"Writing Right": A Workshop Approach to Improving Nursing Students' Writing

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Academic Writing Skills
• Professional Communication

Background:

• Effective communication is a critical competency for professional nurses.
• Nursing students often exhibit deficiencies in written communication skills.
• The nursing curriculum typically offers insufficient time for dedicated writing instruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a writing workshop on nursing students' written communication abilities.
• To enhance nursing students' understanding and application of academic writing standards.

Main Methods:

• A writing workshop was developed and delivered by nursing faculty.
• Four identical in-person sessions were conducted over one semester.
• Quantitative surveys were administered to students pre- and post-workshop.

Main Results:

• Students demonstrated a significant increase in knowledge of American Psychological Association (APA) format.
• Nursing students reported a significant rise in confidence regarding APA formatting.
• The workshop intervention proved effective in improving specific writing competencies.

Conclusions:

• A workshop-based educational strategy is beneficial for improving nursing students' writing skills.
• Targeted interventions can successfully address identified deficits in nursing students' academic writing.
• Enhancing written communication skills through workshops supports professional nursing readiness.