For DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) students, using APA 7th edition formatting correctly is essential for academic writing, including scholarly papers, evidence-based practice projects, capstone reports, and discussion posts. Below is a concise guide tailored to DNP students following APA 7th edition standards:
APA 7th Edition Quick Guide for DNP Students
Formatting Basics
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Font: 12-point Times New Roman (also acceptable: 11-point Calibri, Arial, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode).
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Spacing: Double-spaced throughout, including title page, references, block quotes, and tables.
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Margins: 1-inch on all sides.
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Page Numbers: Top right corner on every page, including the title page.
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Paragraph Indentation: 0.5 inches (use Tab key).
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Alignment: Left-aligned (not justified).
Title Page (Student Version)
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Title of the paper (bold, centered, title case)
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Student’s full name
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Institutional affiliation (e.g., XYZ University, School of Nursing)
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Course number and name
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Instructor’s name
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Due date (Month Day, Year)
Headings
Use up to 5 levels of headings. For most DNP papers, you’ll usually use levels 1–3.
| Level | Format |
|---|---|
| 1 | Centered, Bold, Title Case |
| 2 | Left-aligned, Bold, Title Case |
| 3 | Left-aligned, Bold Italic, Title Case |
In-Text Citations
Paraphrasing:
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(Author, Year)
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Example: (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019)
Direct Quote:
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(Author, Year, p. X)
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Example: (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019, p. 112)
If 3+ authors: use et al. after the first author’s name:
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(Smith et al., 2021)
Reference List
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Alphabetical order
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Hanging indent (0.5 inches)
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Double-spaced
Examples:
Journal Article:
Greenhalgh, T., Wherton, J., Papoutsi, C., Lynch, J., & Hughes, G. (2017). Beyond adoption: A new framework for theorizing and evaluating nonadoption, abandonment, and challenges to the scale-up, spread, and sustainability of health and care technologies. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(11), e367. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.8775
Book:
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Website:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, February 14). COVID-19: Vaccines and immunizations. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
Tips for DNP Students
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Use evidence-based sources (e.g., peer-reviewed journals, clinical guidelines).
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Limit direct quotes; favor paraphrasing and synthesizing.
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Refer to APA’s Publication Manual (7th ed.) or APA Style website for detailed guidance.
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Consider using citation tools like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley—but always double-check their formatting.
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For clinical writing, stay objective, concise, and professional.
