What is APA format?
APA format is a style guide for writing and formatting academic papers. It is commonly used in the social sciences, including nursing. APA format provides a consistent and standardized way to present your work, making it easier for readers to understand and follow your arguments.
Why is APA format important for nursing papers?
APA format is important for nursing papers because it helps to ensure that your work is credible and professional. It also shows that you have taken the time to learn and follow the accepted standards for writing in your field.
Elements of an APA-formatted paper
All APA-formatted papers must include the following elements:
- Title page
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- References
Tips for writing an APA-formatted nursing paper
Here are some tips for writing an APA-formatted nursing paper:
- Use clear and concise language.
- Avoid using jargon or technical terms unless necessary.
- Use citations to support your claims.
- Double-space your paper and use 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Use Times New Roman 12-point font.
- Proofread your paper carefully before submitting it.
Title Page
The title page of your paper should include the following information:
- Running head: A shortened version of your paper’s title that is no more than 50 characters long.
- Page number: The number 1, centered at the top of the page.
- Title of the paper: The title of your paper, centered on the page.
- Author(s): Your name(s), centered on the page.
- Institution: The name of the institution you are affiliated with, centered on the page.
Running head
The running head is a shortened version of your paper’s title that appears at the top of every page except the title page and the reference page. To create a running head, follow these steps:
- Type your paper’s title in all caps.
- Shorten the title to 50 characters or less.
- Add an ampersand (&) between the last two words of the title.
- Type the page number in the top right corner of the page.
Page number
The page number should be centered at the top of every page except the title page. To insert a page number in APA format, follow these steps:
- Click the Insert tab.
- Click Page Number.
- Select Top of Page.
- Click Plain Number 2.
Title of the paper
The title of your paper should be centered on the title page and in bold. It should be concise and descriptive of the topic of your paper.
Author(s)
Your name(s) should be centered on the title page. If you are collaborating with other authors, list your names in alphabetical order.
Institution
The name of the institution you are affiliated with should be centered on the title page.
Abstract
The abstract is a concise summary of your paper, typically 150-250 words long. It should include the following information:
- Research question or hypothesis
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusions
Introduction
The introduction of your paper should provide background information on the topic and state your research question or hypothesis. It should also explain the purpose of your paper and why it is important.
Literature Review
The literature review should summarize the relevant research on your topic and identify any gaps in the literature. It should also justify your current study.
Methods
The methods section should describe your research design, participant selection and recruitment, and data collection and analysis methods.
Results
The results section should present your research findings in a clear and concise manner. Tables and figures can be used to summarize data.
Discussion
The discussion section should interpret your results and discuss their implications for nursing practice, education, and research. It should also identify the limitations of your study and suggest directions for future research.
Conclusion
The conclusion should summarize the main points of your paper and restate your research question or hypothesis
References
The references section lists all of the sources that you cited in your paper. It should be formatted in a specific way to make it easy for readers to find the sources you used.
FAQs
Q. What is the difference between a running head and a title page?
The running head is a shortened version of your paper’s title that appears at the top of every page except the title page and the reference page. The title page is the first page of your paper and includes the title of your paper, your name(s), your institution, and the running head.
Q. How do I format in-text citations?
In-text citations are used to credit sources that you cite in your paper. APA format uses the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that you include the author’s last name and the year of publication in parentheses after the cited material. For example:
According to Smith (2023), nursing students who use a problem-based learning approach perform better on clinical assessments than students who use a traditional lecture-based approach.
Q. How do I format a reference list?
The reference list is a list of all of the sources that you cited in your paper. It should be formatted in a specific way to make it easy for readers to find the sources you used. For example:
Smith, J. (2023). The effectiveness of problem-based learning in nursing education. Journal of Nursing Education, 62(1), 34-40.
Q. Where can I find more information on APA format?
The American Psychological Association (APA) website provides detailed guidelines on how to format your paper in APA style. You can find the APA style guide here: https://apastyle.apa.org/
