Online/Distance Learning Library Orientation

Most library databases have some journal articles that are available in full-text (you can access and read the full article) as well as some articles that you can only see the article information and a brief summary, or abstract. 
**IMPORTANT: Never pay for an article!** If the library does not have access to an article's full text, you can place a request for it (see step 4). 

1. Look for the full text of an article in a database:

• Click on the title of an article. Some titles will link you directly to the full text.
• In CINAHL, look under Access Options or for a PDF Full Text link.     
• PDF links may look different or be in different locations in other databases: look around your screen for PDF buttons or icons.

2. Use the Check for Full Text Availability feature:

• If you don't see a full text option and there is a box that says Check for full text availability, that means the article isn't available in full text in that particular database. However, it might be available in a another database. 
• Click on the Check for Full Text Availability button, and it will take you to the library catalog page for that article. From that page, look for: View Online > Full text availability > then a database name. Note: You may need to sign in with your PNW credentials to see View Online.* 
  If you have signed in and don't see View Online, skip to step 3. 
• Click on a database listed under View Online (examples: Wiley Online Library, Science Direct, or Journals@Ovid). This should take you directly to the article in that database.

3. Check Google Scholar or Ask a Librarian:

• If you aren't seeing a link to the full text of the article you want, you can also search for the article on Google Scholar and try to locate a copy from the PNW library or the open web. If you're off-campus, you can also link Google Scholar to the PNW library.
• Want more help finding full text articles? Contact the Nursing Librarian, Ask a Librarian via Chat, or check our FAQs.

4. Request an Article via Interlibrary Loan services:

• If you have some time before your assignment is due, you can request articles and ebook chapters via the library's Interlibrary Loan Service. Note: it can take several business days to receive requested articles, so if your assignment is due very soon, requesting an article may take too long. 
  Click on your PNW campus to create an account/place a request: Hammond; Westville.

In most databases, you can limit your results to only full text articles. Using this limiter will restrict your results to full text articles in that individual database. We recommend you keep the full text box unchecked and use Check for Full Text Availability, which may connect you to the full text through a different database.

Perform a basic search of any topic on the library's catalog and in CINAHL or a database of your choice from the Nursing category list available from the library's homepage. Click on the titles and links to PDF full texts including the Check for Full Text Availability link.

Note how some links take you directly to the PDF while others will open a new window with link(s) to another database with the PDF full text. 

Tip: Most databases will allow you to use the Back button to return to your results list. Some databases include links, such as Result List, that will take you back to your search results.