Registered nurses — whether or not they have a co-employee degree, diploma or BSN — are healthcare experts, plus they are confident inside their capability to provide quality patient care. But there is however one area where they may lack confidence: writing. ADN nurses that are considering going back to school to earn a BSN and now have been away from school for a time might feel this angst more than others. Some could even put off earning their bachelor’s degree because of the writing required. The citation format — American Psychological Association (APA) Style for healthcare writing — is sufficient to scare off the most nurse that is experienced. If you’re one of these brilliant nurses that are nervous regarding your writing skills, it is the right time to put those fears to rest!
Writing papers for nursing school does not have to be a task that is daunting. You almost certainly haven’t written a study paper since senior school, and citing your sources was never the part that is easiest. There are plenty rules that are tiny follow: indentation, punctuation, order, etc. And APA Style is most likely a new comer to you. Luckily you’ve decided to come back to school at a right time when citing your sources (regardless of the style) is actually as simple as a couple of clicks of this mouse.
Free Resources to Help You Cite Your Sources
There are many resources that are free allow you to through the citation process. For quick reference, try the APA Style website. From the basics to the most in-depth information about “works cited,” the APA Style site has the answers you need.
Microsoft Word also offers a function that may help you cite your sources. Open your click and document in the “REFERENCES” tab at the top of the page. Then click “Insert Citation” and then “Add New Source.”
You can easily insert the information about the article — Author, Title, Year, City and Publisher — within the box that pops up.
You to insert it where you need it after you add the source information, Word allows. In addition it saves it for later use. The best benefit is that it’s a free function of software you already own.
Citation Machine is another free source for your Works Cited page. It’s going to search titles for your needs and gather the info for the text, you can also enter the information manually. To produce your Works Cited entry, follow these simple instructions.
- Click the “Create citations” button
- Click on the style you want when you look at the “Choose a Citation Style” box — APA.
- Type in the title for the source you need to cite.
- Find the publication you’re using. (After selecting your publication, Citation Machine will gather the data for this. In the event that given information cannot be found, you’ll be prompted to enter it yourself.)
- Click “Final Step.” This site will reveal the information when it comes to text you’re using. This might be also where you could add information that Citation Machine could not find.
- Click “Create Citation” at the end associated with screen.
- The properly reference that is formatted appear on your screen. Copy, paste, done!
And these are merely a few examples. A simple Google search will turn up countless tools and other writing pay for uni assignments resources. Most schools — Lamar University, for example — have writing centers that may help you 100% free, no matter whether you are taking your classes on campus or online.
Paid Resources for Writers
Additionally, there are tools that are web-based can not only organize and format your references, but additionally guide you through the writing process. PERRLA Online, for instance, can help you outline your papers, keep an eye on assignments, set reminders and much more. With this particular product, that you do not even need Microsoft Word. Type your paper into PERRLA on the internet and it will convert your paper into a standard Word document you can send to your instructor. “PERRLA is intuitive and easy to utilize, even if you’re not tech savvy,” says Jessica Skinner, an internet RN to BSN student. “It is a lifesaver!” It costs $39.95, which can be really worth it for online RN to BSN students who possess anxiety about writing papers.
Looking at a blinking cursor on a blank page can be the part that is hardest of any writing assignment, but it doesn’t have to be. Just start writing. Remember, no body has got to ever see your first draft, so there’s absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. And you don’t need to bother about your grade on the draft that is first either. Once you get started, you will find that the rest comes easy — or at the very least easier than you thought when you were staring at an empty page.
Do not be afraid to inquire about your instructors for help. That’s what they have been there for. Discuss topics with your classmates. Nursing is a team effort, generally there’s no reason that nursing school shouldn’t be. Sharing ideas is not cheating.
The fear of writing and citing your sources correctly should not keep you from going back to school for a BSN. You can find more writing resources at your fingertips than in the past. You might think that you’ll never need to write in your nursing career, but who knows? You could opt to move into a leadership or research role where communication that is written be an essential part of your job. You may even decide you like writing!