Complete Guide on Crafting a Nursing Research Paper that Rocks
Nursing research is a multifaceted and extensive subject that many students tackle to broaden their knowledge. The primary objective of a nursing research paper is to investigate relevant nursing issues and propose potential solutions. Various fields of nursing can be explored, including psychiatric nursing, healthcare management, evidence-based medicine, clinic hygiene, home-based healthcare, and ethics. Nursing, as a medical branch, focuses on alleviating patients’ pain and addressing their psychological needs.
Understanding the Purpose of Nursing Research Paper Writing
While writing a research paper in nursing, you enhance your ability to assess patients, critically analyze, develop, and communicate care plans. To add specificity to your paper, you can examine the chosen topic from different perspectives, such as pathology, anatomy, population health, pharmacology, and physiology. This type of research paper demands in-depth exploration and the application of analytical and critical thinking.
Understanding Different Types of Research Papers
Before selecting a topic for your paper, you must determine the type of research paper required, as each type has distinct requirements. Analytical and argumentative research papers are the two primary types. In an analytical research paper, you analyze and evaluate a specific issue, presenting a well-structured analysis. On the other hand, an argumentative research paper involves presenting different viewpoints on a debatable issue, using strong arguments to support a chosen side.
Analytical Research Papers
In an analytical research paper, you can present a specific analysis of a literary text or investigate various healthcare studies to understand a scholar’s results. The paper aims to analyze a set of materials or experiments and present your viewpoint on the issue. Effective analytical questions are essential to explore the topic comprehensively. Common analytic designs include question/answer, comparison/contrast, problem/solution, cause/effect, hypothesis/proof, and change over time. Each paragraph should focus on a single significant idea, with the first sentence serving as a summary statement.
Argumentative Research Papers
In argumentative research papers, you choose a debatable issue and present various viewpoints on it. You should investigate different studies to find compelling arguments for both sides. Present each argument fairly and clearly, including points that support and contradict your chosen side. Addressing the opposition properly allows you to provide a well-rounded understanding, showcase lack of bias, increase trust, and strengthen your argument. To do this effectively, put yourself in the opposite position and develop reasons to support that side while refuting potential opposition arguments.
Choosing an Appropriate and Engaging Topic
Selecting an appropriate topic is crucial for a successful research paper. Avoid topics that are too narrow or overly broad. Search for current and relevant issues, and choose a topic that genuinely interests you and aligns with your knowledge. Your topic title should be concise, within fifty characters or twelve words, and should not be underlined, bolded, or italicized. Here are some appropriate Nursing research paper topics:
1. Nursing Science During the 20th Century
2. Should Nurses Complete Additional Training?
3. Nurses’ Safety in the Workplace
4. Psychiatric Nursing: Key Aspects
5. The Importance of Neonatal Care Nursing
Finding Reliable Sources for Gathering Facts
Locating reliable sources is vital for a well-supported research paper. There are three types of sources: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary sources present original materials, including research published in academic journals, interviews, surveys, and court records. Secondary sources analyze or describe primary sources, such as books, articles, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and textbooks that review or interpret original fieldworks. Tertiary sources help organize or locate primary and secondary sources and include various databases and indexes. Reliable websites ending in .edu or .gov are credible sources maintained by educational institutions or governments.
Pre-Writing Strategies for Generating Ideas
Before diving into the actual writing, use pre-writing activities to gather ideas. Brainstorming involves creating a list of as many ideas as possible. Freewriting involves writing full sentences without constraints. Mindmapping visualizes major ideas and supporting concepts. Outlining helps structure the research paper by developing a thesis statement and arguments with supporting ideas.
Common Formatting Styles for Research Papers
The Nursing research paper follows specific formatting rules. In the popular APA format, the paper should have a title page, abstract, main body, and reference page. APA referencing style requires citations to include the author’s name and the year of publication. The paper should be typed in twelve-point Times New Roman font.
The Basic Structure of the Research Paper
The Nursing research paper is structured into the title page, abstract, main body, and reference page. The title page includes the paper title, running head, author’s name, and institutional affiliation. The abstract provides a summary of key points and should not be less than 250 words, followed by a list of keywords. The main body consists of the introduction, main body paragraphs, and conclusion. In the introduction, provide background information and the thesis statement. Use citations and supporting evidence to present arguments in the main body paragraphs. The conclusion restates the thesis statement and summarizes the supporting arguments. The reference page lists all sources used in alphabetical order.
References:
1. A Guide to Prewriting Techniques. Berkeley Student Learning Center. 2018.
2. Common Assignments: Writing in Nursing. Walden University. 2018.
3. Hallas, D., & Feldman, H. R. A guide to scholarly writing in nursing. NSNA Imprint, 53(4), 80-83 (2006).
4. Research Help: Types of Sources. McQuade Library. 2018.
5. Types of Research Papers. Excelsior College OWL. 2018.
