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Nursing: APA Format

Research and APA guide for IWCC nursing students

APA Format

Your APA paper should be set up with the following format.

Be sure to carefully read through your assignment instructions. Some instructors may want your papers set up differently.

  • Double spaced throughout 
  • 12 point font
  • Times New Roman or Arial font (or as directed by your instructor)
  • One inch margins - this is usually the default setting when you open a new document
  • The beginning of each paragraph is indented - use the Tab key to indent
  • Page numbers in the upper right corner
  • Cover Page
  • Title listed again on page 2 (If you are required to do an ABSTRACT, see the directions on the Abstract tab)
  • References page on a separate page at the end
  • If you have a non-American version of Word, you will need to set the paper size to Letter. And be sure your font is set to left aligned, except for places where we specify that something should be centered.

On the cover page of your paper you will include the following information. This will be centered and 3-4 lines down from the top of the page (hit your Enter key 3-4 times). Remember, it should be double-spaced.

  • Title of Paper in Bold
  • Hit enter again to skip a line
  • Your name
  • Iowa Western Community College
  • The course name and number (example: ADN 106: Success in Nursing)
  • Your instructor's name
  • The date

See the example below.

cover page 7th edition.JPG

If you are required to write an abstract for your paper, here are the APA guidelines for Abstracts. Be sure to check your assignment directions to see if you need to do this! If you do not need an abstract, skip to the next tab.

  • Begins on the top of page two.
  • Is on its own page
  • The word Abstract is centered at the top of the page and is bold.
  • The body of the abstract is double spaced but not centered
  • Do not indent the first line. This is the only paragraph in your paper that will not have an indented first line.
  • Between 150-250 words
What goes in the abstract?
  • Write your abstract AFTER you have finished your paper
  • Reread your paper and take note of:
    • The major purpose/theme of your paper (what did you write about?)
    • The main findings of your paper
      • Results of studies
      • Any conclusions you have come to about your topic

See the example below:

abstract.JPG

At the top of your second page (after the cover page)* you will type the title of your paper, centered and bold. This is not in the header, but above where you will start typing your paper. *If your assignment required an abstract, this part will go on page 3.

body text.JPG

APA Sample Papers & Template

APA provides several sample papers on their website. To see how an APA paper should look, check out one of the samples below.

How to Set Up Headings in APA Format

If you are required to use headings in your paper, here are a few basic tips about how to use them. Headings help separate different sections of longer papers.

  • DO NOT list a heading for the introduction - because it is expected that the first paragraph of research papers is an introduction, there is no need to label it with a heading. 
  • Do not number your headings - they should be named by what you are covering in that section.
  • Headings are in Bold and in Title Case (capitalized like the title of a book or movie).
  • It's helpful to have an outline of your paper - the list of the main topics and, if necessary, any subtopics. If you need help with creating an outline, we have a video. The Writing Center can also help you with your outline!

APA names the different types of headings as Level 1 Heading and Level 2 Heading. Level 1 Headings are centered. Level 2 Headings are NOT centered.

We have an example of a paper with just Level 1 Headings and another example of a paper that uses both Level 1 and Level 2 Headings

Sample Heading 1:

 

Level 1 Heading for First Main Section After Your Introduction Paragraph

      Blah, blah, blah. This is you talking about the first main topic of your paper. When you move to the next main topic of your paper, you will create another heading, centered and bold, just like the example above.

Level 1 Heading for Next Main Section 

Blah, blah, this is your next paragraph.

A sample outline for level 1 headings may look like this:

Intro

  1. Main topic 1
  2. Main topic 2
  3. Main topic 3

Conclusion

Sample Heading 2:

If you have subtopics in your paper - where you are breaking your main topics down into different categories - you will use level 1 and level 2 headings and it will look like this.

 

Level 1 Heading for First Main Section After Your Introduction Paragraph

     You may have a brief explanation of the topics you're about to cover.

Level 2 Heading 

     Explain your first subtopic here

Level 2 Heading

     Explain your next subtopic here. There should be more than one level 2 heading. If you don't have a second one, then you probably can stick with the level 1 (centered) heading.

Level 1 Heading for Next Main Section 

Level 2 Heading 

     Explain your first subtopic here

Level 2 Heading

     Explain your next subtopic.

An example of topic/subtopic may be treatments. Your level 1 heading (centered and bold) will say Treatments and then you will have separate level 2 headings for each type of treatment you are explaining.

A sample outline for a paper with level 1 and level 2 papers may look like this:

Introduction

  1. Main topic 1
    1. Subtopic 1
    2. Subtopic 2

  2. Main topic 2

    1. Subtopic 1
    2. Subtopic 2

Conclusion

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