Controlled Vocabulary: Consult CINAHL and MeSH Subject Headings

• In the CINAHL Database, identify the corresponding CINAHL and MeSH headings for each concept. CINAHL and MeSH headings are referred to as “controlled vocabulary." Controlled vocabulary refers to the official ways of referring to topics within a discipline.
• CINAHL Headings are the official controlled vocabulary for nursing. The CINAHL system of headings also encompasses MeSH Headings, which it uses as standard vocabulary for disease, drug, anatomical, and physiological concepts.
• Each article or document in CINAHL is associated with a one or more subject terms that describe the content of that article or document.
• The CINAHL subject headings list is searchable through the CINAHL online database. Once you are in the CINAHL database, select CINAHL headings. You can then enter your concept words into the “Browse for” box.
• For each concept you enter, you will be directed to the correct CINAHL subject heading, its definition (“scope”), synonyms, and related concepts, including narrower and broader terms. Note down any headings or terms that seem relevant to your concept and research question. Remember that broader or more specific words or phrases can be used to expand or refine your search results.

Uncontrolled Vocabulary: Cast a Wider Net

• Next, reflect on your research question and concepts and write down any related keywords or keyphrases (“uncontrolled vocabulary”) that come to mind. Draw upon your own expertise and knowledge of the nursing field for additional terms.
• Uncontrolled vocabulary is often useful to describe very new or very obscure concepts, for which subject headings have not been assigned.
• Terms can be harvested from articles, books or other sources of information on your topic.

Controlled Vocabulary + Uncontrolled Vocabulary = A Comprehensive Search

• It is strongly advised that you go through this process systematically for each concept, using a blank piece of paper or word processing software, so that your search is both precise, and thorough.
• NOTE: you will not necessarily use all the terms that you write down. Use your own judgment and search style preference to determine what your final search strategy will look like.
• It is often necessary to use controlled vocabulary to construct a truly comprehensive search. For example, using the commonly used term "bedsores" will provide far fewer search results than the CINAHL Heading "pressure ulcer."