Ways to write abstracts contributing to publication in nursing journals

Background: Abstract is usually the first part of a research article. It structures the outline and lists the important results and arguments of the study. It is probably the only part that the reader would go through and thus should be concise and directive. Objective: To illustrate the writing style and format of abstract writing in nursing research articles through introducing the types and structures of abstracts and comparing the publishing guidelines of two nursing research journals. Discussion: Informative abstract is commonly used in medical and nursing research because readers can go through the main arguments of the article quickly. The requirement of abstract in Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Research are similar. Informative abstract is preferred and word limits are set. Nursing Research requires the use of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Conclusion: While keeping the word count to the minimum, a good abstract can present the maximum amount of important arguments, results and implications. In clinical nursing research, having a well-written abstract makes an article stand out and can lead ultimately to publication in academic journals. Implication: Many local medical and nursing journals lack writing guidelines for authors. Good quality journals, like the two discussed, have good control of their contents. Local journals should follow as this is fundamental to academic excellence.