Welcome Students!
The Online Writing Center is here to help you become a better writer—whether you’re working on an essay, nursing care plan, research paper, or discussion post.
We’ll guide you in:
- APA citation & referencing
- Avoiding plagiarism
- Scholarly writing
Using tools like Grammarly to check your work
APA Citation Help (7th Edition)
In-Text Citations
Use in-text citations when you use ideas, facts, or quotes from other authors.
Format:
- Narrative: According to Smith (2021), nurses play a key role in patient care.
- Parenthetical: (Smith, 2021)
Use in-text citations every time you paraphrase, summarize, or quote.
Sample Paragraph Using APA In-Text Citations
Hand hygiene is one of the most effective strategies for reducing the spread of infection in healthcare environments. According to Smith (2020), consistent handwashing can prevent nearly half of all healthcare-associated infections. In addition to general hygiene practices, specific procedures in high-risk areas like intensive care units must be strictly enforced. Recent research highlights that adherence to infection control protocols significantly improves patient outcomes and safety in ICUs (Brown, 2021). The World Health Organization (2022) also emphasizes that all healthcare professionals, especially nurses, have a duty to follow evidence-based hygiene guidelines. Without these measures, the risk of cross-contamination and antimicrobial resistance increases across healthcare systems. Therefore, proper hand hygiene, backed by training and institutional policy, remains a cornerstone of safe nursing practice.
How to Use the Writing Center
- Need Help? Go to the Student Portal → Click “Writing Center”
- Submit Your Assignment: Upload your draft for review (2–3 days feedback)
- Book a Session: Meet 1-on-1 with a writing advisor on Zoom
- Download Writing Guides: Find APA templates, sample essays, and cheat sheets
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Scholarly Writing Tips for Nursing Students
Library:.
Blue Horizon College – Online Library Portal
For Students of Nursing & Allied Health
Accessible 24/7 via the Student Portal
Use this library to access scholarly resources, research tools, and databases for assignments, care plans, dissertations, and continuing education
- Multi-Database Search
Easily search across all digital collections with one tool.
Use the Blue Horizon Multi-Search Tool to find:
• Articles
• Journals
• E-books
• Dissertations
Search Tips:
- Use keywords like “patient safety,” “wound care,” or “diabetes education”
- Filter by year, subject, or type (journal, book, etc.)
Search the Library Databases (Coming Soon)
- Journals and Peer-Reviewed Articles
Access leading academic journals in nursing, medical assisting, phlebotomy, and public health.
Browse Academic Journals
Recommended Journals:
- Journal of Clinical Nursing
- Nursing Times
- American Journal of Nursing
- BMC Nursing
- Journal of Allied Health
The Lancet – Public Health
- Books & E-Books
Browse core textbooks and recommended reading for all programs.
Access Textbooks and eBooks
Examples:
- Fundamentals of Nursing – Potter & Perry
- Clinical Medical Assisting – Booth & Whicker
- Introduction to Phlebotomy – Warekois & Robinson
- Understanding Pathophysiology – Huether & McCance
Search for e-books by title or author
Download available chapters in PDF
- Capstone Projects
Explore student research and graduate papers for guidance and inspiration.
View Capstone Projects
Includes:
- Sample BSN Capstone Projects
- RN-BSN Community Health Interventions
- Allied Health Student Practicum Reports
Submit Your Capstone
- Newspapers & Magazines
Stay current with healthcare news, trends, and professional updates.
Health News & Articles
Sources:
- Nursing Standard
- Health Affairs
- Medical News Today
- The New York Times – Health Section
- WHO Newsroom
Weekly updates available every Monday
- Encyclopedias & Handbooks
Use reference tools to find quick facts, terminology, and clinical guidelines.
Explore Reference Tools
- Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary
- Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests
- Lippincott Nursing Procedures Handbook
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Nursing
- Merck Manual for Health Professionals
A-Z Access by Topic
Includes drug guides and clinical procedure outlines
- Database Search Skills
Learn how to search like a pro.
Take a Search Training Course
Quick Tips:
- Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT)
- Use quotation marks for exact phrases (“pressure ulcer prevention”)
- Limit results by date, peer-review, and subject area
- Databases
Premium access for students of Blue Horizon College:
Full Database Directory
| Database Name | Description | Access |
| CINAHL Complete | Comprehensive nursing & allied health research | ✅ |
| PubMed | Biomedical & clinical articles | ✅ |
| MedlinePlus | Consumer-friendly health information | ✅ |
| ScienceDirect | Full-text health sciences journals | ✅ |
| ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health | Dissertations, journals, and clinical evidence | ✅ |
| WHO Global Index Medicus | Global health studies & data | ✅ |
How to Log In to Databases