“Writing Right”: A Workshop Approach to Improving Nursing Students’ Writing

Abstract

Introduction Effective communication is an essential skill for the professional nurse. Previous research demonstrates that nursing students lack skills in written communication, and there is limited time in the nursing curriculum to provide needed instruction. To address this issue, a writing workshop was provided for students at a regional state university. Methods Nursing faculty developed and led four identical in-person sessions of the workshop over the course of one semester. Before and after each workshop, students completed the same quantitative survey. Results Data indicate that students’ knowledge and confidence of American Psychological Association (APA) format increased significantly as a result of the workshop. Conclusion A workshop approach is a useful strategy to address the writing needs of nursing students.