Searching the literature for evidence.

Nurses are expected to use evidence-based knowledge when planning and caring for patients and their families. For nurses who practice evidence-based care, knowing how to effectively search the literature for evidence is an important skill. The objectives of this article are to provide an overview of key sources of evidence and offer instruction on how to do an effective MEDLINE search in PubMed and how to critically review research articles. A sample literature search is performed using the example case study question,"How effective are compression stockings in preventing deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism for thrombotic stroke patients who are on an oral anticoagulant regimen?"