LibGuides: NRS201: Introduction to Nursing: Nursing School Paper Tips

Selected Journals

Scholarly Nursing Education Journals

General Nursing Professional Journals

Research Paper Tips

While this is a personal essay of sorts, use sources to inform your writing. For example, if you think stress might be a challenge for you in nursing school, research stress coping strategies for nursing students.

Don't reinvent the wheel. There is research available about how to be successful in nursing school. Research and apply these ideas in your own experience.

Look at the lives of nurses. Memoirs and biographies of successful nurses can be helpful in developing your own career path. Find sources that help you get a sense for others' careers. A few sources are suggested on this guide below.

Topic Ideas: Characteristics, Skills & Practices

Stress Tolerance
Stress Coping Strategies for nursing students
Male Nursing Students
Study Habits
Time Management Skills
Organization Skills
Being Goal-Oriented
Being Resilient
Stamina
Leadership
Ability to Remain Focused
Ability to be Flexible
Simulation as a Learning Strategy
Nursing Students with Disabilities
Academic Dishonesty (i.e. plagiarism) among Nursing Students
Civility in Nursing Education
Cultural Competence among Nursing Students
Strong Communication Skills
Critical Thinker
Motivating Factors Contributing to Nursing as a Career Choice
Reflection in Nursing Professional Development
Attention to Detail(s)
Emotional Intelligence & Stability among Nursing Students
Sense of Humor
Empathy & Caring Nature
Understanding Nursing Code of Ethics
Integrity
Willingness to Learn

Selected Books: Nursing School Success

Getting the Most from Nursing School by Robert Atkins
Call Number: RT 71 .A85 2009
Presents a road map to guide talented men and women along their journey from considering nursing as a profession to their first position as a registered nurse
How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Nursing School by Kelli S. Dunham; Kelli Dunham
Call Number: RT 73 .D79 2008
This guide for nursing students by nursing students is full of practical information to help them cope with, and get the most out of, nursing school. It features a new section, "staff nurses speak," with quotes from staff nurses currently advising nursing students. It covers the use of podcasts, voice recorders, and CD-burning technology for recording and preserving lectures. It offers new, illustrative quotes from current nursing students and faculty members. Advice is given on respecting patient autonomy and dealing with end of life issues. A new section on the nurse and media advocacy is included.
How to Survive Clinical by Diann L. Martin
Call Number: RT 71 .M33 2008
Content: Welcome to your first clinical rotation -- How to remain organized in a sea of information -- Coordinating the theory class with your clinical rotation -- Working with patients -- Working with the health-care team -- Getting and giving report -- Common mistakes and how to avoid them -- How to deal with your stress -- How your professors can guide the way -- Taking care of yourself : physically, mentally, and professionally.
Nursing School Success by Donamarie Wilfong; Christy Szolis; Carol Haus
Call Number: RT 71 .W55 2007
"Nursing School Success presents an interactive approach to promoting success in nursing schools by providing step-by-step instruction and examples for implementing strategies. captivating student interests, and advancing student participation in the learning process. It also includes exercises that encourage active learning - chapter objectives, self-correcting tools to assess one's learning style, study habits, and time management skills."
Understanding Ethics for Nursing Students by Peter Ellis
Call Number: RT85 .E455 2017
ISBN: 9781473997882
Publication Date: 2017-09-29
From the start of the nursing program, it is essential that nursing students understand the significance of ethics and how it will impact decisions made on a daily basis. Understanding Ethics for Nursing Students explains ethical ideas, theories, and concepts in simple to understand terms and focuses on day-to-day nursing situations that apply principles to practice. The book challenges the reader to consider their own values and where ethics fits into who they are and how they behave.
Creating and Sustaining Civility in Nursing Education by Cynthia M. Clark; Sigma Theta Tau International Staff (Contribution by)
Call Number: RT85 .C53 2013
ISBN: 9781937554545
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Contents: Reflections on incivility and why civility matters -- The costs and consequences of incivility: rationale for change -- The inextricable link between stress and incivility -- The "dance of incivility and civility" in nursing education -- Raising awareness, naming the problem, and creating a vision for civility -- Principled leadership and the power of positive role-modeling and mentoring -- The healing power of stress management and self-care -- Fostering effective and meaningful communication -- the first day of class: co-creating a positive learning environment -- Scholarly teaching, engaged learning, and finding our joy -- Pathway for fostering organizational civility: institutionalizing change -- Seeking and keeping civility in nursing education.
Toxic nursing : managing bullying, bad attitudes, and total turmoil by Cheryl Dellasega
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 2021
Nursing has a not-so-secret problem. The profession is prone to--some would say thrives on--workplace conflict, incivility, bullying, and meanness. And while nurses observe and experience this conflict daily, too few have been trained in its resolution. Toxic Nursing aims to change that with strategies, tools, and techniques to help nurse leaders, managers, and administrators defuse conflict, turn around toxic situations, and create positive, healthy work environments.

Selected Books: Nursing Careers

Resumes for Nursing Careers by McGraw-Hill Staff
Call Number: RT 86.7 .R45 2007
This book: Includes nearly 100 sample resumes and 20 cover letters for each field-more than any competing series; A workbook format to organize information before writing a resume; Perfect for college grads and people changing careers or reentering the job market; A variety of eye-catching resume formats.
Landing Your Perfect Nursing Job by Lisa Mauri Thomas; Sigma Theta Tau International Staff (Contribution by)
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9781937554736
Publication Date: 2012-11-01
This book will help nurses to strategically get through the job search process, so they can come out on top. This book addresses nurses: whether brand-new, mid-career, or approaching retirement. This is a reference guide to develop the employment prospects of any nurse who is struggling to find his or her professional direction. Landing Your Perfect Nursing Job is full of tips, tricks, worksheets, checklists, sample cover letters and resumes, scripts for communication by email, messaging solutions, over the phone, or in person, supplemented with real success stories from the field as well as direct quotes from nurse recruiters in order to best prepare nurses to find the job of their dreams.
Nurses with Disabilities by Leslie Neal-Boylan
Call Number: RT 34 .N43 2013
ISBN: 9780826110121
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
This is the first research-based book to confront workplace issues facing nurses who have disabilities. It not only examines in-depth their experiences, roadblocks to successful employment, and misperceptions surrounding these nurses, but also provides viable solutions for creating positive attitudes towards them and a welcoming work environment that fosters hiring and retention. From the perspectives and actual voices of nurses with disabilities, nurse leaders, nurse administrators, and patients, the book identifies nurses with disabilities (including sensory, musculoskeletal, emotional, and mental health issues), discusses why they choose to leave nursing or hide their disabilities, and analyzes how their disabilities may influence career choices. Written by the foremost researcher on nurses with disabilities, the book addresses patient safety, environmental factors, and retention strategies. It discusses why many nurses feel the need to conceal their disability even though it does not affect their ability to carry out their duties.
A Man's Guide to a Nursing Career by Chad E. O'Lynn
Call Number: RT 83 .O59 2013
"This is a nuts and bolts guide to a career in nursing--from the earliest consideration of a nursing career through education and clinical practice--designed specifically for men. Written by the author of Men in Nursing: History, Challenges and Opportunities, it was created at the request of numerous colleagues for a book that addressed the practical needs and concerns of men throughout their nursing career journey. The text presents the numerous career paths available in nursing along with a consideration of their financial benefits, job security, personal fulfillment, and the need for nurses who are adept at information management and high tech-skills. The history of nursing is discussed through biographies of nine remarkable male nurses, offering much needed historical role models. The guide discusses strategies for dealing with a rigorous nursing curriculum compounded by the challenges of anti-male sentiment that is sometimes present.
The Nursing Career Planning Guide by Susan Odegaard Turner
Call Number: RT 82 .T89 2007
Presents working nurses with tips for beginning a nursing career, moving out of bedside clinical rolses and acquiring general supervision and career development skills. Introduces strategies for coping with workplace transitions such as job reentry, layoff, termination, resignation and compassion fatigue.
Change Your Career: Nursing as Your New Profession by Barbara Arnoldussen
Call Number: RT 82 .A75 2006
Contents: Chapter 1. Should you change your career? -- Chapter 2. Is nursing the right career for you? -- Chapter 3. Sorting out fact from fiction -- Chapter 4. Nursing specializations inside the hospital -- Chapter 5. Nursing specializations outside the hospital -- Chapter 6. Identifying your transferable skills and talents -- Chapter 7. Nursing degrees, exams, and more -- Chapter 8. Online nursing education -- Chapter 9. Paying for your education -- Chapter 10. How to manage going back to school -- Chapter 11. Managing your life outside of nursing school -- Chapter 12. Succeeding in school and at home: peer advice -- Chapter 13. Nursing concepts you need to know for success -- Chapter 14. Job-hunting resources -- Chapter 15. Making your résumé, cover letter, and application work for you -- Chapter 16. Succeeding in your job interview.
Learning disability nursing : developing professional practice by Ruth Northway, Paula Hopes
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9781914171369
Publication Date: 2022
Explores all aspects of professional development in learning disability nursing from the foundations to advanced practice. Key themes running through the book include the importance of a human rights and values-based approach, the development of person-centred approaches to care and support, and the need to work in partnership with key stakeholders, including people with learning disabilities and their families. It encourages readers to make links between theory and practice and to develop their skills in critical thinking through case studies and reflective activities.