How to Use APA Format for a DNP Nursing Capstone Project

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Using APA format is essential in a DNP Nursing Capstone Project to ensure that the paper is professional, consistent, and adheres to scholarly writing standards. The APA style is widely used in nursing and healthcare research for citation, referencing, and overall document formatting.

5.1 General Formatting Guidelines

  • Title page: Include the project title, your name, the name of the institution, and the date of submission.
  • Abstract: This page should contain a concise summary of the project (150-250 words).
  • Headings and subheadings: Use APA’s recommended levels of headings to organize the content. For example, main sections like “Introduction,” “Methodology,” and “Results” should be bolded and centered.
  • Margins and spacing: Use 1-inch margins on all sides and double-spacing throughout the document.
  • Font: Use a standard, readable font like Times New Roman, size 12-point.

5.2 In-Text Citations

APA format requires proper in-text citations when referencing sources within the text. When citing a source, include the author’s last name and year of publication. For example:

  • One author: (Smith, 2020).
  • Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2020).
  • More than two authors: (Smith et al., 2020).

5.3 References Page

The References section at the end of the project should list all sources cited in the text. Each reference should be formatted as follows:

  • Books: Author(s). (Year). Title of the book. Publisher.
  • Journal Articles: Author(s). (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, volume(issue), page numbers. https://doi.org/xxx

5.4 Tables and Figures

If using tables or figures, each should have a title and be numbered consecutively. Refer to them in the text by their number (e.g., “As shown in Table 1”). Include a caption that describes the content clearly.

5.5 Quotations

For direct quotations longer than 40 words, use a block format: indent the entire quote one-half inch from the left margin, without quotation marks, and provide the citation at the end of the quote.

These guidelines ensure that your DNP Nursing Capstone Project follows proper scholarly conventions, enhancing its professionalism and impact.

Published by Lisa