Nursing is a field that progresses through research with a method using the scientific method. The entire process of researching the literature and the experiment we proposed in the paper. The nurse needs to both learn how to read and assess research. One assignment that every nursing program will give to each student is the dreaded research paper. Every student may have their own method of writing an article or a failed execution due to lack of planning. This is my personal tried and true method used for each assignment.
#1 Finding a Topic
The paper will either be given to you directly with a specific topic or a little room to make decisions and very general instructions. General instructions would include paper topics like a contemporary nursing issue or a respiratory disease process. Detailed instructions cover a subject such as informatics in nursing with a guideline of 12-15 subtopics that makes up an outline. If you are given more reign on the topic, a few suggestions for finding a specific issue do a quick scan through a textbook, a general google search, or a database search. The search will allow you to view both options or specific topics available and also to assess the amount of material available on a particular problem. Once a subject seems exciting and has the adequate amount of content, then you have a topic.
#2 Research
When the item is found the research can then begin. Using your text, search in a database. An excellent research database includes peer-reviewed journals. Organizations such as the American Nursing Association or Society of Medical-Surgical Nursing all publish peer-reviewed journals and most school libraries have an online database to access them on or off campus. Find articles and read the abstract to make sure the item will fit your research topic.
#3 Collection of Notes
Once a short pile of papers is found, it’s time to read the material. I personally will print out the articles before reading them. If you don’t want to print them or oppose the use of that much paper and ink, I would highly suggest at least saving the articles in a designated file as a PDF. When reading through the documents, one by one has a stack of index cards. Each note you come across jot it down on a notecard. If it is a quote use quotations, otherwise do not write word for word, summarize in your own words, this will reduce unintentional plagiarism. Rewriting the notes will make the paper more natural to write later. If you don’t find any information for your writing in an article, put it aside. On the other hand, if you saw a bunch of notes, ideas, or facts or just one on one card, remember if you use it you’ll need to cite it. Keeping track of citations this early will make both the reference or works cited page and quotes in your paper more comfortable when writing. Using an addition card write out the full citation in APA format for Nursing students. This strategy of research papers will work for any class so if it’s a class other than nursing find out if the style is APA or MLA. The top corner of the citation card number it, or give it some sort of identification. All notes coming from that article place the same ID on each card. So, if this is article number one, each card that held notes from an article one will also have a one on the top of the card. Once you’ve read or gathered the amount of information needed you can move to organize the article.
At this point, you have about 90% of your research complete. Notes that are important to your paper and the topic are on index cards. All the sources are also written out on index cards. This is an excellent time to take a break whether it’s a few hours or a day. Come back to the project with a fresh mind. The next step will be to organize and write. Enjoy that break!