Uuuuugh, APA!

[Farawyn]

I have not written APA papers in 25 years, since I got my 1st degree in psychology. It is killing me. I've printed out tips from my Prof and mentor (it's an online RN-BSN, SUNY college) and also my paper and corrections/suggestions, but I still stumble. I tend to write with a "voice" and this is so dry. I feel like I can't convey what I want to with this format.

My kids are in HS and but they write MLA style for their papers. My oldest said, just the facts.

I got a B- on my last paper. Even when I read it over it sounds like gibberish. My average is still a 96, but I'm concerned going forward.

Any tips or suggestions are very very VERY much appreciated.

[QuiltDog]

I am in a BSN program also and had never used APA. I found the program PERRLA to be a lifesaver! I have never felt writing was my string suit, and this program helped relieve my anxiety about the APA part of it so I could focus on my "voice". Good luck 😃

[Farawyn]

Sadly, I have PERRLA. And I still keep messing it up. I either want to cite everything, or I go on these long tangents from lots of info I've read and then end up going back to look for where I read them.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I tend to write with a "voice" and this is so dry. I feel like I can't convey what I want to with this format..

That's interesting. Because other than the particular way you must cite your references, I find no difference in writing a paper in APA format than I do any other format. Maybe you're overthinking it?

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

Does your program offer writing tutors? When I went back, I too got APA thrown at me. I turned in my papers about 3 days before the assignment was due to the writing tutor and she/he would return it with suggestions AND corrections. I used them pretty solid for the first 1-2 semesters, then slowly spread it out until I was not using them anymore and would get consistent 90+ on my papers (as long as you stay within the rubric). You'll catch on...trust me!

[chare]

You might want to investigate EndNote. It has a cite while you write option that allows you to insert citations in the text, and creates an entry in your reference list. As with all APA formatting programs there are some minor glitches that you will need to fix in your reference list.

You can get the academic version for ~$100. While this might seem pricey, there are three major advantages. First, if you use the cite while you write you can reformat the output style. While this might not sound like much, if you ever submit for publication to a journal that uses something other than APA you will appreciate this. Second, when you install the program you have the option of creating an online account at myendnote.web. Lastly, and most important in my opinion, you can attach your article to the End Note entry and it will be available in both your End Note library on your computer, as well as online.

Good luck in your program.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

Get the latest edition of the APA manual and Purdue OWL has been a big help. I wrote my first MLA paper last fall in an AM Lit class. All my papers have been APA (5 degrees) Once you get into the swing of it, it becomes easier.

[klone, MSN, RN]

You might want to investigate EndNote. It has a cite while you write option that allows you to insert citations in the text, and creates an entry in your reference list.

PERRLA does this as well.

[Farawyn]

Thanks all. I do have PERRLA, the APA manual AND Purdue Owl. When I used APA style in Psych it was slightly different but not too much, and I graduated then with high honors.

I think klone is right and I'm overthinking it.

We do have a Smart Tutor option, where we can submit the papers. I'll try that next time.

Thanks again.

[SeattleJess]

Ayyiyi... I feel a million years old. I'm thinking "Why not just get the APA handbook and read it instead of getting a program that may or may not produce the result you want?"

Is it obsolete to read about the nuts and bolts and try to assemble them on your own? Or in this brave new online world, is it all about choosing the right program?

[Farawyn]

Ayyiyi... I feel a million years old. I'm thinking "Why not just get the APA handbook and read it instead of getting a program that may or may not produce the result you want?"

Is it obsolete to read about the nuts and bolts and try to assemble them on your own? Or in this brave new online world, is it all about choosing the right program?

No, I have the book. PERRLA is okay for papers, but for online discussions I really need to understand how it works.

I feel like a dope.

[Girlbudgetlife]

The easiest and most time saving way I have found to cite APA format for all our nursing research papers, using a smartphone.