abstract nursing article

How to Write an Abstract for a Nursing Research Paper

Introduction.

An abstract is a concise summary of a research paper, providing a snapshot of the study’s objectives, methods, results, and conclusions. In the context of nursing research, the abstract serves as a brief overview of the research conducted, highlighting the essential elements that define the study.

It encapsulates the entire research process in a few hundred words, making it accessible to readers who may not have the time to read the full paper. An effective abstract in nursing research not only summarizes the research but also captures the significance and potential impact of the study on nursing practice.

Purpose of an Abstract

The primary purpose of an abstract is to provide a quick and accurate summary of the research work, enabling readers to determine its relevance to their interests. Abstracts are crucial in the academic and clinical world because they allow peers, practitioners, and other stakeholders to quickly assess the value of the research.

For instance, a well-crafted abstract helps readers decide whether to read the full paper, attend a presentation, or cite the work in their own research. In nursing research, where practical application is often paramount, an abstract can also help clinicians and administrators determine the applicability of the research findings to their specific contexts.

Overview of the Article

This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to write an effective abstract for a nursing research paper. It will cover the different types of abstracts commonly used in nursing research, outline the key components that should be included, and offer a step-by-step guide to writing and refining an abstract.

Additionally, the article will address common mistakes to avoid, discuss formatting and style considerations, and provide examples of well-written nursing research abstracts. Finally, it will offer practical tips for ensuring that your abstract effectively communicates the essence of your research.

Types of Abstracts in Nursing Research

Descriptive abstract.

A descriptive abstract provides a brief overview of the research without going into detailed results or conclusions. It outlines the purpose, methodology, and scope of the research but does not include specific findings. This type of abstract is typically shorter, often between 50 to 100 words, and is used when the research is more exploratory or theoretical in nature. Descriptive abstracts are useful when the research aims to introduce a concept, propose a new framework, or present a hypothesis that will be explored in further studies. They are less common in nursing research, where detailed results and clinical implications are often required.

Informative Abstract

An informative abstract, the most common type in nursing research, provides a detailed summary of the study, including the background, methods, results, and conclusions. It typically ranges from 150 to 250 words and is used in empirical studies where specific findings are crucial. Informative abstracts are essential in nursing research because they allow readers to quickly grasp the significance of the study, understand the methodology, and assess the reliability of the results. This type of abstract is preferred when the research has direct clinical implications or contributes to evidence-based practice .

Structured Abstract

A structured abstract is organized into specific sections such as Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. This format is often required in systematic reviews, clinical studies, and other types of research that involve complex data and rigorous methodology. Structured abstracts are particularly important in nursing research because they provide clarity and make it easier for readers to locate specific information. This format ensures that all critical components of the research are addressed, making it a valuable tool for presenting detailed studies where precision and organization are paramount.

Unstructured Abstract

An unstructured abstract is written as a single paragraph without specific headings or sections. While it still covers the essential elements of the research (background, methods, results, and conclusions), it does so in a continuous narrative format. Unstructured abstracts are more common in humanities and theoretical research but can be used in nursing research when the study is less complex or when a more narrative approach is appropriate. Compared to structured abstracts, unstructured abstracts offer more flexibility in how information is presented but require careful attention to ensure clarity and cohesion.

Key Components of a Nursing Research Abstract

Background and objectives.

The background section of the abstract should briefly introduce the research topic and provide context for the study. This includes outlining the research problem or question and explaining why the study is important. The objectives should clearly state what the research aims to achieve. In nursing research, this might involve identifying a gap in the current literature, addressing a specific clinical issue , or exploring a new treatment or intervention. The background and objectives set the stage for the rest of the abstract, helping readers understand the relevance and purpose of the research.

The methods section should provide a concise summary of the research design and methodology used in the study. This includes the type of study (e.g., qualitative, quantitative , mixed-methods), the sample size, the setting in which the research was conducted, and the tools or instruments used to collect data. In nursing research, it is important to mention any specific protocols followed, as well as any ethical considerations that were addressed. The methods section should be detailed enough to give readers confidence in the validity and reliability of the research but concise enough to fit within the abstract’s word limit.

The results section should highlight the most significant findings of the study. This includes key data and statistics that are directly related to the research question or objectives. In nursing research, the results might include measures of patient outcomes , statistical analyses of treatment efficacy, or qualitative insights from patient interviews. It is important to focus on the data that best supports the study’s conclusions and to present it in a way that is clear and easy to understand. Avoid including unnecessary details or secondary findings that do not directly contribute to the overall conclusions.

The conclusion section should summarize the implications of the findings and provide a brief statement on the significance of the research. This might include recommendations for clinical practice, suggestions for future research, or a discussion of how the findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge in nursing. The conclusion should be directly tied to the results and should provide a clear and concise summary of what the research has achieved. In nursing research, this section is critical for demonstrating the practical relevance of the study and its potential impact on patient care or healthcare practices.

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing an Abstract

Review the research paper.

Before writing the abstract, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the entire research paper. This involves reading and analyzing the paper to identify the key elements that should be included in the abstract. Understanding the full paper allows you to distill the most important information and present it in a concise format. When reviewing the paper, take note of the research question , methodology, significant findings, and conclusions, as these will form the basis of your abstract.

Identify Key Points

Once you have a good understanding of the paper, the next step is to identify the key points that need to be included in the abstract. This includes the background and objectives, methods, results, and conclusions. Prioritize information based on its importance to the overall study and its relevance to the research question. In nursing research, it is particularly important to focus on the clinical implications of the findings, as this is often the most relevant aspect for readers.

Write a Draft

Start by writing a rough draft of the abstract, focusing on getting all the key information down on paper. Don’t worry too much about word count or perfect phrasing at this stage; the goal is to capture the essence of the research. Structure the draft according to the type of abstract you are writing (e.g., descriptive, informative, structured). Begin with the background and objectives, followed by the methods, results, and conclusions. This initial draft will serve as a foundation that you can refine and polish in subsequent steps.

Refine and Edit

After writing the draft, the next step is to refine and edit the abstract to improve clarity and ensure that it is concise and coherent. This involves revising the language to make it more precise, eliminating any unnecessary words or jargon, and ensuring that the abstract adheres to any word limits. It is important to strike a balance between brevity and detail, ensuring that the abstract provides enough information to be informative without overwhelming the reader. Pay attention to the flow of the abstract, making sure that each section logically leads into the next.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overloading with details.

One of the most common mistakes in writing an abstract is including too much information. While it is important to provide a comprehensive summary, overloading the abstract with details can be overwhelming and detract from the key points. To avoid this, focus on the most important aspects of the research and leave out secondary details or less significant findings. Striking a balance between detail and brevity is crucial for creating an effective abstract that is both informative and accessible.

Including Irrelevant Information

Another common mistake is including information that is not directly relevant to the research question or objectives. This can confuse readers and dilute the impact of the abstract . To avoid this, stay focused on the main topic of the research and only include information that directly contributes to the understanding of the study. Avoid tangential details or background information that is not necessary for summarizing the research.

Using Complex Language

The use of complex or technical language can make an abstract difficult to understand, especially for readers who may not be familiar with the specific terminology. While it is important to maintain an academic tone, the language used in the abstract should be clear and accessible to a broad audience. To achieve this, avoid jargon and use simple, straightforward language whenever possible. The goal is to communicate the essence of the research in a way that is easy to understand, even for those who are not experts in the field.

Lack of Cohesion

A well-written abstract should be cohesive, with all parts of the abstract logically connected. A lack of cohesion can make the abstract difficult to follow and detract from its effectiveness. To ensure cohesion, make sure that each section of the abstract flows smoothly into the next, with clear transitions between the background, methods, results, and conclusions. The abstract should read as a single, unified narrative that effectively summarizes the research .

Formatting and Style Considerations

Adherence to guidelines.

Different journals and conferences often have specific guidelines for the format and style of abstracts. It is essential to follow these guidelines closely to ensure that your abstract meets the required standards. Common formatting requirements may include specific headings, word limits, and citation styles . In nursing research, adherence to these guidelines is particularly important, as it demonstrates professionalism and respect for the publication or conference’s standards.

Abstracts in nursing research typically have a word limit, often ranging from 150 to 250 words. Meeting the word count requirement is crucial, as exceeding it may result in the abstract being rejected or truncated. To meet the word count without sacrificing content, focus on the most important aspects of the research and be concise in your wording. Avoid repetition and unnecessary detail, and use precise language to convey the maximum amount of information in the fewest words.

Language and Tone

The language and tone of the abstract should be academic yet concise. Use active voice whenever possible, as it makes the writing more direct and engaging. Avoid using passive voice, which can make the abstract sound vague and less impactful. The tone should be formal and objective, focusing on the facts and findings of the research rather than personal opinions or interpretations. This ensures that the abstract is professional and suitable for an academic audience.

Examples of Nursing Research Abstracts

Example 1: quantitative study abstract.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new wound care protocol in reducing infection rates among post-surgical patients. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 200 participants in a tertiary care hospital. The intervention group received the new protocol, while the control group received standard care. Results showed a significant reduction in infection rates in the intervention group (p < 0.01). The findings suggest that the new protocol could be a valuable tool in improving patient outcomes.

Example 2: Qualitative Study Abstract

This qualitative study explored the experiences of nursing students during their first clinical placement. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 students, and thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Findings revealed that students experienced a mix of excitement and anxiety, with the level of support from mentors being a critical factor in their overall experience. The study highlights the importance of mentor support in enhancing the clinical learning experience for nursing students.

Example 3: Systematic Review Abstract

This systematic review aimed to assess the impact of nurse-led interventions on patient adherence to chronic disease management . A total of 25 studies were included in the review, and the findings were synthesized using a meta-analysis approach. The results indicated that nurse-led interventions significantly improve patient adherence to treatment protocols (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.50–2.04). The review concludes that nurse-led interventions are an effective strategy for enhancing chronic disease management.

Tips for Writing an Effective Nursing Research Abstract

Start early.

It is important to start drafting the abstract early in the writing process. This allows you to refine your ideas and ensure that the abstract accurately reflects the content of the research paper. Starting early also gives you time to revise and improve the abstract as the paper evolves.

Seek Feedback

Getting feedback from peers, mentors, or colleagues can be invaluable in improving the quality of your abstract. Others can provide insights into how well the abstract communicates the research and suggest areas for improvement. Feedback can also help you identify any unclear or ambiguous language that might need revision.

Revise Multiple Times

Multiple revisions are essential for ensuring that the abstract is clear, concise, and well-organized. Each revision should focus on a different aspect, such as language, structure, and content. Revising multiple times helps to refine the abstract and ensures that it effectively summarizes the research.

Reading the abstract aloud is a useful technique for catching awkward phrasing or errors that might be missed when reading silently. This technique helps to ensure that the abstract flows smoothly and is easy to understand.

Writing an effective abstract for a nursing research paper requires careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of the research. Key steps include understanding the full paper, identifying key points, drafting, and refining the abstract, and avoiding common mistakes. 

If you need further assistance with writing nursing assignments, including abstracts, consider seeking out our professional academic writing services . Our team of competent writers are ready to provide expert guidance and support to help you succeed in your academic endeavors.

• What is the primary purpose of an abstract in nursing research? The primary purpose of an abstract in nursing research is to provide a concise summary of the study’s objectives, methods, results, and conclusions, enabling readers to quickly assess the relevance and value of the research.
• What are the different types of abstracts commonly used in nursing research? The four main types of abstracts used in nursing research are descriptive, informative, structured, and unstructured. The choice depends on the nature and complexity of the study.
• How can I ensure that my nursing research abstract is effective and engaging? To write an effective nursing research abstract, focus on being concise, highlighting the key findings and implications, using clear and accessible language, and adhering to any formatting or style guidelines provided by the journal or conference.
• What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a nursing research abstract? Common mistakes to avoid include overloading the abstract with unnecessary details, including irrelevant information, using complex language, and lacking cohesion between the different sections of the abstract.

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Everything You Need to Know to Write an Abstract: A Step-by-Step Guide

Thank you to Élise N. Arsenault Knudsen, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC for this informative article on how to write a nursing abstract.

Conducting improvement work or engaging in research facilitates nurses’ professional growth and advancing nursing knowledge and practice. Therefore, once the projects are complete, it is essential to share those learnings both within and outside our organizations. Professional nursing conferences are an excellent venue for dissemination, as well as networking. If you want to present at a conference, the first step is to respond to the “Call for Abstracts.”

This article provides a step-by-step guide and points to consider helping you prepare, write, and submit an abstract for a professional nursing conference, such as the PCNA’s Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium .

What is an Abstract?

Before describing the steps for abstract writing, let’s define what an abstract is and be clear about the purpose of an abstract.

An abstract is a brief summary and description of your project. “The word ‘abstract’ comes from the Latin  abstractum , which means a condensed form of a longer piece of writing”. 1 Abstracts have a word count limit, ranging from 150 to 500 words; therefore, abstracts must be concise. The purpose of the abstract is to highlight the main elements of the project, with enough detail to allow the reviewers to determine the relevance and suitability for presentation. 2  

This article focuses on writing an abstract for a nursing conference; however, it is worth noting that abstracts are used for other purposes, such as accompanying published scholarly journal articles and grant applications. 

Step 1: Preparation

Before doing any actual writing, there are a few questions to consider to prepare and focus your thoughts. As you develop a timeline for writing an abstract, build in enough time to complete this important first step. During the preparation phase, consider the following questions.

What story do you want to tell?

As you have worked on this project, you have become an expert; you know the topic area and the details, as well as the time you have invested and the challenges you have overcome. Winnowing all of that concisely into 300 words can feel difficult. However, with some thoughtful reflection, and discussions with team members, you will be able to identify the project’s key aspects to focus on for this conference presentation. Keep in mind that there is always more to the story than what can be shared or described in a single conference presentation, regardless of poster or podium format. Therefore, you will make decisions about how to craft your writing to focus on just two or three key points.

Questions to Guide Your Story Line

You can think about your work like a story and the abstract like its trailer. Your goal is to entice the abstract reviewers, who are naïve to your work, to want to hear more about the wonderful work you have done. Like a movie trailer, an abstract includes the highlights and the results of the work, but it doesn’t include all the complexities of the plot. Before you begin writing your abstract, consider the following questions to clarify your thinking about the aspects of your story to include: 3

• Why did you start? What prompted you to start this project? What question did you want to answer? What were the goals of the project? And what aspect of those goals do you want to share at the conference?
• What did you do? What did you do for your project? What method did you use?
• What answer did you get? What did you learn from this project? What were the main answers you discovered? How did those answers get you closer to answering your question or achieving your goal?
• What does it mean? Within the context of health care or nursing, what does this project mean? What are the implications of this work?

How Does Your Story Align With the Conference?

It is typical for a conference to have a theme, purpose, or focus.  For example, PCNA’s Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium is focused on highlighting healthcare professionals’ work that includes “innovative projects, original research, or graduate capstones related to cardiovascular risk reduction and disease management”.  Each of these submission types is defined on the PCNA webpage; review those descriptions carefully to ensure a match between the category you select for your abstract and the work you conducted.

As you think about that focus, consider the aspects of your work that may be most intriguing for the audience to hear.

Also, consider the stage of your project. Many conferences accept abstracts describing work that is ongoing or in progress if it will be completed to present. Typically, two presentation formats are available at the conference, podium (oral) and poster presentations. Completed projects are more likely to be selected for a podium presentation and an ongoing project is more likely to be selected for a poster presentation

What Are the Requirements for the Submission?

Before you begin writing, review the requirements for the submission. Be clear about the format (including the headings required for the submission), the submission deadline, any themes, submission categories, or tracks for the conference, and ensure you are able to attend the conference if your abstract is accepted.

Review the Selection Criteria

Many conferences’ “Calls for Abstracts” include how abstracts are selected; PCNA lists them under “ Grading Criteria .”  Review these criteria and ensure to address each of them in your writing.

Develop a Timeline to Ensure an On-time Submission

Plans to start drafting an abstract should begin at least 3 to 4 weeks before the abstract submission deadline to ensure adequate time for writing, revising, proofreading, feedback, final revisions, and submission.

Note Available Resources

PCNA, for example, offers proofreading and feedback on abstracts. If writing an abstract is a new skill you are developing, this is a wonderful resource that may improve your chances of being selected to present.  Take advantage of those resources by planning for the review due date in addition to the final abstract submission deadline.

Determine Authorship

An important part of the preparation phase is to determine who will be included as an author on the abstract and the subsequent presentation. Authors should reflect those who made substantial contributions to the project, writing the abstract and preparing the presentation; not simply those who were involved in the project. 4 When projects included team members who were essential to the project but not part of the writing or presentation, it is appropriate to include them in an acknowledgment section in the presentation.

Determine the Order of Authors

Typically, in nursing, the first author is the primary contributor or project lead, and the remaining authors are listed by level of contribution.  The final author typically indicates the mentor for the project or the most experienced author. If the contributions were equivalent, listing the authors in alphabetical order is standard. 

Step 2: Getting Started with a Nursing Abstract

After thinking through the questions and nuances of the preparation step, review your notes and ideas.  Once the main points of the abstract are clear to you, it is time to begin the first draft of your abstract. Consider these two pieces of advice for your first draft:

• Start writing with the required abstract headers. As the first step simply write the headers into your document. This strategy will help to organize your writing, ensure that you are meeting the heading requirements, and prevent you from starting with an intimidating blank page.
• Write the first draft without editing. The first draft is not going to be perfect, and that is to be expected. Rather, the goal of the first draft is simply to write something. While the final abstract has a word limit, that limit should not be the focus of your first draft. It is often easier to edit and delete words after the first draft is complete.   

Step 3: Crafting the Abstract

This is the step where the writing begins! As you begin writing, remember to match the content of the abstract with the “Call for Abstracts” requirements. Competitive abstracts clearly articulate the rationale for the presentation and are substantial. 5 The following content should be included for each heading for an abstract submission to PCNA:

• While this is often written last, it is the first impression of your work; it should be a concise representation of the project.
• Avoid jargon or abbreviations in the title to ensure clarity.
• The title should be simple, using as few words as possible, while capturing what you are writing about.
• Sometimes it is helpful to include the project design in the title because it anchors the reader in the type of work being presented.
• Consider a title that captures a broad audience and grabs attention without being overdone. 1
• This section provides the context for your project and indicates why the project is important.  It orients the reader to the work and frames up the rationale for your project within the context of what is already known on the topic. 2
• As appropriate, this section refers to literature or published research that is relevant to the project topic. However, citations are not usually included in abstracts (APA format does not require citations for abstracts).  Rather, use language that clearly indicates that you are referring to published work (such as Recent research on this topic indicates…) .
• The background section is usually 3 to 5 sentences and should clearly guide the reader to the purpose of the project. The purpose statement should be the final sentence of the background section.
• This section describes the process of how the work was completed.
• The content in this section will vary based on the type of work that you did. For example, in a research study, this will include the details of the design, sample, setting, and data analysis. For improvement work, it will include the model used and the work that was completed in each step.
• The methods section should logically flow from the background and the purpose and is typically 2-3 sentences.

Interventions

• In each project or study, something was “done;” this section includes a brief description of what was conducted during the project or study.
• For example, interventions for an improvement project likely include education for clinicians, workflow changes, and evaluation of the new process; each of those should be described elements in this section across 2-4 sentences.
• Within this header, answer the question: What happened as a result of your work? Include the actual results that match the purpose statement in the background section.
• The results section is often considered the most important part of the abstract. This section may be the longest section and may require other sections to be limited to adequately capture the findings of your project. 2
• The results section should be focused on the facts and data about what was learned during the project. For example, after an improvement project was piloted, what rates of adherence were seen for a new workflow? Or what clinician- or patient- outcomes improved?

Conclusions

• This section should answer the question: After completing this project what can be said about the topic? What are the take-home messages? The salient conclusions should directly link to the project you are presenting. 2
• This is typically 1-2 sentences that tie together all the previous sections of the abstract.

Implications

• This is an opportunity to indicate why this work was important and how this project impacts nursing or health care. Recommendations for next steps are also often included in this section. For example, based on the results of an improvement project, a recommendation for spreading the practice to new areas may be made, or a research study may recommend future studies to discover more.

Step 4: Editing and Proof-reading

Once your initial draft is written, take a break (perhaps an hour or overnight) to allow the words to settle; return to the draft with fresh eyes to begin the editing process. 

• Edit to ensure that your writing is clear and concise and without jargon.
• As you re-read, be sure that abbreviations are spelled out the first time they are used.
• Ensure that sentences are short and direct, using an active (rather than passive) voice.
• The abstract should read as a cohesive document, flowing from one section to the next, with the tense maintained throughout. 
• Read the abstract aloud to catch poor grammar, missed or duplicative words, and awkward phrasing. 5
• Eliminate unnecessary words and ensure the abstract meets the word limit; 300 words are allowed for PCNA’s Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium abstract submission.
• Ask someone else to proofread your abstract, preferably someone who is not familiar with your work. Ask for feedback on the clarity of the abstract and serve as a second pair of eyes for grammatical errors or typos.

Step 5: Submit

After preparing, writing, revising, and editing, and receiving feedback on your nursing abstract, it is time to submit. Consider these final steps:

• Ensure all authors have reviewed and approved the final version.
• Re-read the submission criteria and re-read your abstract confirming all submission criteria are met.
• Follow the steps for submitting your work.
• Submit before the deadline.

Step 6: Celebrate!

Writing and submitting a nursing abstract is worthy of recognition; congratulate yourself and your teammates (as applicable) on a job well done.

Additional Resources for Writing an Abstract

• Tips for Writing an Excellence Conference Abstract – American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
• Writing an Abstract – The Writing Center at George Mason University
• Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper – The Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Panton, L. (2016). Writing an abstract. HIV Nursing, 16 , 5-6.
• Alspach, J.G. (2017). Writing for publication 101: Why an abstract is so important. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 37 (4), 12-15.
• Heseltine, E. (2012). Writing an abstract: Window to the world of your work. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 36 (3), 204-205.
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). (2023). Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors .
• Happell, B. (2007). Hitting the target! A no tears approach to writing an abstract for a conference presentation. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 16 , 447-452.

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Tips for Writing an Excellent Conference Abstract

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Have you ever attended a nursing conference and thought to yourself that someday you would love to present a session at this conference? Perhaps you submitted an abstract that didn’t get accepted. Have you read a call for abstracts and wished you knew how to write an excellent abstract? Maybe you are ready to take your professional growth to the next level by presenting at a national conference. Following are some tips to help you write an excellent conference abstract.

The road to an outstanding abstract begins with carefully reviewing the submission guidelines for the conference.

Before You Begin

• Read the directions carefully and often.
• Understand the format, length and content expected.
• Seek a mentor who has experience writing abstracts.
• Allow yourself enough time to prepare a first-rate submission; waiting until the last minute rarely results in quality content.
• Make sure there is evidence to support your topic, and provide current references.

Selecting a Topic

Let’s start at the beginning of your submission with the topic of your abstract. Consider the audience who attends the conference, and think of clinical or professional practice topics that would be meaningful and valuable to them. Timely and relevant topics with fresh ideas and takeaways are a great way to start, and they include:

• New research or clinical guidelines
• Topics that highlight your area of expertise
• Topics that are relevant to conference attendees
• Subjects that apply to current practice challenges or workplace concerns
• Narrowing your topic to focus on key information that will fit in the time allotted

Abstract Titles

The title is the first thing abstract scorers and conference attendees will see, so it is worth spending some time trying a few variations to see what conveys the main point of your abstract and entices the audience to read further:

• Keep the title clear and concise; be certain it accurately reflects your presentation.
• Catchy titles grab the reader’s attention, yet describe the subject well.
• A title with 12 or fewer words is optimal.

Abstract Content

Plan your abstract thoroughly before writing it. A high-quality abstract addresses the problem or question, the evidence and the solutions. It is important to give an overview of what you intend to include in the presentation. Abstracts should be concise but also informative. Sentences should be short to convey the needed information and free of words or phrases that do not add value. Keep your audience in mind as you prepare your abstract. How much background information you provide on a topic will depend on the conference. It is a good idea to explain how you plan to engage the audience with your teaching methods, such as case studies, polling or audience participation.

• After the title, the first sentence should be a hook that grabs the reader’s attention and entices them to continue reading.
• The second sentence should be a focused problem statement supported by evidence.
• The next few sentences provide the solution to the problem.
• The conclusion should reiterate the purpose of your presentation in one or two sentences.

Learning Objectives

If the conference abstract requires learning objectives, start each one with an action verb. Action verbs are words such as apply, demonstrate, explain, identify, outline and analyze. Refrain from using nonaction verbs and phrases such as understand, recognize, be able to, and become familiar with. Learning objectives must be congruent with the purpose, session description/summary and abstract text. For a list of action verbs, refer to a Bloom’s Taxonomy chart .

Editing Your Abstract

Editing is an important part of the abstract submission process. The editing phase will help you see the abstract as a whole and remove unnecessary words or phrases that do not provide value:

• The final draft should be clear and easy to read and understand.
• Your language should be professional and adhere to abstract guidelines.
• Writing in the present tense is preferred.
• If there is more than one author, each author should review and edit the draft.
• Ask a colleague who is a good editor to critique your work.
• Reread your abstract and compare it with the abstract guidelines.
• Great content that is written poorly will not be accepted.
• Prevent typographical errors by writing your submission as a Word document first, and copy and paste it into the submission platform after you check spelling and grammar.
• Follow word and character count instructions, abstract style and formatting guidelines.
• Do not try to bend the rules to fit your needs; authors who do not follow the guidelines are more likely to have their submission rejected.
• After you finish writing your abstract, put it aside and return later with a fresh mind before submitting it.

Grammar Tips

• Avoid ampersands (&) and abbreviations such as, etc.
• Parenthetical remarks (however relevant they may seem) are rarely necessary.
• It is usually incorrect to split an infinitive. An infinitive consists of the word “to” and the simple form of a verb (e.g., to go, to read).
• Examples: “To suddenly go” and “to quickly read” are examples of split infinitives, because the adverbs (suddenly and quickly) split (break up) the infinitives to go and to read.
• Contractions are not used in scholarly writing. Using contractions in academic writing is usually not encouraged, because it can make your writing sound informal.
• I’m = I am
• They’re = They are
• I’d = I had
• She’s = She is
• How’s = How is
• Avoid quotations.
• Do not be redundant or use more words than necessary.
• Use an active voice.

National Teaching Institute (NTI) Submissions

We invite you to participate in AACN’s mission to advance, promote and distribute information through education, research and science. The API (Advanced Practice Institute) and NTI volunteer committees review and score every abstract submitted for NTI. Abstracts are reviewed for relevance of content, quality of writing and expression of ideas. At NTI there are four session times to choose from. Your abstract should demonstrate that you have enough content to cover the selected time frame.

Session Types for NTI

• Mastery: 2.5 hours of content
• Concurrent: 60- or 75-minute sessions
• Preconference half-day: 3 hours of content
• Preconference full-day: 6 hours of content

Links for NTI Submissions

• Submit an abstract for NTI
• Read the Live Abstract Guidelines before submitting your abstract

Putting time and effort into writing an excellent abstract is the gateway to a podium presentation. It’s time to kickstart your professional growth and confidently submit a conference abstract.

For what conference will you submit an abstract?

This is an excellent blog with very sound advice. It has great content for nurses who are wanting to submit an abstract but feel they do not know whe ... re to start and so they never take the opportunity to do it. Read More

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How to write an abstract for a clinical nursing article

Posted 09 may 2017 - 09:25.

How to write an abstract for a clincial nursing article for the evidence and practice section of an RCNi journal, that will summarise your article and act as a guide to the article ahead.

If you are writing an article that you want to appear in the evidence and practice section of an RCNi journal, you’ll need to write an abstract. These may vary slightly in style and content but essentially an abstract is a summary. It is not an introduction; nor is it the whole article with a few sections cut out. So what is its purpose?

Think about the reader

Writing for publication is all about the reader. You, the author, want the reader to journey through your article from start to finish with as few obstacles, forks in the road and dead ends as possible. Think of the abstract as a sort of guide to this journey. It explains what lies ahead, it highlights important features or findings and it describes the end point.

A well written abstract can make the difference between readers reading on your article, and reflecting or acting upon it, and their abandoning the journey before it has begun.

Here are some points to consider when writing an abstract:

• Write the article before the abstract. You cannot summarise what you have not yet written.
• Stick to the guidelines. Abstracts in RCNi journals have between 80 and 150 words (except for Nurse Researcher which has abstracts of 250 words). Anything longer is likely to be cut so make every word count.
• Follow the same order in the abstract as you do in the article. But write the abstract separately rather than cutting and pasting chunks of text from the article. 
• Describe your article’s main arguments and findings broadly. The detail should be in the article itself.  
• If you are writing for Nurse Researcher, use the following headings in your abstract: Background , Aim , Discussion , Conclusion , Implications for practice .
• If your article is original research in any other RCNi journal, use these headings in the abstract: Background , Aim , Method , Findings or Results and Conclusion .
• When writing the abstract, think about the article’s purpose. Be clear about the issue you are trying to address. Why does the article matter? What does it add to the sum of existing nursing knowledge? How is it likely to influence nursing practice? The abstract should give your audience clear reason to read on.
• Avoid jargon and unexplained acronyms. Of course, this applies to the main text as well but, because the abstract should ‘sell’ the article to readers, it is especially important not to litter it with words and phrases that confuse and discourage.

For more specific guidance, look at the section on author guidelines.

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How to Write a Comprehensive and Informative Research Abstract

Affiliations.

• 1 Associate Professor in General Nursing, School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: [email protected].
• 2 Digestive oncology nurse specialist and researcher, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
• 3 Associate Professor. School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway, Ireland.
• 4 Specialist Nurse & PhD student, Department of Head and Neck and ENT Cancer Surgery of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Francisco Gentil, Lisbon, Portugal.
• 5 Nursing Research Head Nurse & Associate Professor, Catalan Institute of Oncology, School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
• 6 Reader, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Blantyre, Scotland.
• 7 Reader in Supportive Cancer Care, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
• PMID: 36841679
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soncn.2023.151395

Objectives: This article provides practical guidance on developing a comprehensible abstract, including those required for funding applications, conferences, and publication. In addition, we discuss and demonstrate the practicalities of editing and revising an abstract for conference or peer review and identify emerging formats that may be more relevant to nurses and researchers.

Data sources: This article has been informed by literature and the coauthors' respective experiences of preparing and reviewing abstracts for publication and conference presentation.

Conclusion: Abstracts are a valuable tool to communicate the most important elements of the methods and results of a research project for a conference, manuscript, or even a research funding application. However, abstracts may often be an overlooked part of the dissemination process. An abstract determines whether or not a piece of research is relevant for presentation at a conference or valuable enough to be considered for peer review and subsequent publication. A strong and clearly written abstract positively predisposes reviewers of grant applications.

Implications for nursing practice: Writing an abstract is arguably the most challenging component of academic writing, summarizing the results of a substantive research project in three to five sentences and positioning them concisely within the background and implications for future practice, policy, and research. A well-written abstract is clear, concise, and critical and requires time and revision to ensure success.

Keywords: Abstract; Abstracting; Indexing; Journal article; Meeting abstract; Writing skills.

Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication types

• Abstracting and Indexing*
• Peer Review