Papers

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 5, 2014

On average, 3-8 pages. The length requirement is more of a guideline or suggestion - as long as you completely answer EVERY SINGLE question or point laid out in the rubric, it doesn't really matter how long the paper is. I just write until I have answered every question or point that I need to address, and don't really pay attention to the length recommendation.

My BSN capstone paper was the longest paper I've written thus far, and that was 10 1/2 pages. The instructions on that one said it should be at least 7 pages, and no more than 10 pages.

They will often write in the instructions that the paper should NOT be longer than X number of pages. In addition to answer every point in the rubric, they want you to be succinct.

featherzRN, MSN · Apr 5, 2014

I agree - most of my papers were pretty short. My practicum paper was around 12 pages. The longest paper I had was the evidence based practice class - that was about 13 pages. You CAN run over (someone was doing sociology papers that were 20+ pages when I was doing 2.5). As long as the rubric is done, you can be too. :)

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 5, 2014

Bleh. I'm in the library right now, writing a paper for my advanced nursing ethics class, and I'm already about two pages longer than I thought I would be. That freakin' rubric just goes on FOREVER!

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 5, 2014

And I'm sure the graders appreciate reading/grading the 3 page papers MUCH more than the 20 page ones!

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Apr 6, 2014

My BSN capstone paper was the longest paper I've written thus far, and that was 10 1/2 pages. The instructions on that one said it should be at least 7 pages, and no more than 10 pages.
They will often write in the instructions that the paper should NOT be longer than X number of pages. In addition to answer every point in the rubric, they want you to be succinct.

There's no page limit on the MSN capstone...mine was 70+ pages, NOT including the appendices.

But yes, on average the papers are less than 10 pages. It's an important skill, to be able to write succintly. It's something I really struggle with, so I appreciate being bound by page limits!