The Nurses Writing Project at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing

tip of the day:

Don't procrastinate. Remember that the enemy of good is perfect. And done is better than perfect. We can help you get to good and done. So, it's best to send us your drafts early, to allow plenty of time for review and revisions.

quote of the day:

"The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do."
-Thomas Jefferson

This is such an important lesson to learn. Just because your prof assigns a maximum page or word limit to your assignment, it doesn't mean you have to "write long." Economize words!

tip of the day:
Why it's important to be a competent writer as a nurse:
http://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/good-writing-skills-754895.html

Good Writing Skills Are Essential Like it or not, writing is an essential skill and you will be judged (either harshly or favorably) by your ability to communicate well in the written language. This article highlights common...

nurse writer of the day:
Theresa Brown, working oncology nurse, author New York Times columnist. To be a good writer, read good writing! She's tops.

nurse writer of the day:

Suzanne Gordon, author, blogger, commentator on all things healthcare. Expert on veterans healthcare and policy. Check out her work and be inspired.

http://suzannecgordon.com/

Suzanne Gordon n 2014, when a Veterans Health Administration doctor in Phoenix revealed that some VHA administrators had falsified data on wait times for patient appointments, congressional Republicans applauded his whistleblowing on behalf of veterans’ health care.

tip of the day:

The first thing we look for in your papers is a THESIS STATEMENT. This is the sentence (or two) that tells the reader what they should expect to learn from your paper (or essay, or blog, or presentation). It usually goes something like, "This paper will..." or "The aim of this paper is..."

If you write your thesis statement first, everything else follows. It really does.

Looking for a graduate elective course? Consider taking NURS 734. You'll not only learn narrative writing from a former editor at the American Journal of Nursing, you will develop new outlets for your job-related stress. Students in this course write blogs about everything from compassion fatigue to dieting. They learn how to critique poems. And, the reviews are excellent. Students say what they learned helped them become better scholarly writers and critical thinkers.

tip of the day:
In other words, just get started. Put something down on paper and let us help get you through your first revision.

tip of the day:

Don't forget mentoring office hours at Brookdale on Mondays (5-8p) and Tuesdays (11a-4p) in room W401.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended.

tip of the day:
Write the same way you'd speak. In other words, don't use more complicated language than necessary. For example, why write "utilize" when "use" is just as good? Or, use "mystery" instead of "enigma". Just because a word is fancier, doesn't mean it's better.

The excellent Minority Nurse Magazine (free online and packed with useful and well-written articles) offers a scholarship. Applications due May 1st.

As we near the end of Heart Month, take a minute to think about the importance of prevention. We educate our patients and their families about their diets, smoking cessation, and exercise. But let's make sure we are making recommendations based on evidence. Evidence-based practice isn't just a buzzword- it's our responsibility! Check out this excellent guide for EBP resources (your papers will benefit!):
http://guides.lib.unc.edu/c.php?g=8363&p=43035

LibGuides: Evidence Based Nursing Resources: Books, Articles, and Websites: Articles Unless otherwise noted, the links below will connect you with access to full text. Only UNC-CH staff, faculty, and students and AHEC affiliates have rights to access. Clicking on these links will open a new browser window. Close the window to return to the page.