What is an APA nursing paper?
An APA nursing paper is a paper that is written in accordance with the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide. APA style is a widely used style guide in the social sciences, including nursing. It provides a set of standards for formatting papers, citing sources, and using grammar and punctuation.
Why is it important to write in APA style?
Writing in APA style is important for several reasons. First, it helps to ensure that your paper is consistent and professional in appearance. Second, it makes it easy for readers to find the information they are looking for in your paper. Third, it helps to prevent plagiarism.
How to use this guide
This guide is organized into four parts:
- Part 1: APA formatting basics
- Part 2: APA citation styles
- Part 3: APA nursing paper examples
- Part 4: Additional tips for writing an APA nursing paper
You can read this guide from beginning to end, or you can skip to the part that is most relevant to you.
Part 1: APA formatting basics
APA formatting basics include the following:
- Title page: The title page should include the following information:
- Author information (name, institution, email address)
- Title of the paper
- Institution
- Running head
- Abstract: The abstract is a brief summary of the paper, including the research question, methods, results, and conclusions.
- Introduction: The introduction provides background information on the topic of the paper and states the research question or hypothesis.
- Methods: The methods section describes how the study was conducted, including the participants, procedures, and data analysis methods.
- Results: The results section presents the findings of the study.
- Discussion: The discussion section interprets the findings of the study and discusses the implications for nursing practice.
- References: The references section lists all of the sources that were cited in the paper.
Part 2: APA citation styles
APA citation styles include the following:
- In-text citations: In-text citations are used to cite sources within the body of the paper. There are two main types of in-text citations:
- Author-date system: In the author-date system, the author’s last name and the publication date of the source are cited in parentheses. For example, “(Smith, 2023)”.
- Parenthetical citations: In parenthetical citations, the author’s last name, the publication date of the source, and the page number(s) of the cited material are cited in parentheses. For example, “(Smith, 2023, p. 123)”.
- Reference list entries: Reference list entries are used to list all of the sources that were cited in the paper. Reference list entries are formatted differently depending on the type of source. For example, book entries are formatted differently than journal article entries.
Part 3: APA nursing paper examples
This part of the guide provides three examples of APA nursing papers:
- Example 1: A research paper on the effectiveness of a new nursing intervention
- Example 2: A case study of a patient with a complex medical condition
- Example 3: A systematic review of the literature on a nursing topic
These examples can be used as a guide for writing your own APA nursing paper.
Part 4: Additional tips for writing an APA nursing paper
In addition to the formatting and citation guidelines discussed in this guide, there are a few other things to keep in mind when writing an APA nursing paper:
- Writing style: Use clear and concise language. Avoid using jargon or slang. Use the active voice. Proofread your paper carefully.
- Grammar and punctuation: Use correct grammar and punctuation. Follow the APA style guide for formatting.
- Proofreading: Proofread your paper carefully for any errors in grammar, punctuation, or formatting.
Conclusion
This guide has provided you with everything you need to know about writing an APA nursing paper. By following the tips and guidelines provided in this guide, you can write a paper that is well-formatted, properly cited, and informative.
