Introduction

Though nursing has become a staple of modern society, the nursing profession itself is a relatively new phenomenon. In fact, the first nursing school in the world opened its doors just over 150 years ago, in 1873. Today, there are over half a million nurses in the U.S., and the nursing field has become one of the most popular undergraduate majors in college. In the U.S., more than 200,000 high school seniors enroll each year to study nursing and are tasked to write a nursing essay at some point.

These students hope to become registered nurses, a more advanced and specialized type of nurse who specializes in caring for people in their last year of life, as well as for people with specific health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes. In the U.K., nursing is called “nursing and midwifery” or “nursing and midwifery studies.” Students who specialize in nursing are called “nursing students” or “ undergraduate nursing students.” How to write a nursing essay? This is a question that’s sure to come up before your freshman year of college is over. After all, there are so many different types of nursing essays, and you’ll want to make sure you choose the right one for your unique situation.

Although there are differences between U.S. and U.K. nursing essays, there are also some similarities. The key to writing a good nursing essay is knowing which type of nursing

What Is a Good Nursing Essay?

A good nursing essay should demonstrate a clear understanding of the core concepts of nursing. These concepts include an introduction that defines nursing, an explanation of how the nursing profession evolved, and a review of the nursing philosophy.

After introducing these concepts, the essay should move on to discuss the nursing Diagnostic and Statistic Manual (DSM), which is the official publication of the American Nurses Association that describes all the different nursing diagnoses. It’s important to know the official nursing diagnoses, because they’re the basis for all nursing care. The essay should also discuss how these diagnoses are used in a clinical setting, such as when a nurse diagnoses a patient with diabetes and starts him on insulin administration.

Why Write a Nursing Essay?

There are several different reasons why you might choose to write a nursing essay. One reason is to demonstrate your understanding of the nursing field and your abilities as a nurse. Another reason could be to show your school’s admissions committee that you’re committed to becoming a nurse. A nursing essay could also be one of the required components of a nursing scholarship or a Service-Learning project.

Other reasons you might choose to write a nursing essay include to: show your potential nursing professor that you’ve done your research; demonstrate your writing ability; or show your extracurricular activities and community service.

Different Types of Nursing Essays

As mentioned, there are several different types of nursing essays, each with its own unique purpose. Below are some of the most common types of nursing essays you might see on a college application:

How to Write a Nursing Essay

Conclusion

Now that you’ve seen what a good nursing essay looks like, it’s time to learn how to write one.

When you’re in the planning stages of your nursing essay, you’ll want to keep these tips and tricks in mind:

If you’re writing an essay about your nursing career and accomplishments, start with a detailed account of your most recent assignment and how you met your goal. This shows that you’re not only committed to your profession, but you’re also able to relate your experiences to the class.

If you have time, you could also share some pictures or videos that demonstrate your nursing skills and allow you to show off your best work. You could, for example, share a clip from a recent shift where you spent a considerable amount of time caring for a severely ill patient.

If you’re writing an essay about your nursing education and what you’re looking to do upon graduation, start by outlining the history of nursing, as well as the history of your specific nursing school or college. You should show the admissions committee that you’re committed to becoming a nurse by outlining why you want to become a part of this profession.

How to Write a Nursing Essay

If you’re writing a nursing essay for college, you’ll want to make sure you outline the history of nursing, as well as the history of your specific nursing school or college. You should show the admissions committee that you’re committed to becoming a nurse by outlining why you want to become a part of this profession.

To get started, sit down and make a list of the different people and concepts you want to cover in your nursing essay. Then, research each person or concept separately to make sure you have a firm grasp on that person’s or concept’s history, as well as its relationship to nursing and your nursing school or college.

First Draft: Now What?

Here’s where you clean up your first draft, ensuring it’s error-free and flows smoothly. At this point, you could proofread your essay using a spellchecker, or have someone else (such as your school’s writing tutor) review your work for errors.

By this point, your essay should be error-free and have a clear structure. It’s time to start filling in the details, including the specifics about your nursing career and the ways in which your nursing education has helped you achieve your goals.

Second Draft: Adding Details and Refining Structure

Once you’ve had a chance to go over your second draft, you can add more details. You can also start refining the structure of your essay, making sure it follows the rules of proper grammar and follows the nursing essay format you’ve outlined above.

At this point, your nursing essay should be ready for submission. Remember, though, that it’s not just about the length of your essay, but also its content: you want to make sure it’s relevant to the admissions committee, while demonstrating your ability to communicate clearly and concisely.

Final Draft: Making Any Corrections or Last-Minute Additions

You’re almost done! Now it’s just a matter of making any final edits and submitting your nursing essay. As with all college applications, make sure you have all your materials in order, including your essay.

Once you’ve submitted your application, you can relax, knowing that you’ve done everything you can to demonstrate your nursing abilities and earn that coveted place in a nursing program.