How to Write a Nursing Literature Review Paper in APA Style (2023)

What is a nursing literature review paper?

A nursing literature review paper is a critical analysis of the published research on a specific nursing topic. It is used to summarize the current state of knowledge on the topic, identify gaps in the research, and develop new research questions.

Why are nursing literature review papers important?

Nursing literature review papers are important for several reasons. First, they help nurses stay up-to-date on the latest research findings in their field. This knowledge can be used to improve patient care and outcomes. Second, nursing literature review papers can help identify new research areas. This can lead to new and innovative ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases.

How to write a nursing literature review paper in APA style

To write a nursing literature review paper in APA style, you will need to follow the following steps:

1. Choose a topic and develop a research question.
2. Search for and evaluate the literature.
3. Organize and synthesize the literature.
4. Write the nursing literature review paper.
5. Format the nursing literature review paper in APA style.

Parts of a nursing literature review paper in APA style

A nursing literature review paper in APA style typically includes the following parts:

• Title page
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• References

Tips for writing a strong nursing literature review paper in APA style

Here are some tips for writing a strong nursing literature review paper in APA style:

• Choose a topic that you are interested in and knowledgeable about.
• Develop a focused and researchable research question.
• Search for and evaluate the literature thoroughly.
• Organize and synthesize the literature in a logical and coherent way.
• Write clearly and concisely.
• Follow APA style guidelines for formatting and citation.

1. Choosing a topic and developing a research question

What are some good nursing literature review topics?

Some good nursing literature review topics include:

• Patient outcomes
• Nursing interventions
• Nursing education
• Nursing practice
• Healthcare policy

When choosing a topic, it is important to consider your interests and expertise. It is also important to choose a topic that is narrow enough to focus on in a single paper, but broad enough to find enough literature on.

How to develop a focused and researchable research question

Once you have chosen a topic, you need to develop a focused and researchable research question. Your research question should be specific enough to be answered in a single paper, but broad enough to find enough literature on.

Here are some tips for developing a focused and researchable research question:

• Start by brainstorming a list of questions about your topic.
• Narrow down your list of questions to a few specific questions that you are interested in answering.
• Make sure your research question is feasible to answer within the scope of your paper.
• Use keywords in your research question to help you find relevant literature.

Here are some examples of focused and researchable research questions:

• What is the impact of nurse staffing levels on patient outcomes?
• What are the most effective nursing interventions for managing pain in patients with cancer?
• How does the use of simulation in nursing education affect student learning outcomes?
• What are the barriers to implementing evidence-based practice in nursing?

2. Searching for and evaluating the literature

Where to find relevant nursing literature

There are many different places to find relevant nursing literature. Some good resources include:

• Nursing databases, such as CINAHL and PubMed
• Nursing journals
• Nursing textbooks
• Government websites
• Professional organizations

How to evaluate the quality of nursing literature

Once you have found some relevant literature, you need to evaluate its quality. Here are some factors to consider when evaluating the quality of nursing literature:

• Is the literature peer-reviewed?
• Is the literature recent?
• Is the literature relevant to your research question?
• Is the literature written by credible authors?
• Is the literature well-designed

3. Organizing and synthesizing the literature

Common ways to organize a nursing literature review paper

There are many different ways to organize a nursing literature review paper. Some common ways to organize a nursing literature review paper include:

• Chronologically: This involves organizing the literature in the order that it was published.
• Thematically: This involves organizing the literature around different themes related to your research question.
• Methodologically: This involves organizing the literature based on the research methods used.

How to synthesize the literature to answer your research question

Once you have organized the literature, you need to synthesize it to answer your research question. This involves summarizing the main findings of each study and comparing and contrasting the findings of different studies.

Here are some tips for synthesizing the literature:

• Identify the key themes and findings of each study.
• Compare and contrast the findings of different studies.
• Identify any gaps in the research.
• Draw conclusions based on the synthesized literature.

4. Writing the nursing literature review paper

Introduction: What should be included in the introduction of a nursing literature review paper?

The introduction of a nursing literature review paper should provide background information on the topic, state the research question, and outline the paper.

Here are some tips for writing a strong introduction:

• Start with a broad overview of the topic.
• Narrow down your focus to your specific research question.
• State your research question clearly and concisely.
• Outline the main points that you will be discussing in your paper.

Body: How to write the body of a nursing literature review paper

The body of a nursing literature review paper should summarize the findings of the literature and answer the research question.

Here are some tips for writing a strong body:

• Organize the body of your paper around different themes or subtopics.
• Summarize the main findings of each study.
• Compare and contrast the findings of different studies.
• Identify any gaps in the research.
• Discuss the implications of the findings for nursing practice and research.

Conclusion: What should be included in the conclusion of a nursing literature review paper?

The conclusion of a nursing literature review paper should summarize the main findings of the paper and discuss the implications of the findings for nursing practice and research.

Here are some tips for writing a strong conclusion:

• Summarize the main findings of your paper.
• Discuss the implications of your findings for nursing practice and research.
• Identify any limitations of your study and suggest directions for future research.

5. Formatting the nursing literature review paper in APA style

General APA style guidelines

APA style has specific guidelines for formatting your paper, including the font size, margins, and line spacing. You can find more information about APA style guidelines on the APA website.

Specific APA style guidelines for nursing literature review papers

There are a few specific APA style guidelines for nursing literature review papers. For example, you should use the following headings for the different sections of your paper:

• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• References

How to cite sources in APA style

You must cite all of the sources that you use in your paper. APA style has specific guidelines for citing sources. You can find more information about APA style guidelines for citing sources on the APA website.

Conclusion

Writing a nursing literature review paper in APA style can be a daunting task, but it is an important skill for nurses to have. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can write a strong and well-written nursing literature review paper.

FAQs

Q. What is the difference between a systematic review and a literature review?

A systematic review is a more rigorous type of literature review that follows a specific methodology to identify, evaluate, and synthesize the evidence on a particular topic. Systematic reviews are typically used to answer specific clinical questions and to provide the best available evidence to inform decision-making.

A literature review is a broader term that encompasses a variety of methods for reviewing and summarizing the existing literature on a particular topic. Literature reviews can be used to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on a topic, to identify gaps in the research, or to develop new research questions.

The key difference between a systematic review and a literature review is the level of rigor and transparency used in the review process. Systematic reviews follow a pre-defined protocol that ensures that the review is conducted in a systematic and unbiased manner. Literature reviews, on the other hand, may be less rigorous and may not follow a specific protocol.

Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between systematic reviews and literature reviews:

Q. How many sources should I include in my nursing literature review paper?

The number of sources that you include in your nursing literature review paper will depend on the topic of your paper and the length of your paper. However, it is generally recommended that you include at least 15 sources in your paper.

When choosing sources, it is important to select high-quality sources that are relevant to your research question. You should also avoid using too many sources from the same author or from the same journal.

Q. How do I avoid plagiarism in my nursing literature review paper?

There are a few things that you can do to avoid plagiarism in your nursing literature review paper:

• Cite all of your sources accurately and completely.
• Use your own words when summarizing or paraphrasing the work of others.
• Put quotation marks around any direct quotes from other sources.
• Use a plagiarism checker to scan your paper for plagiarism.

Q. How do I get my nursing literature review paper published?

To get your nursing literature review paper published, you will need to submit it to a peer-reviewed nursing journal. Peer-reviewed journals have a team of experts who review papers before they are published. This ensures that the papers published in peer-reviewed journals are of high quality and meet the standards of the journal.

When submitting your paper to a peer-reviewed journal, be sure to follow the journal’s submission guidelines carefully. You will also need to write a cover letter that explains why you are submitting your paper to that particular journal.