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Nursing - Graduate

This Library Research Guide is intended to help you identify and locate scholarly and non-scholarly resources (books, articles, etc.) on the subject of graduate level nursing for the MSN student, nursing associations, healthcare organizations, APA citati

Credible Sources

When asked for a credible source, provide either a scholarly or a professional source as described in the Scholarly Sources and Professional Sources boxes to the right.

Current Sources

When asked for a current source, provide a source dated to within the last five years.

For more information on different types of evidence, please visit the following additional resources:

Scholarly Sources

Scholarly work is an expectation of all nursing students as it lends credibility to your work and builds a foundation for evidence-based practice. Scholarly academic work is developed using research findings from a body of relevant, peer-reviewed studies (literature) as evidence on a topic. Professional sources may also be used to support academic work. 

Throughout each SNHU Nursing program and track, guidelines and rubrics will specify the types of sources required in each assignment. The following terms define the acceptable age and types of sources that may be required. 

Scholarly Sources

Scholarly sources are articles and studies from peer-reviewed journals. All scholarly sources must be dated within the last five years.

Guidelines for using scholarly sources include the following:

  • Textbooks are appropriate to cite but do not count as a scholarly source.
  • Scholarly sources can be found in databases available through the Shapiro Library. Librarians have organized a list of databases relevant for nursing-on the library website. Examples of relevant databases include:
    • CINAHL Complete - EBSCO
    • Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition - EBSCO
    • Nursing Journals on Ovid

Professional Sources

Professional sources contain content from a professional or government organization. When possible, use professional sources dated within the last five years. Some professional sources may not meet that criteria but can still be used. In this case, use the most recent version available. 

Examples of professional sources include the following:

  • A clinical practice guideline
  • An article or data set from the CDC website
  • The ANA’s Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
  • Grey literature such as conference proceedings, government documents, and dissertations