A literature review discusses published information in a particular

A literature review discusses published information in a particular subject area, and sometimes information in a particular subject area within a certain time period.

A literature review can be just a simple summary of the sources, but it usually has an organizational pattern and combines both summary and synthesis. A summary is a recap of the important information of the source, but a synthesis is a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that information. It might give a new interpretation of old material or combine new with old interpretations. Or it might trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates. And depending on the situation, the literature review may evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant.

Literature reviews provide you with a handy guide to a particular topic. If you have limited time to conduct research, literature reviews can give you an overview or act as a stepping stone. For professionals, they are useful reports that keep them up to date with what is current in the field. For scholars, the depth and breadth of the literature review emphasizes the credibility of the writer in his or her field. Literature reviews also provide a solid background for a research paper’s investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the field is essential to most research papers.

Quick Video on Literature Reviews

This assignment will require the RN student to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature on the selected topic. The student will need to retrieve and critically evaluate relevant articles and summarize the findings in a written paper. The assignment will help the student to develop their skills in literature review and critical appraisal, as well as increase their knowledge on the topic.

Assignment Directions: 

1. Conduct a literature review on a selected topic related to patient care in clinical settings.
2. Search for and retrieve relevant articles from databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library.
3. Include a minimum of 10 recent (published within the last ten years) peer-reviewed articles.
4. Review and critically evaluate the literature, including patient outcomes, adherence to treatment, and healthcare utilization.
5. Summarize the findings in a written paper, including an introduction, methods, results, and conclusion sections.
6. Use appropriate APA formatting and citation style.
7. The paper should be three to four pages long, double-spaced.
8. Review grading rubric to ensure all components are included.