APA Nursing Paper Format: A Comprehensive Guide

What is APA format?

APA format is a standard format for writing and citing sources in academic writing. It is published by the American Psychological Association (APA) and is widely used in the social sciences and behavioral sciences, including nursing.

Why is APA format important in nursing?

APA format is important in nursing because it helps to ensure that nursing papers are professional, clear, and easy to read. It also helps to prevent plagiarism and to give credit to the authors of the sources that are cited.

Essential elements of an APA nursing paper

All APA nursing papers should include the following essential elements:

• Title page: The title page includes the title of the paper, the author(s), the institutional affiliation(s), and the 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, states the research question or hypothesis, summarizes the literature review, and explains the significance of the study.
• Literature review: The literature review provides a critical overview of the existing research on the topic and identifies gaps in the literature.
• Methodology: The methodology section describes the research design, participants, data collection methods, and data analysis methods.
• Results: The results section presents the findings of the study in a clear and concise manner. Tables and figures may be used to support the findings.
• Discussion: The discussion section interprets the findings of the study, discusses the implications of the findings, and identifies the limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.
• Conclusion: The conclusion section summarizes the main findings of the study, restates the research question or hypothesis, and discusses the theoretical and practical implications of the findings.
• References: The references section lists all of the sources that were cited in the paper, formatted in APA style.

How to write an APA nursing paper: A step-by-step guide

Title page

To create the title page, follow these steps:

1. Center the running head at the top of the page, 1 inch from the top edge. The running head should be 50 characters or less, including spaces.
2. Center the title of the paper below the running head, double-spaced.
3. Center the author(s) name(s) below the title, double-spaced.
4. Center the institutional affiliation(s) below the author(s) name(s), double-spaced.

Abstract

To write the abstract, follow these steps:

1. Begin on a new page, and center the word “Abstract” at the top of the page.
2. Double-space the abstract, and indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch.
3. The abstract should be no more than 150 words long, and it should summarize the main points of the paper, including the research question, methods, results, and conclusions.

Introduction

To write the introduction, follow these steps:

1. Begin on a new page, and center the word “Introduction” at the top of the page.
2. Double-space the introduction, and indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch.
3. The introduction should provide background information on the topic, state the research question or hypothesis, summarize the literature review, and explain the significance of the study.

Literature review

To write the literature review, follow these steps:

1. Begin on a new page, and center the words “Literature Review” at the top of the page.
2. Double-space the literature review, and indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch.
3. The literature review should provide a critical overview of the existing research on the topic and identify gaps in the literature.

Methodology

To write the methodology section, follow these steps:

1. Begin on a new page, and center the word “Methodology” at the top of the page.
2. Double-space the methodology section, and indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch.
3. The methodology section should describe the research design, participants, data collection methods, and data analysis methods.

Research design

The research design is the blueprint for how the study will be conducted. It describes the type of study, the sampling method, and the data collection and analysis methods.

Participants

The participants are the people who participate in the study. The methodology section should describe the participant selection criteria, the sample size, and the demographic characteristics of the sample.

Data collection methods

The data collection methods are the ways in which data is gathered from the participants. The methodology section should describe the specific data collection methods that were used, such as surveys, interviews, or focus groups.

Data analysis methods

The data analysis methods are the ways in which the data is analyzed to answer the research question(s). The methodology section should describe the specific data analysis methods that were used, such as statistical tests or qualitative analysis techniques.

Results

To write the results section, follow these steps:

1. Begin on a new page, and center the word “Results” at the top of the page.
2. Double-space the results section, and indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch.
3. The results section should present the findings of the study in a clear and concise manner. Tables and figures may be used to support the findings.

Discussion

To write the discussion section, follow these steps:

1. Begin on a new page, and center the word “Discussion” at the top of the page.
2. Double-space the discussion section, and indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch.
3. The discussion section should interpret the findings of the study, discuss the implications of the findings, and identify the limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.

Conclusion

To write the conclusion section, follow these steps:

1. Begin on a new page, and center the word “Conclusion” at the top of the page.
2. Double-space the conclusion section, and indent the first line of each paragraph by half an inch.
3. The conclusion section should summarize the main findings of the study, restate the research question or hypothesis, and discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the findings.

References

To write the references section, follow these steps:

1. Begin on a new page, and center the word “References” at the top of the page.
2. Double-space the references section, and list the sources in alphabetical order by author’s last name.
3. Format the references in APA style.

APA nursing paper format checklist

Here is a checklist that you can use to ensure that your APA nursing paper is formatted correctly:

• Is the title page formatted correctly?
• Is the abstract formatted correctly?
• Is the introduction formatted correctly?
• Is the literature review formatted correctly?
• Is the methodology section formatted correctly?
• Is the results section formatted correctly?
• Is the discussion section formatted correctly?
• Is the conclusion section formatted correctly?
• Are the references formatted correctly?

Tips for writing a successful APA nursing paper

Here are some tips for writing a successful APA nursing paper:

• Choose a topic that you are interested in and that is relevant to your nursing practice.
• Conduct a thorough literature review to identify the gaps in the literature and to justify your study.
• Use a clear and concise writing style.
• Be sure to cite all of your sources properly.
• Proofread your paper carefully before submitting it.

Example of an APA nursing paper format

Here is an example of an APA nursing paper format:

Title page

Running head: The Impact of Nurse Staffing Levels on Patient Outcomes

Title: The Impact of Nurse Staffing Levels on Patient Outcomes

Author: Bard

Institutional affiliation: Google AI

Abstract

Nurse staffing levels are a major determinant of patient outcomes. However, there is a shortage of nurses in many parts of the world.