Writing a Scholarly Paper on Nursing Leadership/Management: APA Style Essentials and Guidelines

Do not use sources that are not peer-reviewed. Websites such as Wikipedia, for example, have not been subjected to review by a panel of experts and are not appropriate for academic papers. Similarly, newspaper clippings and popular literature such as Chatelaine. 10 magazine are also not usually peer-reviewed and are therefore not appropriate. The following link is helpful for reference purposes on writing and using APA style essentials and guidelines.

? The paper should be 5-7 pages in total length, including the title page, reference page, and 3-4 pages maximum of text. The text or body of the paper is to include three elements: an introductory paragraph that outlines the purpose and scope of the paper, the main body of the paper which discusses the selected topic, and a conclusion which summarizes your personal understanding of the topic and what you have learned from writing about the topic. Clarity and precision of communication is more important than length in this paper. Remember leaders/managers are busy people; hence, it is important to communicate briefly and in a concise manner with them if you wish them to read your communication and have a meaningful impact on them.

INTRODUCTION: The paper should begin with an introduction to the topic that outlines the purpose and scope of your paper. In outlining the purpose of the paper, you will discuss why it is important to nursing and leadership/management. In outlining the scope, you will identify what your paper will include. Plan about 1-2 paragraphs (half a page) for your introduction.

2. BODY OF PAPER: Identify your own beliefs about and experiences with the issue. If the topic lends itself to comparing or contrasting the topic(s), do so.

3. CONDUCT A SEARCH about the topic, using readings provided with this course, your course textbook, and supplemented with journal articles from a library search. As a StFX student, you have access electronically via the StFX library. You may also be able to access journals via hospital libraries in your community. Give yourself sufficient time to gather literature, read it, and reflect upon it. However, please do not use any more than 2 of the 8 required references from your course.

You should be exploring and identifying NEW sources of information. have identified into 3-4 pages maximum of discussion. Please use headings to organize your work. This aspect involves summarizing what other scholars have written in a discussion that flows coherently from topic to topic. This section involves essentially ALL referenced ideas. As such, you must indicate the author(s) by putting the last name(s) and publication year in brackets ( ). Remember too that while you may include sources from medicine, psychology, or other disciplines, as a nursing scholar you want to maintain the voice of nursing.

Conducting a Search

You may find it helpful to write about an issue by including an articulation about resources and opportunities as well as problems and challenges. Incorporate highlights from what you have read into the body of the paper to support your discussion. Provide your own ideas and opinions as this paper is not merely a review of the literature.

Describe what you have learned in the process of writing this paper. Try to draw connections among your nursing issue, the authors’ information, and the future of nursing leadership/management. Plan about 1-2 paragraphs (half a page) for your conclusion.

Reference list – Follow APA style for references. Check your grammar, spelling and referencing prior to submitting. Chapters 4, 8 and 9 (respectively) of the APA Manual (2020) provide a useful review of how to write clearly, write in-text citations and create reference lists. Paper Submission The Scholarly paper should be sent directly to your professor via Moodle. Upload your assignment by looking for the button or link on the Course home page and clicking on it. Follow the instructions to attach your document. The document must be in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx). Please do not send as a PDF, RTF, ODT or any other format as your instructor may not be able to open them, or to mark them.

Format Used and APA Style Requirements Followed (20 points) Paper includes:

1. Title page with title of paper, name of student, student id #, professor’s name, university, course, date due, date submitted.

2. Paper includes introduction, nursing story, the main body of the paper, conclusion, and references.

3. Length of paper is 5-7 pages total, maximum; appropriate headings in body of paper.

4. 12 font, typed with 1’’ margin on all sides, double spaced, all pages numbered. Accurate sentence and paragraph structure, proper use of punctuation, correct spelling, and grammar usage; use of bias free language with no slang, jargon or clichés. Value 2.5 5 5 7.5 Actual Content (60 points)

1. Introduction includes a basic overview of the purpose and scope of the paper, and how it is organized.

2. Discussion provides a clear example of why the issue is important.

3. Focus of paper is on a nursing leadership/management issue.

4. There is adequate depth of information presented.

5. The paper flows coherently from topic to topic, and connections are clearly expressed.

6. Conclusion demonstrates personal understanding of the topic as a leadership issue, with examples of critical thinking/analysis included. At least 8 references need to be used and referenced within your written paper– with at least five current (last 5 years, unless writing from a historical perspective) articles from scholarly journals and reputable internet sources. 2. APA style citation of references in text of paper and in construction of the reference list.