Using an electronic database, locate an article dealing with the
nurse-patient relationship. Write a one-page summary of the author's
main idea and supporting points. This essay is intended to provide you
with practice in a) using a database for finding journal articles, b)
summarizing in writing material you read, a skill vital to taking notes
for future research projects, and c) documenting journal articles in
American Psychological Association (APA) style.
|Guidelines (from Academic Writing, 2nd edition)||
|Citing a source in your writing||
You'll notice that when writers insert borrowed information into their own writing, they offer signals that they are borrowing. The typical way of signaling borrowed information is to use the author's name in your own writing and to state what the author is trying to do. Here are a couple of examples:
|Documentating journal articles||
Davidhizar, R. (March 1998). Improving your bedside manner. The
Journal of Practical Nursing, 48(1), 10-14.
Class time, Wednesday, September 7
In the sample essay below I've attempted to illustrate what the essay
might look like and I've described what I've done in each section of the
essay. To make my essay take up less space, I have single spaced my
article, but you should double space as directed in the syllabus. Don't
forget to include the Andrews University cover page and a photocopy of
the article you summarized. I've also not developed my summary as long
as I might; I just wanted to give you an idea of what you might do. I
have the original article if you wish to examine it. Should you do so,
you will find that I have said exactly the same thing the author says, in
my own words, following exactly the same order of ideas that original
author did. Your summary should follow the same format.
|Identify author's purpose. Mention author's name. Put quotation marks around exact wording the author uses.||
In an article entitled Improving your bedside manner, Davidhizar
observes that the manner in which healthcare providers demonstrate care
and concern for their patients significantly influences how patients and
their significant others cooperate with and comply with treatment plans,
arouses patients' hopefulness and optimism about their recovery, and
reduces the likelihood that patients will feel compelled to take legal
action against their health care providers. The majority of Davidhizer's
article consists of suggestions for how healthcare providers can improve
their "bedside manner."
|Summarize each of the author's supporting points. Repeat author's name as reminder that this is a summary.||
Davidhizer begins by noting the importance of making a favorable first impression which "may make the difference between a patient and significant others being cooperative or not with efforts to provide effective care" (10) (...I would go on to summarize how the author says to make a good first impression, noting his major points in my own words, quoting not to fill space, but only if the way he says something is particularly significant.)
Other directions Davidhizer offers include actively communicating
interest and concern, using words and actions to communicate empathy and
respect, practicing attending skills, communicating availability,
following up on requests, avoiding defensiveness, maintaining a
professional manner, answering questions honestly, maintaining a positive
attitude, and practicing intentional encouragement. (...I provide his
list, but I'd go on to discuss the points in a bit more detail. Since
the author seems to stress maintaining a professional manner, I'd
probably develop at least this thought more completely. Again, I'm using
my own words.)
|Summarize author's summary||
Davidhizer concludes that "positive bedside manners are essential when
caring for patients" (14) and he offers several reasons why this is so.
(...I finish up with a short summary of Davidhizer's summary, in my
own words offering a short version of what he says.).
|Provide reference to article using APA guidelines for a journal article||
Davidhizar, R. (March 1998). Improving your bedside manner.
The Journal of Practical Nursing, 48(1), 10-14.
Don't forget that it's always a good idea to get someone from the Writing
Center to have a look at your summary to make any suggestions they may
have for revision. You can make an appointment with a consultant by
calling 3358 or you could stop by Nethery Hall room 203 and make an