Using APA format in your DNP Nursing Capstone Project is essential for maintaining academic rigor and ensuring that your project meets professional and scholarly standards. APA format dictates the structure, citations, and referencing style used in the capstone project.

4.1 General Formatting Guidelines

  • Title Page: Include the project title, your name, institution, course, instructor, and submission date.
  • Abstract: This concise summary (150-250 words) includes the project’s key points: problem, objectives, methodology, results, and conclusions.
  • Font: Use Times New Roman, 12-point font, with double-spacing throughout the document.
  • Margins: Standard 1-inch margins on all sides.
  • Headings: Use APA headings (Levels 1-5) to organize sections and subsections of your project.

4.2 In-Text Citations

  • One author: (Smith, 2020).
  • Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2020).
  • Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2020).

Always cite sources directly after quoting or paraphrasing to give credit to the original authors.

4.3 Reference Page

The References section includes all sources cited in the project. Format references for different types of sources:

  • Books: Smith, J. (2020). Nursing leadership in practice. Publisher.
  • Journal Articles: Smith, J., & Jones, A. (2020). The impact of nursing leadership on patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Research, 50(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/xxxxxxx

Ensure that references are listed alphabetically and follow proper APA formatting conventions.

4.4 Tables and Figures

When using tables or figures, each should be numbered and accompanied by a title. For example:

  • Table 1: Patient satisfaction scores before and after the intervention.
  • Figure 1: Graph showing reduction in readmission rates.

Ensure the title is clear and informative, and cite the source if it was adapted from another study.

These guidelines help ensure that your DNP Nursing Capstone Project is structured professionally, follows APA formatting, and provides clear documentation of your research, outcomes, and recommendations.