID=133

CNA Publications
http://www.cna-nurses.ca/CNA/issues/default_e.aspx
The CNA provides a forum for discussing and disseminating information to Canadian nurses on issues, positions, and matters that impact the profession in Canada.

CNO Compendium of Standards of Practice for Nurses in Ontario
http://www.cno.org/pubs/compendium.html
The Compendium of Standards of Practice for Nurses in Ontario comprises everything a practising nurse needs to know about the regulation of the nursing profession in Ontario. CNO standards are included in full, as well as information on College governance, the Quality Assurance Program, complaints and discipline procedures and more.

RNAO Nursing Best Practice Guidelines
http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=861&SiteNodeID=133
There are currently 29 published guidelines as well as a Toolkit and Educator's Resource to support implementation. A variety of additional support materials are available for download from this site.

Two recommended books on evidence-based nursing

These two books are recommended by people from CANMEDLIB listserve.

Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-based Handbook for Nurses
A 3-volume set book. It isn't a textbook, but it is a handbook that covers 6 sections: Patient safety and quality, Evidence-based practice, Patient-centered care, Working conditions and environment, Critical opportunities for improvement, Tools for improvement. This book is available free at:
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nurseshdbk/nurseshdbk.pdf

Evidence Based Nursing
A really good book on evidence based nursing. Editors: Alba DiCenso, Gordon Guyatt, and Donna Ciliska. Published in 2005.

Nursing Competencies, Standards, Guidelines, Best Practices

Compiled by Deb Ayotte, September 2008

American Assoc of Critical Care Nurses
http://www.aacn.org

Competencies
Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
http://www.arnnl.nf.ca/menu/competencies.shtml

Standards
Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
http://www.arnnl.nf.ca/menu/nursing_practice.shtml

Practice Position Statements & Guidelines
Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
http://www.arnnl.nf.ca/menu/practice.shtml

Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
http://www.awhonn.org (see practice resources)

Standards and Best Practices
Canadian Nurses Association
http://www.cna-nurses.ca/CNA/practice/standards/default_e.aspx
(refers readers to provincial/territorial/specialty associations)

Standards & Guidelines
College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA)
http://www.nurses.ab.ca/Carna/index.aspx?WebStructureID=2228

Position Statements & Interpretive Documents
College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA)
http://www.nurses.ab.ca/Carna/index.aspx?WebStructureID=2227

Documents List
College of Nurses of Ontario
http://www.cno.org/pubs/publist.html

Nursing Practice Standards and Supports
College of Registered Nurses of BC
http://www.crnbc.ca/NursingPractice.aspx

Standards, Competencies, Interpretive Documents, Fact Sheets
College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
http://www.crnm.mb.ca/publications.php

Publications List
College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia
http://www.crnns.ca/default.asp?id=190&sfield=Content.Id&mn=414.70.80.223&search=1492

Standards of Practice
Community Health Nurses Association of Canada
http://www.chnac.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=36

Standards
Nurses Association of New Brunswick
http://www.nanb.nb.ca/index.cfm?include=practice3

Position Statements
Nurses Association of New Brunswick
http://www.nanb.nb.ca/index.cfm?include=practice5

Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association
http://www.cgna.net/files/standards.pdf

Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technologists
http://www.cannt.ca/standards

Canadian Standards of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
http://www.cfmhn.ca/resources/multimedia/PDF/28065-%20singles.pdf

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nurses in Primary Care
First Nations & Inuit Health
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/pubs/nursing-infirm/2000_clin-guide/index_e.html

Gerontological Nursing Interventions Research Center
http://www.nursing.uiowa.edu/products_services/evidence_based.htm

Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice
Infusion Nurses Society
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16429002
http://www.ins1.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3310

Joanna Briggs Institute
http://www.joannabriggs.edu.au/pubs/best_practice.php


Oncology Nursing Society
http://onsopcontent.ons.org/toolkits/evidence/

Competencies
Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
http://www.rnantnu.ca/ContinuingCompetencePDP/tabid/57/Default.aspx

Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=861&SiteNodeID=133

Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
http://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/cpg.cfm

Royal College of Nursing
http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/practice

Royal Marsden Hospital Manual
http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/thestaffroom/nursingprocedures/content/guidelines.htm

Position Statements
Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association (SRNA)
http://www.srna.org/nurse_resources/position_statements.php

Standards and Foundations Competencies for the practice of Registered Nurses
Effective March 1, 2007
Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association (SRNA)
http://www.srna.org/nurse_resources/standards_competencies.pdf

Do Reading Materials for Health Professionals Improve Patient Outcomes?

Article can be accessed at:

http://www.hbns.org/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1754

Bill C-61

An interesting take on Bill C-61, a new Canadian Bill about Copyright that affects more than just illegal music downloading.

http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2008-07-29/news/bill-c-61-goes-beyond-downloading/