Publishing workshops number 4. Preparing a manuscript: reviewing literature

In this paper we have looked at the different avenues for nurses to contribute to the knowledge base of the discipline by writing about nursing literature. We emphasised the responsibility that goes with this action. As with all writing the starting point is for the author to define the boundaries of the work, and then decide what it is that she or he wants to communicate. After that it is a matter of planning a logical and coherent sequence and proceeding to develop the content in language that is as simple and effective as possible. Reference was made to the general guidelines for writing proposed in an earlier workshop (Chick et al, 1996). In this paper three different forms, a review article, a literature review and review of a piece of literature have been discussed, noting the purposes that each serves and the way in which, to a large extent, purpose dictates both content and the order and priority to be given to the various sections. Three of the key dimensions along which variation can occur are scope, critical emphasis, and relevance to practice.