With an idea for a topic and review question in mind, you will eventually build a structured, comprehensive database search to attempt to locate all the available literature that addresses that review question. Before you try to build a comprehensive search, it is helpful to perform some less structured, initial scoping searches to determine what kind of literature exists on your topic.
You could use a multi-disciplinary database, like ProQuest Central, or a subject specific database, like CINAHL or Education Source with ERIC to begin to scope for literature. Discovery tools like GoogleScholar might also be helpful in this phase.
As you find sources that seem to be relevant to your topic, consider:
A theoretical or conceptual framework in nursing research "identifies the key concepts and describes their relationships to each other and to the phenomena (variables) of concern to nursing. It serves as the foundation on which a study can be developed or as a map to aid in the design of the study" (McEwen, 2018, p. 69).
Examples of theoretical frameworks include:
Not all integrative reviews are conducted within an established theoretical framework or conceptual model, but where a relevant theoretical framework exists, it can be a useful guide for organizing and structuring the review.
In CINAHL, you can use subject headings in combination with your topic of interest to locate articles that integrate or refer to theories.
Try searching ((MH "Models, Theoretical+") OR (MH "Conceptual Framework") OR (MH "Nursing Theory+")) AND [your topic of interest]
Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice by 
Theoretical Basis for Nursing by References
McEwen, M. (2018). Theoretical frameworks for research. In G. LoBiondo-Wood & J. Haber (Eds.), Nursing research: Methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice (9th edition, pp. 66–82). Elsevier.
During the background research and topic formulation stage, it is important to save any articles that exemplify the type of literature you are hoping to synthesize in your review (e.g., articles that address your review question).
These sources are sentinel articles, or articles that serve as examples of papers that fit your eligibility criteria and represent the types of sources you want to make sure are retrieved in your database searches. Sentinel articles are important because:
Citation management software helps you take notes, organize research, import citations from electronic databases and catalogs, format reference lists in standard styles (MLA, APA etc.); insert footnotes and endnotes directly into your papers.
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