There are many different types of resources out there when it comes to nursing research but at its core, resources are broken down into two main categories: primary sources and secondary sources.
You may have heard of primary and secondary sources before but you may not know how they apply to nursing research. This page will go over how to identify primary and secondary sources in nursing and when it is appropriate to use them.
You may be wondering then which type of resource is best to use in your nursing classes. The simple answer is both!
It will ultimately depend on the topic you are researching, as well as the requirements your professor is asking you to use in your paper. If they want research articles, you will want to focus on journal articles that speak on original or new research, which is a primary source. If they are asking you to write on a nursing theorist, then you will most likely use a biography or a book on nursing theorists, which would be secondary sources.
Be sure to carefully review the source requirements for your paper and to consult your professor if you are unsure of what to include!
A primary source refers to a source that is:
For nursing, primary sources would include:
UNSW- Sydney Library. (2020, October 26). Primary and secondary sources [LibGuide]. https://www.library.unsw.edu.au/study/information-resources/primary-and-secondary-sources
Secondary sources come after primary sources, meaning they usually report on or about a primary source. Some characteristics of secondary sources include:
For nursing, secondary sources can include:
UNSW- Sydney Library. (2020, October 26). Primary and secondary sources [LibGuide]. https://www.library.unsw.edu.au/study/information-resources/primary-and-secondary-sources