Using FirstSearch
 
You type For example To tell FirstSearch to
One word research Find records containing research.
Two or more words nursing education research Find records containing nursing, education, and research with any number of other words between them.
An exact phrase baffled but not beaten or nick carters fight for life Find records containing the exact title as typed, matching all of the words and only those words.
+  cancer patient+ Find records containing cancer and any of these words: patient, patients, or patientes.
AND nursing and education and research Find records containing nursing, education, and research with any number of other words between them.
OR education or research and nursing Find records containing either education and nursing or research and nursing with any number of other words between them.
NOT nursing and education not research Find records containing nursing and education but exclude records containing research.
( ) nursing and (education or research) Find records containing either education and nursing or research and nursing with any number of words between them.
W nursing w research Find records containing first nursing and then research with no other words between them.
W and a number (1-25) nursing w3 research Find records containing first nursing and then research with no more than three other words between them.
N overview n 1996 Find records containing overview 1996 or 1996 overview with no other words between them.
N and a number (1-25) overview n2 1996 Find records containing overview followed by 1996 or 1996 followed by overview with no more than two other words between them.
 

Use the Index box to choose the index. The box lists the keyword and exact-phrase indexes available for the database you are using. To choose an index, click on the arrow beside the Index box and select one of the indexes listed. Use a separate Word,Phrase box and Index box for each index that you want to include in your search.

Index box

NOTE: These instructions are excerpts from the FirstSearch help screens--see FirstSearch for the full help screens.