What is a reliable source?
A reliable source is:
- Trustworthy and credible, even if it's not peer-reviewed.
- Produced by credible authors or organizations, such as reputable news outlets, government agencies, or educational institutions.
- Accurate, well-supported by facts, and transparent about its sources.
Examples:
- Books from recognized publishers
- Government publications (like data from the CDC)
- Articles from trusted newspapers (like The New York Times)
- Expert interviews
What is a peer reviewed source?
A peer-reviewed source is:
- Written by experts in a specific field (like professors or researchers).
- Reviewed by other experts (peers) before publication to ensure the research is accurate, valid, and significant.
- Commonly found in academic journals.
Examples:
- Articles in journals like The American Journal of Nursing.
- Research studies, literature reviews, or academic case studies.
What does a reliable source look like in the field of nursing?
In nursing, reliable sources are those that provide accurate, evidence-based, and up-to-date information. Some examples include:
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Peer-Reviewed Nursing Journals – Articles reviewed by experts in the field before being published, such as:
- The Journal of Nursing Education
- American Journal of Nursing (AJN)
- Journal of Advanced Nursing (JAN)
- Nursing Research
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Professional Organizations – Trusted groups that provide guidelines, standards, and research, such as:
- American Nurses Association (ANA) (www.nursingworld.org)
- National League for Nursing (NLN) (www.nln.org)
- World Health Organization (WHO) (www.who.int)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (www.cdc.gov)
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Government Health Agencies – They provide official health guidelines and statistics, such as:
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
-
Nursing Textbooks and Reference Books – Standard books used in nursing education, such as:
- Fundamentals of Nursing by Potter & Perry
- Medical-Surgical Nursing by Lewis et al.
-
Evidence-Based Practice Databases – Online sources that provide research and clinical guidelines, such as:
- PubMed (www.pubmed.gov)
- CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
- Cochrane Library
How can I find reliable sources?
The best way to find reliable sources is to start by visiting the SBVC library.
- Use databases, such as ProQuest, EBSCO, or Jstor, to find reliable sources.
- Don't be afraid to reach out to the SBVC librarians. We are here to assist you in person or virtually on chat.