Writing academic essays in nursing is a skill that, like any other, can be learned and improved upon. This process becomes simpler when the skill is broken down into identifiable, followable, and practicable steps.     

While nurse educators excel at teaching practical skills by outlining steps in processes such as nursing assessments or applying sterile dressings, they often fall short in guiding students through the essential components of writing successful academic essays in nursing.

By understanding the importance of these components, students can refine and practice them to enhance their academic performance.      

Additionally, these principles provide a framework for lecturers when introducing assignments or offering personalized feedback.

As someone who has been involved in essay assessment for over three decades, I’ve identified eight essential elements that contribute to effective essays in nursing.

Whether you’re a first-year student or an advanced researcher, mastering these components will enhance your skills in writing essays in nursing:

Key Components of Successful Essays in Nursing

1. Clear and Logical Thinking:

• Successful essays in nursing begin with a well-defined exploration of the given question.
• It should present a logical argument supported by evidence rather than relying solely on personal opinions.
• Clear and Logical Thinking:

A well-structured nursing essay starts with a clear understanding of the question or prompt. Students should critically analyze the topic, ensuring they grasp its nuances and implications.

Rather than relying solely on personal opinions, successful essays present logical arguments supported by evidence. Let’s break down this component further:

Understanding the Question:

• Before diving into research, students must comprehend the question thoroughly. This involves identifying keywords, considering the context, and recognizing any hidden aspects.
• For instance, if the essay prompt asks about the impact of nurse-patient communication on patient outcomes, students should explore various dimensions of communication (verbal, non-verbal, cultural sensitivity) and their effects on health outcomes.

Evidence-Based Approach:

• Nursing essays demand evidence-based reasoning. Students should draw from reputable sources such as peer-reviewed journals, clinical guidelines, and authoritative databases (e.g., NICE or Cochrane).
• By incorporating evidence, students demonstrate their ability to extract relevant information and apply it to their argument. Proper referencing is crucial here.

Critical Evaluation:

• Beyond merely citing evidence, students should evaluate its quality. Is the research robust? Are the findings applicable to different clinical settings?
• For example, if a study suggests a particular intervention improves patient outcomes, students should assess its methodology, sample size, and generalizability. Critical thinking ensures they don’t accept information uncritically.

Comparative Analysis of essays
in nursing:

Nursing essays shouldn’t be a mere compilation of authors’ viewpoints. Instead, students should engage in comparative analysis.

Consider this scenario:

Brown and Smith (2015) emphasized the importance of patient-controlled analgesia in postoperative pain management in surgical wards.

Raby (2019), studying orthopedic wards, supported this finding.

However, Raine (2018), focusing on palliative care wards, didn’t highlight patient-controlled analgesia.

By comparing these perspectives, students demonstrate a deeper understanding of context-specific variations.

Successful nursing essays combine clear thinking, evidence-based reasoning, critical evaluation, and thoughtful analysis. By mastering these components, students enhance their academic performance and contribute meaningfully to nursing discourse. If you have any further questions or need additional elaboration, feel free to ask!

2. Factual Accuracy:

• The essays in nursing should be factually correct, drawing from the best available evidence.
• This demonstrates a deep understanding of the subject matter and thorough research.

Nursing essays demand factual accuracy. Students should draw from reliable evidence, demonstrating a deep understanding of the subject matter.

Here’s an analysis of this component:

• Evidence-Based Approach:

Nursing essays rely on evidence from reputable sources such as peer-reviewed journals, clinical guidelines, and databases like www.nice.org.uk and Cochrane.

By referencing evidence, students showcase their ability to extract up-to-date information and adhere to specific university guidelines.

• Critical Evaluation:

Beyond mere citation, students should evaluate evidence rigorously. Is the research methodologically sound? Is the sample size adequate?

For instance, if a study claims that a particular intervention improves patient outcomes, students should critically assess its applicability across different clinical settings. 

• Contextual Considerations:  

Factual accuracy extends beyond isolated facts. Students must consider the context.  

Suppose a study highlights the importance of “patient-controlled analgesia” for postoperative pain management on surgical wards (Brown & Smith, 2015). However, Raine (2018), focusing on palliative care wards, may not emphasize this.

By acknowledging context-specific variations, students demonstrate a nuanced understanding.

Factual accuracy involves evidence-based reasoning, critical evaluation, and contextual awareness. By mastering this component, students contribute meaningfully to nursing discourse and enhance their academic performance.

3. Evidence-Based Approach for essays
in nursing:

• Utilize evidence from reputable sources such as academic journals, databases (e.g., Cochrane), and authoritative websites (e.g., www.nice.org.uk).
• This strengthens your arguments and shows your ability to extract relevant information.
• Evidence-Based Approach:

Nursing essays often involve critical analysis, evidence-based reasoning, and reflection on clinical experiences. These essays serve to deepen understanding and promote professional growth.

Here’s an analysis of this component:

• Reputable Sources:

Successful nursing essays draw from academic journals, databases (such as Cochrane), and authoritative websites (like www.nice.org.uk).

By referencing evidence from these reliable sources, students demonstrate their ability to extract up-to-date information and support their arguments effectively.

• Correct Referencing Technique:

Proper referencing is crucial. Students must adhere to specific university guidelines (e.g., APA, MLA) when citing sources.

Whether it’s an in-text citation or a bibliography entry, accurate referencing showcases scholarly integrity and attention to detail.

• Critical Evaluation for essays
  in nursing:

Beyond mere citation, students should evaluate the quality of evidence. Is the research methodologically sound? Is the sample size adequate?

For instance, if a study claims that a particular intervention improves patient outcomes, students should critically assess its applicability across different clinical settings.

• Contextual Considerations:

Evidence-based practice isn’t one-size-fits-all. Students must consider the context.

Suppose a study highlights the importance of “patient-controlled analgesia” for postoperative pain management on surgical wards (Brown & Smith, 2015). However, Raine (2018), focusing on palliative care wards, may not emphasize this.

By acknowledging context-specific variations, students demonstrate a nuanced understanding.

An evidence-based approach involves rigorous evaluation, accurate referencing, and contextual awareness. By mastering this component, students contribute meaningfully to nursing discourse and enhance their academic performance1. If you have any further questions or need additional elaboration, feel free to ask!

4. Effective Referencing for essays in nursing:

• Properly cite your sources according to university guidelines.
• Accurate referencing showcases your ability to navigate scholarly literature and attribute ideas appropriately.

a). Expertise in Nursing

Nursingcomrade.com boasts a team of seasoned writers who specialize in nursing. Many of these writers have practical experience as nurses or healthcare practitioners within the NHS. Their firsthand knowledge of the field allows them to create custom essays tailored specifically for nursing students. Whether you’re pursuing a CNA, LVN/LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, or PhD degree, nursingcomrade.com has you covered.

b). Quality and Originality

All essays produced by nursingcomrade.com are 100% unique. Their writers start from scratch, ensuring that each paper passes plagiarism checks. Whether you need a reflective piece or an in-depth analysis, their commitment to originality shines through.

c). Academic Excellence

Using nursingcomrade.com’s services not only provides you with a well-written essay but also enhances your academic writing skills. By studying the high-quality samples they offer, you can learn effective techniques, proper referencing, and scholarly language. Whether you’re a student in the UK or studying abroad, at the undergraduate or master’s level, nursingcomrade.com can help you excel in your nursing studies.

d). Evidence-Based Approach

Nursing is an evidence-based discipline, and nursingcomrade.com reflects this in their writing. They avoid personal opinions and instead use a third-person perspective to present research findings. For instance, instead of saying, “I think that…,” they might write, “Research has found that…” or “Studies show that….” This objectivity aligns with the scholarly tone expected in nursing essays.

e). Specialized Language for essays in nursing

Nursingcomrade.com understands the importance of specialized terminology. Rather than using generic terms, they employ precise medical language. For example, they might refer to “myocardial infarction” instead of simply saying “heart attack.” This attention to detail demonstrates their expertise and knowledge of nursing concepts.

f). Supportive Services

Nursingcomrade.com offers round-the-clock support from qualified academic experts. Whether you’re facing a tight deadline or need clarification, their team is there to assist you.

Nursingcomrade.comcombines expertise, originality, and an evidence-based approach to deliver top-notch nursing essays. Their commitment to quality and specialized knowledge sets them apart as true experts in the field.

5. Evaluating Evidence in Academic Writing

When assessing evidence in academic writing, it’s essential to go beyond mere repetition of an author’s statement.

Let’s break down two critical aspects:

a. Reliability and Critical Inquiry:

• Rather than accepting claims at face value, students should question the reliability of evidence.
• Consider research style, sample size, and the context in which findings were obtained.
• Does evidence from one clinical setting apply universally?

This approach demonstrates a commitment to evidence-based practice while maintaining a critical mindset.

b. Comparative Analysis:

• Writing effective essays in nursing doesn’t merely summarize different authors’ viewpoints. Instead, it engages in comparative analysis.
• For instance: Jack (2024) emphasized the significance of “patient-controlled analgesia” in postoperative pain perception in a surgical ward.
• Mark (2021) supported this finding among orthopedic patients.
• However, Mike (2023) did not identify the same factor in his work centered on palliative care wards.

6. Integrating personal experience and identifying literature gaps

When engaging with academic literature, students can enhance their analysis by incorporating personal experience and identifying gaps. Let’s explore these two aspects:

a. Personal Experience Commentary:

• Rather than merely stating opinions, students should draw on their own experiences to engage with the literature.
• For instance, when discussing factors affecting a patient’s pain perception, a student might offer an opinion on why patient-controlled analgesia was not identified as significant in a palliative care setting.
• It’s crucial to present the nurse’s experience as a potential explanation rather than an absolute fact.

b. Identifying Literature Gaps:

• After reviewing existing evidence, students can leverage their clinical experience to identify areas where the literature falls short.
• Recognizing gaps demonstrates an understanding of the topic’s underlying principles and acknowledges that nursing encompasses aspects not fully explored in existing research.
• This process can also showcase original thinking and innovative ideas.

7. Constructing a Coherent Argument in Essays in Nursing

An essay is more than a mere compilation of isolated paragraphs.

It requires a well-defined structure where the central theme of the question is systematically explored.

Each paragraph should delve into a distinct subtheme, and these subthemes should interconnect, reinforcing and complementing one another.

As the essays in nursing unfold, they gradually develop the interaction between themes, deepening the overall argument based on the assignment question.        

Why nursingcomrade.com Excels in Nursing Essay Writing

a). Expertise in Nursing

Nursingcomrade.com boasts a team of seasoned writers who specialize in nursing. Many of these writers have practical experience as nurses or healthcare practitioners within the NHS. Their firsthand knowledge of the field allows them to create custom essays tailored specifically for nursing students. Whether you’re pursuing a CNA, LVN/LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, or PhD degree, nursingcomrade.com has you covered.

b). Quality and Originality

All essays produced by nursingcomrade.com are 100% unique. Their writers start from scratch, ensuring that each paper passes plagiarism checks. Whether you need a reflective piece or an in-depth analysis, their commitment to originality shines through.

c). Academic Excellence

Using nursingcomrade.com’s services not only provides you with a well-written essay but also enhances your academic writing skills. By studying the high-quality samples they offer, you can learn effective techniques, proper referencing, and scholarly language. Whether you’re a student in the UK or studying abroad, at the undergraduate or master’s level, nursingcomrade.com can help you excel in your nursing studies.

d). Evidence-Based Approach

Nursing is an evidence-based discipline, and nursingcomrade.com reflects this in their writing. They avoid personal opinions and instead use a third-person perspective to present research findings. For instance, instead of saying, “I think that…,” they might write, “Research has found that…” or “Studies show that….” This objectivity aligns with the scholarly tone expected in nursing essays.

e). Specialized Language

Nursingcomrade.com understands the importance of specialized terminology. Rather than using generic terms, they employ precise medical language. For example, they might refer to “myocardial infarction” instead of simply saying “heart attack.” This attention to detail demonstrates their expertise and knowledge of nursing concepts.

f). Supportive Services

Nursingcomrade.com offers round-the-clock support from qualified academic experts. Whether you’re facing a tight deadline or need clarification, their team is there to assist you.

Nursingcomrade.com combines expertise, originality, and an evidence-based approach to deliver top-notch nursing essays. Their commitment to quality and specialized knowledge sets them apart as true experts in the field.

8. Crafting a Concise Conclusion

In essays in nursing, the conclusion plays a crucial role. It should occupy approximately 8-10% of the total essays in nursing length. Here’s how to create an effective conclusion:

1. Summarize Findings:
2. Draw out the key findings from the body of the essays in nursing. Be concise and clear in presenting these points.
3. Revisit the Argument:

1. Recap the argument that has been developed throughout the essays in nursing.
2. Highlight its main points.
3. Implications for Nursing:
4. Discuss the implications of your findings for nursing practice. How do they impact patient care or healthcare policies?
5. Address Original Question:
6. Succinctly address any specific points raised in the original essays in nursing questions.

Writing essays in nursing is a valuable skill, yet often students across various professions are left to develop it through trial and error.

Unfortunately, many don’t fully grasp why one essay in nursing earns a high mark while another falls short.

However, once you comprehend the essential components of this skill, you can intentionally incorporate and refine them in your work.

Understanding their significance and practicing diligently will undoubtedly enhance your essays in nursing abilities. 

https://www.laboure.edu/blog/how-to-write-the-perfect-nursing-scholarship-essay