Assignment Ideas for Students: Writing for Clinical Journals

Encouraging students to write for clinical journals is a fantastic way to foster their critical thinking, research skills, and ability to communicate effectively the nursing and healthcare fields. Here are some engaging assignment ideas to help your students develop their writing skills and understand the intricacies of publishing in clinical journals.

1. Literature Review Assignment

Ask students to select a clinical topic relevant to their field and conduct a literature review. They should summarize current research, identify gaps, and suggest areas for future study. This assignment will teach them how to critically evaluate sources and synthesize information, which is essential for any journal article.

2. Case Study Analysis

Have students write a detailed case study based on a real or hypothetical patient scenario. They should include patient history, assessment, interventions, and outcomes. This exercise will help them practice clinical reasoning and articulate their thought processes clearly, mimicking the structure often found in clinical publications.

3. Research Proposal

In this assignment, students can develop a research proposal addressing a clinical issue they’re passionate about. They should outline the research question, methodology, and potential implications of their findings. This not only hones their writing skills but also prepares them for future research endeavors.

4. Opinion Piece

Encourage students to write an opinion piece on a controversial topic in healthcare, such as telehealth, mental health stigma, or evidence base practice. This assignment allows them to express their viewpoints while backing them up with evidence-based pratice, enhancing their persuasive writing skills.

5. Journal Entry Reflection

Have students maintain a reflective journal throughout their clinical rotations. They can choose specific entries to polish and submit as an article. This encourages them to reflect on their experiences and translate them into insights relevant to the wider nursing community.

6. Writing Workshop

Organize a workshop where students can peer-review each other’s work. This collaborative approach helps them develop constructive criticism skills and improves their ability to articulate their thoughts clearly. It also simulates the review process they’ll encounter when submitting to a journal.

7. Mock Submission

Have students prepare a complete manuscript following the guidelines of a specificl journal. They should write an abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and references. This practical exercise demystifies the submission process and prepares them for the realities of publishing.

8. Infographic Creation

Encourage students to create an infographic that summarizes key findings from a clinical study or their literature review. This visual representation helps them think critically about how to convey complex information succinctly and attractively, a valuable skill in today’s media-rich environment.

Strong writing skills are invaluable to nurses. They improve communication with patients, families, and the healthcare team. When nurses document clearly and accurately, it keeps patients safe by making sure important information is shared effectively. Plus, writing skills lend themselves to developing detailed care plans, reporting findings, and contributions to research. All of this plays a big role in improving patient outcomes and promoting teamwork in health care!

Examples of abstracts for clinical articles are provided in Exhibit 7.1. These examples show that the abstracts inform readers about the content in the article and its practical implications.