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APA Sample Paper Nursing: A Comprehensive Guide

November 18, 2023

APA style is a widely used citation and formatting style for academic papers. It is important to use APA style in nursing papers to ensure that your work is credible and professional. This article provides a comprehensive guide to APA style for nursing papers, including how to structure your paper, format your citations, and write each section of your paper.

What is APA style?

APA style is a set of guidelines for formatting academic papers and citing sources. It was developed by the American Psychological Association (APA) and is used by writers and researchers in a variety of disciplines, including nursing.

Why is it important to use APA style in nursing?

There are several reasons why it is important to use APA style in nursing papers:

Credibility: Using APA style shows that you have taken the time to learn the appropriate formatting and citation guidelines. This can help to establish your credibility as a nurse and researcher.
Clarity: APA style is a clear and concise way to format your paper and cite your sources. This makes it easy for readers to understand your work and find the information they need.
Professionalism: APA style is the standard formatting style for academic papers in nursing. Using APA style shows that you are a professional nurse and that you have taken the time to learn and follow the appropriate guidelines.

What are the key elements of an APA-formatted paper?

The key elements of an APA-formatted paper include:

Title page: The title page includes the title of your paper, your name, your institution, and the date.
Abstract: The abstract is a concise summary of your paper, typically no more than 250 words.
Introduction: The introduction introduces your topic and states your research question or hypothesis.
Literature review: The literature review summarizes the relevant research on your topic and identifies any gaps in the research.
Methodology: The methodology section describes your research methods.
Results: The results section presents your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Discussion: The discussion section interprets your findings and discusses their implications.
Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes your main points and restates your research question or hypothesis.
References: The references page lists all of the sources that you cited in your paper.

How to find APA resources

There are a number of resources available to help you learn more about APA style and how to format your paper. Some helpful resources include:

The APA Publication Manual: The APA Publication Manual is the definitive guide to APA style. It is available online and in libraries.
Purdue OWL: The Purdue OWL website provides a variety of resources on APA style, including tutorials, examples, and a frequently asked questions section.
Your instructor: Your instructor is another helpful resource for learning about APA style. If you have any questions or need clarification, be sure to ask your instructor.

How to cite sources in APA style

When you use information from another source in your paper, you must cite the source using APA style. This helps to ensure that you are giving credit to the original author and that your work is not considered plagiarism.

There are different ways to cite sources in APA style, depending on the type of source. For example, to cite a book, you would include the author’s name, the year of publication, the title of the book, and the publisher. To cite a journal article, you would include the author’s name, the year of publication, the title of the article, and the name of the journal.

For more information on how to cite sources in APA style, please consult the APA Publication Manual or the Purdue OWL website.

Structure of an APA-formatted paper

An APA-formatted paper typically has the following structure:

Title page
Abstract
Introduction
Literature review
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References

Title page

The title page includes the following information:

Title of your paper: The title of your paper should be clear, concise, and

Title of your paper: The title of your paper should be clear, concise, and informative. It should accurately reflect the content of your paper and be no more than 120 characters long.

Your name: Your name should be typed in the center of the title page, below the title.
Your institution: Your institution should be typed below your name.
Date: The date should be typed below your institution.

Abstract

The abstract is a concise summary of your paper, typically no more than 250 words. It should include the following information:

The purpose of your study: State the purpose of your study and what you hope to achieve.
The methods that you used: Briefly describe the methods that you used to conduct your study.
The main findings of your study: Summarize the main findings of your study.
The implications of your findings: Discuss the implications of your findings for nursing practice or research.

Introduction

The introduction introduces your topic and states your research question or hypothesis. It should also provide some background information on your topic and explain why your study is important.

Literature review

The literature review summarizes the relevant research on your topic and identifies any gaps in the research. It should be written in a critical and analytical manner, and it should provide a foundation for your own research.

Methodology

The methodology section describes your research methods in detail. It should include information on your research design, sample, data collection methods, and data analysis procedures.

Results

The results section presents your findings in a clear and concise manner. It should be written in a neutral and objective tone, and it should avoid interpretation of the findings.

Discussion

The discussion section interprets your findings and discusses their implications. It should also compare your findings to the findings of other studies and identify any limitations of your study.

Conclusion

The conclusion summarizes your main points and restates your research question or hypothesis. It should also discuss the implications of your findings for nursing practice or research.

References

The references page lists all of the sources that you cited in your paper. It should be formatted in accordance with APA style.

Formatting guidelines

APA style has specific guidelines for formatting academic papers. Some of the key formatting guidelines include:

Font: Use a 12-point font, such as Times New Roman or Arial.
Margins: Use one-inch margins on all sides of the paper.
Line spacing: Use double line spacing throughout your paper.
Headings: Use headings to organize your paper and make it easier to read.
Tables and figures: Tables and figures should be numbered and cited in your paper.
Citations: Cite all of your sources in accordance with APA style.

How to write each section of an APA-formatted paper

Title page: The title page should be formatted as follows:

Center the title of your paper on the page.
Type your name below the title.
Type your institution below your name.
Type the date below your institution.

Abstract: The abstract should be formatted as follows:

Type the title of your paper in bold at the top of the page.
Double-space the entire abstract.
Use a clear and concise style.
Avoid using jargon or technical language.

Introduction: The introduction should be formatted as follows:

Type the title of your paper in bold at the top of the page.
Double-space the entire introduction.
Use a clear and concise style.
Avoid using jargon or technical language.

Literature review: The literature review should be formatted as follows:

Type the title of your paper in bold at the top of the page.
Double-space the entire literature review.
Use a critical and analytical style.
Discuss the findings of other studies and compare them to your own findings.

Methodology: The methodology section should be formatted as follows:

Type the title of your paper in bold at the top of the page.
Double-space the entire methodology section.
Describe your research design, sample, data collection methods, and data analysis procedures in detail.

Results: The results section should be formatted as follows:

Type the title of your paper in bold at the top of the page.
Double-space the entire results section.
Present your findings in a clear and concise manner.
Avoid interpretation of the findings.

Discussion: The discussion section should be formatted as follows:

Type the title of your paper in bold at the top of the page.
Double-space the entire discussion section.
Interpret your findings and discuss their implications.
Compare your findings to the findings of other studies.
Identify any limitations of your study.

Conclusion: The conclusion should be formatted as follows:

Type the title of your paper in bold at the top of the page.
Double-space the entire conclusion section.
Summarize your main points.
Restate your research question or hypothesis.
Discuss the implications of your findings for nursing practice or research.

References: The references page should be formatted as follows:

Double-space the entire references page.
List all of the sources that you cited in your paper.
Format the references in accordance with APA style.