How to Write an APA Nursing Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide

APA style is a writing format that is commonly used in the social and behavioral sciences, including nursing. It is important to use APA style in nursing papers because it allows readers to easily find the information they need and to compare and contrast different studies.

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to write an APA nursing paper. It includes tips on choosing a topic, conducting a literature review, developing a thesis statement, organizing your paper, writing your paper, citing your sources, and writing a conclusion.

1. Choosing a Topic

The first step in writing an APA nursing paper is to choose a topic. When choosing a topic, it is important to consider the following:

• Is the topic relevant to nursing?
• Is the topic narrow enough to be covered in a paper of the required length?
• Is the topic feasible to research?
• Are there enough sources available on the topic?

Once you have chosen a topic, you need to narrow it down to a specific focus. To do this, you can ask yourself the following questions:

• What aspect of the topic am I most interested in?
• What aspect of the topic is most relevant to my nursing practice?
• What aspect of the topic is most timely or important?

2. Conducting a Literature Review

A literature review is a summary of the existing research on your topic. It is important to conduct a literature review to ensure that your paper is original and that you are drawing on the most up-to-date research.

To conduct a literature review, you need to find relevant sources on your topic. You can do this by searching online databases, such as PubMed and CINAHL, and by reviewing nursing journals and textbooks.

Once you have found relevant sources, you need to read them carefully and take notes. As you read, consider the following questions:

• What are the main findings of the research?
• How does the research relate to my topic?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research?

Once you have reviewed the literature, you need to synthesize the findings and write a summary of the research. In your summary, be sure to identify the key points of the literature and to explain how the research relates to your topic.

3. Developing a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a statement that summarizes your main argument or point of view in your paper. It is important to have a strong thesis statement because it helps to organize your paper and to ensure that your paper is focused.

A good thesis statement is clear, concise, and arguable. It should also be supported by the evidence that you present in your paper.

To develop a thesis statement, start by brainstorming a list of ideas about your topic. Once you have a list of ideas, choose the idea that you think is most interesting and that you have the most evidence to support.

Once you have chosen an idea, write it down in a clear and concise statement. This is your thesis statement.

4. Organizing Your Paper

Once you have a thesis statement, you need to organize your paper. A typical outline for an APA nursing paper is as follows:

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Reference page

In the introduction, you should introduce your topic and state your thesis statement. In the literature review, you should summarize the existing research on your topic. In the methodology section, you should describe how you conducted your research. In the results section, you should present your findings. In the discussion section, you should interpret your findings and discuss their implications. In the conclusion, you should summarize your main points and restate your thesis statement.

5. Writing Your Paper

Once you have organized your paper, you can start writing. When writing your paper, be sure to follow APA style guidelines. APA style guidelines can be found on the APA Style website and in the Purdue OWL APA Style Guide.

Here are some tips for writing your paper:

• Use clear and concise language.
• Avoid using jargon and technical terms that your reader may not understand.
• Be sure to support your claims with evidence from the literature.
• Cite your sources

• 6. Citing Your Sources

It is important to cite your sources in your paper to avoid plagiarism and to give credit to the authors whose work you have used. APA style has specific guidelines for citing different types of sources.

Here are some basic tips for citing your sources:

• In-text citations should be placed at the end of the sentence that contains the borrowed information.
• The in-text citation should include the author’s last name and the year of publication.
• If you are quoting directly from a source, you should also include the page number.

Here are some examples of in-text citations:

• (Smith, 2023)
• (Jones & Brown, 2022)
• (Williams, 2021, p. 123)

At the end of your paper, you should include a reference page that lists all of the sources that you cited in your paper. The reference page should be formatted in APA style.

Here are some basic tips for formatting your reference page:

• List your sources alphabetically by author’s last name.
• Include the following information for each source:
  • Author’s last name and first initials
  • Year of publication
  • Title of the source
  • Publication information (e.g., journal name, publisher, website address)

Here is an example of a reference page entry for a journal article:

Smith, J. (2023). The importance of APA style in nursing papers. Nursing Journal, 123(4), 567-578.

7. Writing a Conclusion

In the conclusion, you should summarize your main points and restate your thesis statement. You should also discuss the implications of your findings and suggest directions for future research.

FAQs

• What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing an APA nursing paper?

Some common mistakes to avoid when writing an APA nursing paper include:

* Not following APA style guidelines
* Not citing your sources correctly
* Plagiarizing
* Using jargon and technical terms that your reader may not understand
* Not supporting your claims with evidence

• How do I find credible sources for my literature review?

You can find credible sources for your literature review by searching online databases, such as PubMed and CINAHL, and by reviewing nursing journals and textbooks. You should also look for sources that are recent and that come from reputable sources.

• How do I format my tables and figures in APA style?

APA style has specific guidelines for formatting tables and figures. You can find these guidelines on the APA Style website.

• How do I cite a personal interview in APA style?

To cite a personal interview in APA style, you should include the following information in your reference page entry:

* Interviewee's name
* Date of interview
* [Personal interview].

For example:

Smith, J. [Personal interview]. (October 23, 2023).

• Where can I get help with writing my APA nursing paper?

There are a number of resources available to help you write your APA nursing paper. You can find help from your instructor, from your school’s writing center, and from online resources such as the APA Style website and the Purdue OWL APA Style Guide.

Additional Subheadings

• Using APA style for specific types of nursing papers:
  • Research papers: Research papers are the most common type of nursing paper. Research papers present the findings of a research study.
  • Literature reviews: Literature reviews summarize the existing research on a particular topic.
  • Case studies: Case studies present a detailed account of a single patient or group of patients.
  • Systematic reviews: Systematic reviews are a type of literature review that use rigorous methods to identify and synthesize the best available evidence on a particular topic.
• APA style for nursing students:
  • Tips for writing APA papers in nursing school:
    • Start early. Don’t wait until the last minute to start writing your paper.
    • Get organized. Create an outline for your paper and keep track of your sources.
    • Follow APA style guidelines. There are a number of resources available to help you learn APA style.
    • Proofread your paper carefully. Before you submit your paper, be sure to proofread it carefully for any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation.
  • Common APA style mistakes to avoid:
    • Not following APA style guidelines
    • Not citing your sources correctly
    • Plagiarizing
    • Using jargon and technical terms that your reader may not understand
    • Not supporting your claims with evidence
• APA style resources:
  • APA Style website
  • Purdue OWL APA Style