An abstract is a concise summary of your nursing paper. It should provide readers with a clear overview of your topic, research question, methods, findings, and conclusions. A well-written abstract can help readers decide whether or not your paper is relevant to their interests and needs.
Why is an abstract important for a nursing paper?
An abstract is important for a nursing paper for several reasons:
- It helps readers quickly understand the main points of your paper.
- It can help readers decide whether or not your paper is relevant to their interests and needs.
- It can help you to identify the key points of your paper and focus your writing.
- It can be used to index your paper in databases, making it easier for other researchers to find your work.
Tips for writing a strong abstract
Here are some tips for writing a strong abstract for your nursing paper:
- Be clear and concise. Your abstract should be no more than 250 words.
- State your research question or purpose clearly.
- Summarize your methods briefly.
- Highlight your key findings.
- Discuss the implications of your findings for nursing practice, education, or research.
- Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your readers may not understand.
- Proofread your abstract carefully for any errors in grammar or spelling.
Body
Purpose/background
In the purpose/background section of your abstract, you should state the topic of your paper, explain why it is important, and identify the gap in the literature that your paper addresses.
Methods
In the methods section of your abstract, you should briefly describe your research design, sample, data collection methods, and data analysis methods.
Results
In the results section of your abstract, you should summarize your key findings. Be sure to highlight the most important and significant findings.
Discussion
In the discussion section of your abstract, you should discuss the implications of your findings for nursing practice, education, or research. You should also discuss the limitations of your study and suggest directions for future research.
Conclusion
In the conclusion section of your abstract, you should summarize your key points and restate the significance of your study.
FAQs
Q.What is the difference between an abstract and an introduction?
An abstract is a concise summary of your entire paper, while an introduction is a more detailed introduction to the topic of your paper. The introduction should provide background information on your topic and state your research question or purpose. The abstract should summarize all of the main points of your paper, including your methods, findings, and conclusions.
Q.How long should an abstract be?
An abstract should be no more than 250 words.
Q.What should I include in my abstract?
Your abstract should include the following information:
- Your research question or purpose
- A brief summary of your methods
- A summary of your key findings
- A discussion of the implications of your findings for nursing practice, education, or research
Q.What should I avoid in my abstract?
You should avoid the following in your abstract:
- Using jargon or technical terms that your readers may not understand
- Discussing your findings in too much detail
- Stating your personal opinions or beliefs
- Making claims that your research cannot support
Q.How can I make my abstract more engaging?
Here are some tips for making your abstract more engaging:
- Start with a strong statement that will grab your readers’ attention.
- Use clear and concise language.
- Avoid using jargon or technical terms.
- Highlight your most important findings.
- Discuss the implications of your findings for nursing practice, education, or research.
- End with a strong statement that will leave your readers wanting to learn more.
Common mistakes to avoid when writing an abstract
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when writing an abstract:
- Making your abstract too long.
- Using jargon or technical terms that your readers may not understand.
- Discussing your findings in too much detail.
- Stating your personal opinions or beliefs.
- Making claims that your research cannot support.
- Not proofreading your abstract carefully.
How to tailor your abstract to your audience
When writing your abstract, it is important to consider your audience. Who are you writing for? What do they already know about your topic? What do they need to know?
If you are writing for a general audience, such as nurses who are not familiar with your specific area of research, you will need to provide more background information and explain your findings in a way that is easy to understand. If you are writing for an audience of experts in your field, you can assume that they have a good understanding of your topic and you can focus on your key findings and implications.
Here are some tips for tailoring your abstract to your audience:
- Choose words and phrases that your audience will understand. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that they may not be familiar with.
- Explain your research question or purpose in a way that is clear and concise.
- Highlight your most important findings.
- Discuss the implications of your findings for your audience.
- Avoid making assumptions about what your audience knows or does not know.
How to get feedback on your abstract
Once you have written your abstract, it is a good idea to get feedback from others. This could be a friend, colleague, professor, or mentor. They can help you to identify any areas where your abstract could be improved.
Here are some questions to ask when getting feedback on your abstract:
- Is the abstract clear and concise?
- Does the abstract state the research question or purpose clearly?
- Does the abstract summarize the methods, findings, and conclusions of the paper accurately?
- Is the abstract written in a way that is easy to understand?
- Does the abstract avoid using jargon or technical terms?
- Does the abstract engage the reader and make them want to learn more?
Examples of strong nursing paper abstracts
Here are some examples of strong nursing paper abstracts:
Example 1
Title: The Effectiveness of Patient Education on Medication Adherence in Older Adults with Heart Disease
Abstract:
Medication adherence is essential for the effective management of chronic diseases such as heart disease. However, many older adults with heart disease do not adhere to their medication regimens. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a patient education program on medication adherence in older adults with heart disease.
The study was a randomized controlled trial with 100 participants. The intervention group received a patient education program that consisted of individual counseling and group workshops. The control group received standard care.
At the end of the study, the intervention group had significantly higher medication adherence rates than the control group. The results suggest that patient education can be an effective way to improve medication adherence in older adults with heart disease.
Example 2
Title: The Impact of Nurse Staffing Levels on Patient Safety Outcomes in Acute Care Hospitals
Abstract:
Nurse staffing levels have been shown to be associated with patient safety outcomes in acute care hospitals. However, the optimal nurse staffing level for ensuring patient safety is still a matter of debate.
This study conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify the impact of nurse staffing levels on patient safety outcomes. The review included 25 studies that met the inclusion criteria.
The results of the review showed that higher nurse staffing levels were associated with lower rates of patient mortality, hospital-acquired infections, and other adverse events. The review also found that higher nurse staffing levels were associated with improved patient satisfaction.
The results of this review suggest that increasing nurse staffing levels may be an effective way to improve patient safety outcomes in acute care hospitals.
These are just two examples of strong nursing paper abstracts. When writing your own abstract, be sure to keep the tips above in mind and to tailor your abstract to your audience.
