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Emergency Nursing (2010) 18, 226-? 230 available at my. Collectedness. Com Journal homepage: www. Lighthearted. Communal/amen Review How to write a paper Paula Bennett RUN RSN Masc. BBS (Nurse consultant) Emergency Department, Stockpot NASH Foundation Trust, Cheshire SKY SEE, united Kingdom Received 17 April 2010; accepted 19 April 2010 Abstract Writing for publication can be a challenging but rewarding experience.
The satisfaction of seeing your name In print undoubtedly outweighs any of the minor frustrations that can be encountered along the way! This article is aimed at those ewe to writing for publication and also provides guidance for those wanting to publish dissertations and theses. The article outlines why publishing is so important for the development of emergency care knowledge and also identifies what material can be published. In particular, the steps for converting a whole range of academic course work Into publishable material Is outlined. A 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Introduction writing clearly and effectively In any form, whether Its nursing documentation, a police statement, an assignment, a research proposal or a paper for publication improves with practice and often infinite from feedback from someone experienced in writing. Writing Is an Integral part of emergency care work and a skill that those of you reading this article will already be competent in. Writing an article for publication in a professional Journal is something that most nurses and other health care professionals think is a role for academics and researchers.
Writing for publication Is an important aspect of an academics work and the dissemination of research results is crucial in order to add to an existing knowledge base and ultimately change practice. * Tell. : +44 1614822131; fax: +44 1614194102. E-mail address: Paula. Bennett@stockport. Nash. UK documented will add to the knowledge base of the emergency care community. Having a unique body of knowledge is one of the defining characteristics of a profession (Frisson, 1984) and adding to that body of knowledge through publication is vital in continuing to develop and maintain the professional status of the health care professions.
The following article describes the why, what and how of getting published and in particular identifies how those without any previous publication experience can get started. Why publish? A large part of clinical practice is based on experience, if we come across a situation n practice that is new to us we may consult a textbook if one is handy, we might use internet but in most cases we seek advice from someone 1755-XX/$ – see front matter a 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI:10. 1016/ bier-1]. 2010. 04. 003 227 more senior and experienced than us.
Senior, experienced colleagues have the benefit of having “seen the case before” and are usually knowledgeable about current research and the underpinning evidence-base. Reading widely builds up our own knowledge base, stimulates our thinking and challenges our views and beliefs. Reflecting on what we have read and applying this new knowledge to reactive enhances clinical decision-making and in time we become the senior, experienced colleague, sought out for advice! None of this is possible without the dissemination of knowledge through the written word.
Whilst we all have a professional obligation to remain up to date and base care on the best available evidence (NC 2008; HOP 2005) we could also contribute to this knowledge base by sharing our own expertise with others. Publishing facilitates the dissemination of emergency care knowledge from multiple perspectives, often reaching an international audience. Your own knowledge is enhanced s reading, analyzing, researching and then writing about a subject means that you have a deep understanding of the subject area and all the current debates in the literature. Our career prospects and it establishes your reputation and that of the organization you work for. See Fig. 1 for a summary. Dive practice or describing approaches used to change or enhance practice offer additional insights and practical advice that is often absent in a traditional research report. Changing practice and improving/enhancing services is continual challenge in the health service, sharing personal experiences can help shape the development of similar rejects both nationally and internationally.
There are numerous clinical skills in emergency care, often staff write teaching packages to train other members of the team, these are also suitable for publication and appeal to a wide audience. Descriptions of other training and development initiatives in emergency care also appeal to a wide audience as colleagues in another part of the emergency care system are usually struggling with similar challenges. When national guidance/policy initiatives are produced about an area of emergency care practice they are often turned into local guidance, taught to staff and then implemented, e. Safeguarding Children guidance. Those involved in this process develop a very detailed understanding of the guidance and its implications for practice. A review article of the guidance provides a concise way of disseminating this information to others who may also be responsible for similar projects in their areas of work. See Fig. 2 for a summary. How to publish What to publish? There are many ways to contribute to the expanding emergency care knowledge base.
Every registered health care professional will at some point have had to produce written work to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding within heir chosen specialist. Pre- and pigmentations education that takes place in a High Education Institution (HE’) usually asks for an assignment/seminar of some kind as part of its assessed course work. Any type of scholarly endeavourer can, with some modification, be suitable for publication in a professional Journal. It is not Just work that has already been written as part of a course that is suitable for publication.
Sharing experiences of innovator- International Emergency Nursing (NINE) is an Elsevier peer reviewed Journal devoted to disseminating emergency care knowledge worldwide, across all related disciplines. Most on the submission and peer-review process. Submission to NINE is via the on-line submission system, Elsevier Editorial System (SEES). There is a wealth of information on the NINE journal section of the Elsevier website including more specific information about the journal and a guide for authors. See Fig. 3.
Once you have decided what to write you have to structure your work to fit the preferred format of you chosen Journal. All Journals have guidelines on the presentation Figure 1 Why publish. 228 P. Bennett Figure 2 Figure 3 What to publish. On-line submission off paper to NINE. Figure 4 Headings for a paper presenting research findings. Of the paper, use of tables, illustrations and figures and referencing style. The typical format/headings for a paper presenting the findings of research study are listed in Fig. 4.
Not all papers are amenable to this structure and some variation is often permitted. You may have produced a piece of written work for a HE that you think is suitable for publication. Alternatively you may have had a comment in the feedback for the assignment suggesting it is suitable for publication. Either way you will have thousands of words, painstakingly written that will have to be edited ND adapted to suit your chosen audience and guidelines for the Journal. You cannot Just submit an assignment for publication because you achieved a high mark.
Your work will require revision and editing and it can be very difficult to decide what to include and what to omit. The Journal guidelines should be followed but where they are not appropriate this should be explained in a covering letter to the Editor of the Journal. Fig. 5 provides tips on how to convert 229 assignments produced as part of HE course work into a Journal paper. Longer pieces of academic work such a dissertations and hoses cannot be edited into one paper and are often published in several parts or as a series of papers throughout the course of a Masters programmer or PhD study.
Dissertations and thesis usually present research findings and whilst are amenable to the structure described in Fig. 4, shortening a piece of academic work that has taken several years to complete and may be in excess of 60,000 words is very hard. Fig. 6 provides some useful tips on shortening a longer piece of work to ensure its In summary Contributing to a body of professional knowledge is the responsibility of all registered professionals. Sharing your knowledge, skills and expertise beyond your immediate Figure 5 Tips for converting academic course work into a Journal paper.
Figure 6 work colleagues ensures the dissemination of knowledge to the widest possible audience. Publishing your work in a professional Journal is an extremely satisfying and rewarding process. Describing your endeavourers when trialing a new system of working or presenting the results of a multi-centre research study each have value and contribute to changing practice and improving emergency care for patients and their families. Do not leave your assignment in a computer ill once it’s been submitted, write up teaching sessions, practice development initiatives and projects you are involved in at work.
Share your work with the emergency care community, everyone has something to contribute. Good luck, enjoy writing and we look forward to reading your work very soon. References Frisson, E. , 1984. The changing nature of professional control. Annual Review in sociology 10, 1-20. HOP, 2005. Standards for Continuing Professional Development. Health Professions Council. (accessed 29. 03. 10). NC, 2008. The Code. Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives. NC, London.