In this tutorial, you will learn how to perform an 
Advanced search using the CINAHL databases, 
as well as how to combine multiple searches 
using the Search History feature.
 
 
We begin by searching for catheters, selecting 
the Full Text limiter. Enter the term in the 
search box, select your limiters, and click 
Search. 
 
 
This search can be further modified by using 
the Limiters available in the left column under 
Limit To. Click the Search History link to view 
the search in the Search History/Alerts window. 
In this search, we want to restrict our results to 
catheter infections in the urinary tract. 
We click on New Search to clear our Search 
screen as well as any limiters we may have 
selected, so we can create a new search on 
hemodialysis. After completing the new search, 
we will combine it with our search of Catheters 
using the Search History. Enter hemodialysis 
in the search box, check the Full Text limiter, 
and click Search. 
 
The search is added to the Search History. The 
next step is to combine this search statement 
with search statement S1, which is the full text 
search on Catheters. To combine the searches, 
check the box to the left of each search and 
select a button to combine the searches. We’ll 
click Search with AND for results which 
contain both search terms. Note, if your search 
box has not been cleared automatically, remove 
your previous search terms prior to clicking 
Search with AND. 
 
The result list is refreshed to reflect the 
combined search and the new search is added 
to your Search History.  
This search can be further refined by selecting 
limiters from the Limit To section on the left. 
The Show More link provides additional limiters 
which can further refine your search. 
 
 
Limiters may include Research Article, 
Evidence-Based Practice, and Age Groups. 
After selecting any desired limiters, click 
Search. 
 
 
The result list is displayed. Note the Options 
set indicator, which reflects that limiters have 
been selected.
The Search History reflects all of our search 
statements and each search statement 
provides the terms and limiters applied, as well 
as the number of results retrieved. Click the 
Edit link on any line of your search history to 
modify the search terms, limiters, and 
expanders. This is useful when further 
modification of the search statement is needed. 
 
Searching for subject terms can also be useful. 
The CINAHL Editorial staff has assigned 
subject terms based on article content, allowing 
you to create a targeted search. When you click 
the Suggest Subject Terms box above the 
search box prior to conducting a search, your 
terms are searched against the CINAHL 
Headings authority. From there, you can select 
headings and subheadings to refine your 
search. 
 
 
You can also click on the CINAHL Headings 
link along the top toolbar to browse for 
appropriate subject terms. For more information 
on searching using subject headings, see the 
“Using CINAHL/MeSH Headings” tutorial on the 
EBSCO Support Site. The ability to search 
CINAHL Headings is available in all of the 
CINAHL databases. 
 
When you are searching the CINAHL Plus 
databases or CINAHL Complete, you can click 
on the Evidence-Based Care Sheets link in 
the top toolbar or Quick Lessons under the 
More link to view a list of all available topics. 
Simply check the box in front of any item on the 
list and click on the Search button.
 
 
The document is displayed in the result list. 
Click the PDF Full Text link to view the Quick 
Lesson or Evidence-Based Care Sheet. To 
access the CINAHL Continuing Education Unit 
Modules, click the CE Module link and follow 
the directions to enroll with CINAHL.
At any time, click on the Help link to view the 
complete online help system.
