Demystifying the clinical nursing research process: the literature review.

The literature review is a critical step in designing and conducting a credible study. It might seem tedious at first, but your own ideas will become better developed and thoughtful as you critique what other researchers have done. It will make your study stronger. Thus, don't skim over this part of the process. A good literature review will make the next steps easier. It will also assure that you are studying an important area, that the outcome has clinical importance to your patients, and that writing and reporting the results will be easier.