Do you have to write a lot of papers?

[tofutti]

I'm wondering if nursing students have to write a lot of papers?

I haven't had a writing class in 20 years and am wondering if I should take one before I start the program.

[AuntieRN]

We had to write at least one paper a semester until we hit our last semester then it was at least one a week...and this is when they decided it had to be written in APA format...ohhh not the APA format from the book apparantly either but the instructor's version of APA format....ohhhh don't get me going on that again...:roll I'm sorry got off track again....good luck with your papers....

[Rosa2Little]

In my program there are many papers to be written. We are forewarned that if we are planning to continue into the grad program, there will be more papers and more research.

However, I would not recommend taking an English writing class if your grammar and writing skills were fine twenty years ago. It's rather like riding a bike -- you never really forget. Additionally, you will find that writing papers for your prereq science classes (and later your nursing classes) will require you to write in a scientific style. This is really quite different from the writing style used for English or creative writing classes.

If you are comfortable with basic sentence construction and grammar, don't lose sleep. Many schools have a writing lab and hold workshops on writing in APA and MLA format. You pay for these services when you pay your tuition, don't be afraid to use them once you are in the program.

Best Wishes on starting your new career!:balloons:

[ldh, BSN, RN]

If you are comfortable with basic sentence construction and grammar, don't lose sleep. Many schools have a writing lab and hold workshops on writing in APA and MLA format. You pay for these services when you pay your tuition, don't be afraid to use them once you are in the program.

Good advice Rosa - and also my university offers instruction on how to use search engines to find credible sources for research, etc. For me, personally, I found that my English course prepared me for the "finer points" in writing papers, such as how to construct a paper that is easier to read, and flows well - I remember my English professor telling us "don't flog your reader" lol. I guess it's up to the individual person . . . my English course also prepared me to write well in my nursing philosophy/phenomenology courses as well, which can be a little less "scientific" in nature, depending on the expectations of the instructor.