Nursing Research & Writing: Quick-Reference Notes

Plan, adapt, make connections, and practice

3 main things to guide writing in nursing courses: plan and adapt; make connections; practice, practice, practice.
Build a writing routine and break large tasks into multiple steps with self‑accountable deadlines.
For major due dates, set sub‑deadlines: focusing question or thesis by a date; preliminary research by a date; determine sources you’ll need by a date; identify where you write best.
If you’ve relied on last‑minute writing before, that approach won’t sustain across future semesters; adapt early.
Consider the method or section you’re writing and plan accordingly.

Write the section that seems easiest first, then return to other sections later.
Use multiple drafts when composing for your portfolio.
You will complete a knowing paper; plan around it with the end in mind.
Barbara Carper's 4 ways of knowing: continually justify why you did what you did, grounded in what you learned in class and from sources.
When reading sources for a literature review, identify: what they have in common; outliers; gaps where no one addresses a specific issue.
Use visual cues (e.g., color/highlighting or symbols) to mark types of content: e.g., defining the problem (green), possible solutions (pink), etc., to build a map before drafting.
Use this map to draft sections in a logical order and make cross‑connections among sources.
Practice reading for connections to strengthen retention and discourse.

When drafting, introduce the problem with evidence from multiple sources (green highlights as the core evidence).
Then move to sections showing how sources relate and where they diverge.
The process helps you connect ideas across sources and build a cohesive argument.

Nursing is part of a larger health care discourse community with distinct conventions.
Citation style in nursing is typically APA; humanities rely more on quoting text and textual analysis.
Different genres you may encounter: research critique, clinical reflection, reflective essays, etc.—each with its own conventions.
Always consider implications: so what? Why does this matter for practice or knowledge?
Review assignment sheets and examples; ask questions; mentors help interpret unique aspects of your assignment.

Library writing centers provide teaching and guidance, not editing; their job is to help you learn and fix issues, not merely proofread.
If your institution has subscriptions, use library databases to locate sources; some content may require campus access or interlibrary loan.
They can help with recurring issues and with strengthening your ability to work independently.

When citing sources from social media, use original content when possible and include: author, date posted, title, site name (e.g., TikTok).
If you rely on social media to discover content, document the author, date, title, and site name as part of the reference.
Example source types: nursing code of ethics; policy briefs; issue briefs.
In a given example, a source might appear in a journal like Nursing Forum; remember that the key is to accurately identify the source, not necessarily the publisher name.
Distinguish between where information comes from (e.g., journal title vs. publisher) and focus on the accurate bibliographic details.
Consider population differences and intersectionality when interpreting results.

Pay attention to formatting details early:
- The title page should summarize the main idea simply and be engaging.
- Title page should be centered and bold; place it in the upper half of the page.
- Typical spacing: title ~3–4 lines down from the top margin; ensure proper spacing rules (section references, etc.).
Use document structure features to save time:
- Insert page breaks to keep sections and references on their own pages.
- Use bold headers and consistent formatting for title, author, and page layout.
- Use hanging indents for references.
Start with the structure before writing body text to reduce cognitive load; set up title page, place references, etc., and then fill in the body.
The library/center may help you identify what to include in each section and how to format; this is designed to teach, not just edit.

When following course materials, pay attention to where guidance lives: e.g., sections 2.3 and 2.4.
If you see references to specific pages, note: pages 31, 32, 61, etc., as part of the formatting guidelines.
If you see a long citation example (e.g., page 348), focus on understanding where to place each element (author, date, title, site) according to the guidance.
The goal is to internalize the structure so you can reproduce correct formatting without rework.

Set up formatting first when you’re stuck on topic ideas.
Use page breaks to keep sections and references organized automatically.
Review assignment sheets and consult your mentor early if something is unclear.
Practice identifying common threads and gaps across sources to strengthen your literature review.