Lone Star College-Kingwood Library

Assignment Guide

Image from the Center for Disease Control, Healthy Aging

VNSG 1226:
Gerontology

Professor Nickie Oden Loftin

The best library assignments are those that use a variety of resources including books, newspaper and journal articles, internet sites, and even videos or audiocassettes. We encourage you to use all of these sources for this paper. Books should provide some excellent background on your topic. You may apply for a library card and request materials online. We hope you will take full advantage of the many resources our libraries offer.

Please contact Lone Star College-Kingwood Librarians or Professor Loftin with any questions you may have during your research.

Assignment:

You will be working in groups of six to provide information about a disease in both a research paper and a skit. The project is worth 25% of your final exam. Your presentation must include:

Definition and description of the disease process - focus on information related to the geriatric population
Signs and symptoms of the disease
Cause and expected nursing management/interventions
You will be summarizing your research to your classmates in a short skit. One or more of your group should "become" the geriatric client, acting out the part as if they have the condition - this person(s) will describe the thoughts, feelings,etc. Each group member may choose to play different parts in the skit - be creative, be different!

Requirements for the paper:

It must be typed on a computer, double spaced, and at least 4 pages long, not including the cover and reference list pages. Each group needs to turn in one paper.
Use 12 point font and one-inch margins at top and on each side.
It should include introductory, body and summary paragraphs.
In addition to a minimum of 3 pages of content, add a cover sheet and reference page which cites each source you used. Use APA format - see the APA guidelines for papers and example references.
Use current journal sources from professional magazines or text
You may also use information from reference books, books you can check out, and the internet sources.
Written paper is to be turned in prior to the Final Exam.
The last page of your research paper should include names of each group member along with their specific contribution to the paper and the skit.

Points will be deducted for criteria listed above not followed.

Contact your professor, Nickie Oden Loftin , for questions about your assignment.

Topics:

Select from the following topics (sign up with your instructor):

Altered Mental Status/Dementia
Congestive Heart Failure
Cerebrovascular accident
Parkinson's Disease
Emphysema
Alzheimer's Disease

Librarian talk about Getting Started!

As you begin, narrow your topic to a size that you can manage. Consider keywords that will help you find the information you need. These can be names of people, events, or broader identifying terms. Use these keywords for locating information in the library catalog, electronic databases, and on the internet. Keywords will include the name of the disease your have chosen, signs and symptoms, treatment, therapy, drugs or psychopharmacologic treatment, and interventions; also consider the age of the population you are focusing on.

Books Journals Internet Support

Librarian Talk about Books!

Apply online for a library card. Use your card to
1) Place a Hold on a book
2) Access databases from home.
The catalog is online. This includes all Lone Star College System college libraries as well as Montgomery County public libraries. The library catalog also contains links to eBooks through NetLibrary.
NetLibrary - is a library of online books available on or off campus. It is a library on your computer.

BOOKS

Suggested Reference Books

REF HQ1061 .E534 2002- Encyclopedia of Aging - Includes articles on physical, emotional and social issues of older adults.

REF R859.7 .I58 M436 2004 - Encyclopedic Guide to Searching and Finding Health Information on the Web - While printed material on Internet sources are likely to go out-of-date quickly, this one, from the Medical Library Association, includes tips for focusing your search as well as a selective list of specific web sites. Volume 3, part VI has a special section for "Seniors' Health Issues." Each section has a useful list of subtopics, with important sites, organizations, and recommended search terms for each.

REF RC952.5 .P48 1999 - Physical and Mental Issues in Aging Sourcebook - You will need to check for updated information on the topics included, but consult it to browse the well-organized table of contents. Each chapter is focused on a specific body system and lists the specific concerns and diseases affecting the aging. It will also give an idea of what sources are available for the various topics.

Circulating Books

Check our online catalog or search NetLibrary to find titles like these. Focus on aging in general or search for specific diseases or concerns:

RA777.5 .J635 2002- John Hopkins Medical Guide to Health After 50 - Consumer oriented information for diseases, preventative health, medical tests, and more. Includes illustrations and a list of organizations.

RA777.5 .M47 2004 - Merck Manual of Health & Aging - Chapters include information on diagnostic and treatment aspect of geriatric diseases, as well as the physical, social and emotional challenges of aging.

JOURNALS: Finding current articles using databases

Librarian Talk about Finding Journal Articles!

Electronic databases are purchased by the libraries for your research use to find articles in newspapers and journals, letters, reference books, illustrations, photographs and more.

If you want an article that is not full-text, please email the correct bibliographic information to our Reference Librarians and they will see that you get the article. The libraries need full bibliographic information - plus your name and address. Send your phone number and email as well, so you can be contacted.

There is some overlap of articles in the following databases. However, we encourage do you to use more than one. All are excellent sources for this topic. For professional, scholarly or peer reviewed articles, limit your search using the appropriate button in the database search window.

From home, use your library card number to login to these online journal databases.

Academic Search Complete - Collection of journal, newspaper, and magazine articles. Limit to "Scholarly (Peer reviewed) Journals" if professional journal articles are required.

Alt HealthWatch - Broad coverage of alternative and complmentary healthcare from full-text research journals, pamplets, reports, proceedings and consumer health newsletters.

Health & Wellness Resource Center - Full-text articles, books, pamphlets, and reports on health and psychology.

Health Reference Center Academic - Full-text articles from journals, and more on health, medicine and psychology.

Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition - Scholarly journal articles for nursing and allied health; also included are drug monographs for herbal and nutritional supplements, and over-the-counter and new prescription drugs.

ProQuest Research Library - Collection of journal, newspaper, and magazine articles. Limit to "Scholarly journals including peer reviewed" if scholarly or professional journal articles are required.

INTERNET

Librarian Talk about the Internet!

The Internet will be a wonderful source of original documents. Browse the sites we have suggested below. Remember, you do want to find reputable sites. Look at:

Accuracy - The information should be researched and show proof that it has been.
Source - Who wrote the information? Look at the domain. - .edu .gov .org .net - are valid research sources.
Authority - What are the author's credentials? (Don't quote from another college freshman's paper.)
Coverage - Does the page have the information you need for your research?
Objectivity - If a work shows bias, use it - just make sure your professor knows YOU know. And offer both sides of issues, where applicable.

Also search for keyterms in combination with 'organizations', 'links', etc.

Ageline - AARP provides free access to this database which includes references to articles, book chapters, research reports and videos. Links to the text are provided as available, however links may be updated or there may be a fee. To locate specific book, video or journal titles, search our catalog, our A-Z list of e-journals, or request specific items through our interlibrary loan service.

American Geriatrics Society - Webcasts from national meetings on specific medical, health and legal concerns.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Seniors - Use the search box to find relevant articles and links from this government agency.

Gerontological Society of America - List of resources for aging research available on the internet.

Medline Plus: Seniors' Health Issues - Consumer health and disease information from the National Library of Medicine includes full-text journal articles, news and links to reliable information from government agencies, hospitals and other health organizations.

National Insitute on Aging - Health and research information from the lead government agency for research on aging.

NetWellness: Health Topics: Senior Health - Faculty from three universities developed this website to provide links to articles, images and more.

GETTING HELP FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Librarian Talk about getting help!

Support for a successful paper is more than finding the right resources. Putting it all together takes time and effort. Sometimes it takes additional help from the librarians or tutors. Please consider the following resources if you need additional help. Remember, the expert on the assignment is your professor; use the eCollege VISTA in-class email to contact her.

Citing Sources Using the Library APA Style Guide | Lone Star College-Kingwood Library guide. Examples of both paper and electronic citations.

Learning Center | Check the hours for in-house tutoring.

| Talk to a librarian. If nobody answers, please leave a message and we will e-mail a reply as soon as possible.

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Page design by Becky Bradley. Page content by Jimmi Rushing. August 2006. revised 7/08;jfr.