abstract writing in nursing

Tips for Writing an Excellent Conference Abstract

By Kathy Van Dusen, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, NHDP-BC, FAEN Apr 05, 2022

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Have you ever attended a nursing conference and thought to yourself that someday you would love to present a session at this conference? Perhaps you submitted an abstract that didn’t get accepted. Have you read a call for abstracts and wished you knew how to write an excellent abstract? Maybe you are ready to take your professional growth to the next level by presenting at a national conference. Following are some tips to help you write an excellent conference abstract.

The road to an outstanding abstract begins with carefully reviewing the submission guidelines for the conference.

Before You Begin

• Read the directions carefully and often.
• Understand the format, length and content expected.
• Seek a mentor who has experience writing abstracts.
• Allow yourself enough time to prepare a first-rate submission; waiting until the last minute rarely results in quality content.
• Make sure there is evidence to support your topic, and provide current references.

Selecting a Topic

Let’s start at the beginning of your submission with the topic of your abstract. Consider the audience who attends the conference, and think of clinical or professional practice topics that would be meaningful and valuable to them. Timely and relevant topics with fresh ideas and takeaways are a great way to start, and they include:

• New research or clinical guidelines
• Topics that highlight your area of expertise
• Topics that are relevant to conference attendees
• Subjects that apply to current practice challenges or workplace concerns
• Narrowing your topic to focus on key information that will fit in the time allotted

Abstract Titles

The title is the first thing abstract scorers and conference attendees will see, so it is worth spending some time trying a few variations to see what conveys the main point of your abstract and entices the audience to read further:

• Keep the title clear and concise; be certain it accurately reflects your presentation.
• Catchy titles grab the reader’s attention, yet describe the subject well.
• A title with 12 or fewer words is optimal.

Abstract Content

Plan your abstract thoroughly before writing it. A high-quality abstract addresses the problem or question, the evidence and the solutions. It is important to give an overview of what you intend to include in the presentation. Abstracts should be concise but also informative. Sentences should be short to convey the needed information and free of words or phrases that do not add value. Keep your audience in mind as you prepare your abstract. How much background information you provide on a topic will depend on the conference. It is a good idea to explain how you plan to engage the audience with your teaching methods, such as case studies, polling or audience participation.

• After the title, the first sentence should be a hook that grabs the reader’s attention and entices them to continue reading.
• The second sentence should be a focused problem statement supported by evidence.
• The next few sentences provide the solution to the problem.
• The conclusion should reiterate the purpose of your presentation in one or two sentences.

Learning Objectives

If the conference abstract requires learning objectives, start each one with an action verb. Action verbs are words such as apply, demonstrate, explain, identify, outline and analyze. Refrain from using nonaction verbs and phrases such as understand, recognize, be able to, and become familiar with. Learning objectives must be congruent with the purpose, session description/summary and abstract text. For a list of action verbs, refer to a Bloom’s Taxonomy chart .

Editing Your Abstract

Editing is an important part of the abstract submission process. The editing phase will help you see the abstract as a whole and remove unnecessary words or phrases that do not provide value:

• The final draft should be clear and easy to read and understand.
• Your language should be professional and adhere to abstract guidelines.
• Writing in the present tense is preferred.
• If there is more than one author, each author should review and edit the draft.
• Ask a colleague who is a good editor to critique your work.
• Reread your abstract and compare it with the abstract guidelines.
• Great content that is written poorly will not be accepted.
• Prevent typographical errors by writing your submission as a Word document first, and copy and paste it into the submission platform after you check spelling and grammar.
• Follow word and character count instructions, abstract style and formatting guidelines.
• Do not try to bend the rules to fit your needs; authors who do not follow the guidelines are more likely to have their submission rejected.
• After you finish writing your abstract, put it aside and return later with a fresh mind before submitting it.

Grammar Tips

• Avoid ampersands (&) and abbreviations such as, etc.
• Parenthetical remarks (however relevant they may seem) are rarely necessary.
• It is usually incorrect to split an infinitive. An infinitive consists of the word “to” and the simple form of a verb (e.g., to go, to read).
• Examples: “To suddenly go” and “to quickly read” are examples of split infinitives, because the adverbs (suddenly and quickly) split (break up) the infinitives to go and to read.
• Contractions are not used in scholarly writing. Using contractions in academic writing is usually not encouraged, because it can make your writing sound informal.
• I’m = I am
• They’re = They are
• I’d = I had
• She’s = She is
• How’s = How is
• Avoid quotations.
• Do not be redundant or use more words than necessary.
• Use an active voice.

National Teaching Institute (NTI) Submissions

We invite you to participate in AACN’s mission to advance, promote and distribute information through education, research and science. The API (Advanced Practice Institute) and NTI volunteer committees review and score every abstract submitted for NTI. Abstracts are reviewed for relevance of content, quality of writing and expression of ideas. At NTI there are four session times to choose from. Your abstract should demonstrate that you have enough content to cover the selected time frame.

Session Types for NTI

• Mastery: 2.5 hours of content
• Concurrent: 60- or 75-minute sessions
• Preconference half-day: 3 hours of content
• Preconference full-day: 6 hours of content

Links for NTI Submissions

• Submit an abstract for NTI
• Read the Live Abstract Guidelines before submitting your abstract

Putting time and effort into writing an excellent abstract is the gateway to a podium presentation. It’s time to kickstart your professional growth and confidently submit a conference abstract.

For what conference will you submit an abstract?

This is an excellent blog with very sound advice. It has great content for nurses who are wanting to submit an abstract but feel they do not know whe ... re to start and so they never take the opportunity to do it. Read More

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Everything You Need to Know to Write an Abstract: A Step-by-Step Guide

Thank you to Élise N. Arsenault Knudsen, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC for this informative article on how to write a nursing abstract.

Conducting improvement work or engaging in research facilitates nurses’ professional growth and advancing nursing knowledge and practice. Therefore, once the projects are complete, it is essential to share those learnings both within and outside our organizations. Professional nursing conferences are an excellent venue for dissemination, as well as networking. If you want to present at a conference, the first step is to respond to the “Call for Abstracts.”

This article provides a step-by-step guide and points to consider helping you prepare, write, and submit an abstract for a professional nursing conference, such as the PCNA’s Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium .

What is an Abstract?

Before describing the steps for abstract writing, let’s define what an abstract is and be clear about the purpose of an abstract.

An abstract is a brief summary and description of your project. “The word ‘abstract’ comes from the Latin  abstractum , which means a condensed form of a longer piece of writing”. 1 Abstracts have a word count limit, ranging from 150 to 500 words; therefore, abstracts must be concise. The purpose of the abstract is to highlight the main elements of the project, with enough detail to allow the reviewers to determine the relevance and suitability for presentation. 2  

This article focuses on writing an abstract for a nursing conference; however, it is worth noting that abstracts are used for other purposes, such as accompanying published scholarly journal articles and grant applications. 

Step 1: Preparation

Before doing any actual writing, there are a few questions to consider to prepare and focus your thoughts. As you develop a timeline for writing an abstract, build in enough time to complete this important first step. During the preparation phase, consider the following questions.

What story do you want to tell?

As you have worked on this project, you have become an expert; you know the topic area and the details, as well as the time you have invested and the challenges you have overcome. Winnowing all of that concisely into 300 words can feel difficult. However, with some thoughtful reflection, and discussions with team members, you will be able to identify the project’s key aspects to focus on for this conference presentation. Keep in mind that there is always more to the story than what can be shared or described in a single conference presentation, regardless of poster or podium format. Therefore, you will make decisions about how to craft your writing to focus on just two or three key points.

Questions to Guide Your Story Line

You can think about your work like a story and the abstract like its trailer. Your goal is to entice the abstract reviewers, who are naïve to your work, to want to hear more about the wonderful work you have done. Like a movie trailer, an abstract includes the highlights and the results of the work, but it doesn’t include all the complexities of the plot. Before you begin writing your abstract, consider the following questions to clarify your thinking about the aspects of your story to include: 3

• Why did you start? What prompted you to start this project? What question did you want to answer? What were the goals of the project? And what aspect of those goals do you want to share at the conference?
• What did you do? What did you do for your project? What method did you use?
• What answer did you get? What did you learn from this project? What were the main answers you discovered? How did those answers get you closer to answering your question or achieving your goal?
• What does it mean? Within the context of health care or nursing, what does this project mean? What are the implications of this work?

How Does Your Story Align With the Conference?

It is typical for a conference to have a theme, purpose, or focus.  For example, PCNA’s Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium is focused on highlighting healthcare professionals’ work that includes “innovative projects, original research, or graduate capstones related to cardiovascular risk reduction and disease management”.  Each of these submission types is defined on the PCNA webpage; review those descriptions carefully to ensure a match between the category you select for your abstract and the work you conducted.

As you think about that focus, consider the aspects of your work that may be most intriguing for the audience to hear.

Also, consider the stage of your project. Many conferences accept abstracts describing work that is ongoing or in progress if it will be completed to present. Typically, two presentation formats are available at the conference, podium (oral) and poster presentations. Completed projects are more likely to be selected for a podium presentation and an ongoing project is more likely to be selected for a poster presentation

What Are the Requirements for the Submission?

Before you begin writing, review the requirements for the submission. Be clear about the format (including the headings required for the submission), the submission deadline, any themes, submission categories, or tracks for the conference, and ensure you are able to attend the conference if your abstract is accepted.

Review the Selection Criteria

Many conferences’ “Calls for Abstracts” include how abstracts are selected; PCNA lists them under “ Grading Criteria .”  Review these criteria and ensure to address each of them in your writing.

Develop a Timeline to Ensure an On-time Submission

Plans to start drafting an abstract should begin at least 3 to 4 weeks before the abstract submission deadline to ensure adequate time for writing, revising, proofreading, feedback, final revisions, and submission.

Note Available Resources

PCNA, for example, offers proofreading and feedback on abstracts. If writing an abstract is a new skill you are developing, this is a wonderful resource that may improve your chances of being selected to present.  Take advantage of those resources by planning for the review due date in addition to the final abstract submission deadline.

Determine Authorship

An important part of the preparation phase is to determine who will be included as an author on the abstract and the subsequent presentation. Authors should reflect those who made substantial contributions to the project, writing the abstract and preparing the presentation; not simply those who were involved in the project. 4 When projects included team members who were essential to the project but not part of the writing or presentation, it is appropriate to include them in an acknowledgment section in the presentation.

Determine the Order of Authors

Typically, in nursing, the first author is the primary contributor or project lead, and the remaining authors are listed by level of contribution.  The final author typically indicates the mentor for the project or the most experienced author. If the contributions were equivalent, listing the authors in alphabetical order is standard. 

Step 2: Getting Started with a Nursing Abstract

After thinking through the questions and nuances of the preparation step, review your notes and ideas.  Once the main points of the abstract are clear to you, it is time to begin the first draft of your abstract. Consider these two pieces of advice for your first draft:

• Start writing with the required abstract headers. As the first step simply write the headers into your document. This strategy will help to organize your writing, ensure that you are meeting the heading requirements, and prevent you from starting with an intimidating blank page.
• Write the first draft without editing. The first draft is not going to be perfect, and that is to be expected. Rather, the goal of the first draft is simply to write something. While the final abstract has a word limit, that limit should not be the focus of your first draft. It is often easier to edit and delete words after the first draft is complete.   

Step 3: Crafting the Abstract

This is the step where the writing begins! As you begin writing, remember to match the content of the abstract with the “Call for Abstracts” requirements. Competitive abstracts clearly articulate the rationale for the presentation and are substantial. 5 The following content should be included for each heading for an abstract submission to PCNA:

• While this is often written last, it is the first impression of your work; it should be a concise representation of the project.
• Avoid jargon or abbreviations in the title to ensure clarity.
• The title should be simple, using as few words as possible, while capturing what you are writing about.
• Sometimes it is helpful to include the project design in the title because it anchors the reader in the type of work being presented.
• Consider a title that captures a broad audience and grabs attention without being overdone. 1
• This section provides the context for your project and indicates why the project is important.  It orients the reader to the work and frames up the rationale for your project within the context of what is already known on the topic. 2
• As appropriate, this section refers to literature or published research that is relevant to the project topic. However, citations are not usually included in abstracts (APA format does not require citations for abstracts).  Rather, use language that clearly indicates that you are referring to published work (such as Recent research on this topic indicates…) .
• The background section is usually 3 to 5 sentences and should clearly guide the reader to the purpose of the project. The purpose statement should be the final sentence of the background section.
• This section describes the process of how the work was completed.
• The content in this section will vary based on the type of work that you did. For example, in a research study, this will include the details of the design, sample, setting, and data analysis. For improvement work, it will include the model used and the work that was completed in each step.
• The methods section should logically flow from the background and the purpose and is typically 2-3 sentences.

Interventions

• In each project or study, something was “done;” this section includes a brief description of what was conducted during the project or study.
• For example, interventions for an improvement project likely include education for clinicians, workflow changes, and evaluation of the new process; each of those should be described elements in this section across 2-4 sentences.
• Within this header, answer the question: What happened as a result of your work? Include the actual results that match the purpose statement in the background section.
• The results section is often considered the most important part of the abstract. This section may be the longest section and may require other sections to be limited to adequately capture the findings of your project. 2
• The results section should be focused on the facts and data about what was learned during the project. For example, after an improvement project was piloted, what rates of adherence were seen for a new workflow? Or what clinician- or patient- outcomes improved?

Conclusions

• This section should answer the question: After completing this project what can be said about the topic? What are the take-home messages? The salient conclusions should directly link to the project you are presenting. 2
• This is typically 1-2 sentences that tie together all the previous sections of the abstract.

Implications

• This is an opportunity to indicate why this work was important and how this project impacts nursing or health care. Recommendations for next steps are also often included in this section. For example, based on the results of an improvement project, a recommendation for spreading the practice to new areas may be made, or a research study may recommend future studies to discover more.

Step 4: Editing and Proof-reading

Once your initial draft is written, take a break (perhaps an hour or overnight) to allow the words to settle; return to the draft with fresh eyes to begin the editing process. 

• Edit to ensure that your writing is clear and concise and without jargon.
• As you re-read, be sure that abbreviations are spelled out the first time they are used.
• Ensure that sentences are short and direct, using an active (rather than passive) voice.
• The abstract should read as a cohesive document, flowing from one section to the next, with the tense maintained throughout. 
• Read the abstract aloud to catch poor grammar, missed or duplicative words, and awkward phrasing. 5
• Eliminate unnecessary words and ensure the abstract meets the word limit; 300 words are allowed for PCNA’s Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium abstract submission.
• Ask someone else to proofread your abstract, preferably someone who is not familiar with your work. Ask for feedback on the clarity of the abstract and serve as a second pair of eyes for grammatical errors or typos.

Step 5: Submit

After preparing, writing, revising, and editing, and receiving feedback on your nursing abstract, it is time to submit. Consider these final steps:

• Ensure all authors have reviewed and approved the final version.
• Re-read the submission criteria and re-read your abstract confirming all submission criteria are met.
• Follow the steps for submitting your work.
• Submit before the deadline.

Step 6: Celebrate!

Writing and submitting a nursing abstract is worthy of recognition; congratulate yourself and your teammates (as applicable) on a job well done.

Additional Resources for Writing an Abstract

• Tips for Writing an Excellence Conference Abstract – American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
• Writing an Abstract – The Writing Center at George Mason University
• Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper – The Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Panton, L. (2016). Writing an abstract. HIV Nursing, 16 , 5-6.
• Alspach, J.G. (2017). Writing for publication 101: Why an abstract is so important. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 37 (4), 12-15.
• Heseltine, E. (2012). Writing an abstract: Window to the world of your work. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 36 (3), 204-205.
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). (2023). Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors .
• Happell, B. (2007). Hitting the target! A no tears approach to writing an abstract for a conference presentation. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 16 , 447-452.

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How to write an abstract for a clinical nursing article

Posted 09 may 2017 - 09:25.

How to write an abstract for a clincial nursing article for the evidence and practice section of an RCNi journal, that will summarise your article and act as a guide to the article ahead.

If you are writing an article that you want to appear in the evidence and practice section of an RCNi journal, you’ll need to write an abstract. These may vary slightly in style and content but essentially an abstract is a summary. It is not an introduction; nor is it the whole article with a few sections cut out. So what is its purpose?

Think about the reader

Writing for publication is all about the reader. You, the author, want the reader to journey through your article from start to finish with as few obstacles, forks in the road and dead ends as possible. Think of the abstract as a sort of guide to this journey. It explains what lies ahead, it highlights important features or findings and it describes the end point.

A well written abstract can make the difference between readers reading on your article, and reflecting or acting upon it, and their abandoning the journey before it has begun.

Here are some points to consider when writing an abstract:

• Write the article before the abstract. You cannot summarise what you have not yet written.
• Stick to the guidelines. Abstracts in RCNi journals have between 80 and 150 words (except for Nurse Researcher which has abstracts of 250 words). Anything longer is likely to be cut so make every word count.
• Follow the same order in the abstract as you do in the article. But write the abstract separately rather than cutting and pasting chunks of text from the article. 
• Describe your article’s main arguments and findings broadly. The detail should be in the article itself.  
• If you are writing for Nurse Researcher, use the following headings in your abstract: Background , Aim , Discussion , Conclusion , Implications for practice .
• If your article is original research in any other RCNi journal, use these headings in the abstract: Background , Aim , Method , Findings or Results and Conclusion .
• When writing the abstract, think about the article’s purpose. Be clear about the issue you are trying to address. Why does the article matter? What does it add to the sum of existing nursing knowledge? How is it likely to influence nursing practice? The abstract should give your audience clear reason to read on.
• Avoid jargon and unexplained acronyms. Of course, this applies to the main text as well but, because the abstract should ‘sell’ the article to readers, it is especially important not to litter it with words and phrases that confuse and discourage.

For more specific guidance, look at the section on author guidelines.

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• Writing an abstract

An abstract is a short summary of a longer work and provides an overview of the topic and shouldn’t have anything in it that’s not in the paper itself.

Although brief, (typically 150-300 words), an abstract should be written in a way that piques the reader’s interest in your paper.

Whereas the purpose of an introduction is to broadly introduce your topic and your key message, the purpose of an abstract is to give an overview of your entire project, in particular its findings and contribution to the field. An abstract should be a standalone summary of your paper, which readers can use to decide whether it’s relevant to them.

Usually an abstract includes the following:

• A brief introduction to the topic that you’re investigating
• Explanation of why the topic is important in your field/s
• Statement about what the gap is in the research
• Your research question/s/aim/s
• An indication of your research methods and approach
• Your key message
• A summary of your key findings
• An explanation of why your findings and key message contribute to the field/s.

In other words, an abstract includes points covering these questions.

• What is your paper about?
• Why is it important?
• How did you do it?
• What did you find?
• Why are your findings important?

In all cases, the abstract is the very last thing you write. It should be a completely independent, self-contained text, not an excerpt copied from your paper. An abstract should be fully understandable on its own to someone who hasn’t read your full paper or related sources.

If you are writing for a conference paper or an article in a publication, adhere to the writing style guide for recommended fonts which are generally: 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial.

The easiest approach to writing an abstract is to imitate the structure of the larger work—think of it as a miniature version of your paper. In most cases, this means the abstract should contain four key elements, to provide a clear structure. These elements are:

• Aims/Purpose/Background,
• Results/Discussion and
• Conclusion.

Other elements to be considered are future Implications (or implications for policy; or future implications for nursing and policy) and/or research.

Do not use the same sentence for the first line of the abstract and the introduction.

Do not place references in the abstract.

How do I pick my keywords for under the abstract?

Keywords are words that capture the most important aspects of your paper. What words describe the topic of your paper, words that you would enter into a search box to find your paper? The keywords line should begin indented like a paragraph. (In typeset APA journal articles, the keywords line is aligned under the abstract.)

Keywords: indented (like a regular paragraph), italic (but not bold) followed by a space and the keywords from your abstract. The keywords themselves should not be italicised. Keywords do not need to be in alphabetical order.

Abstract Checklist:

Ο The word count is within the required length, or a maximum of one A4 sheet of paper. Ο The abstract is included after the title page and/or acknowledgements and before the table of contents. Ο The objective, problem statement, and/or research questions are stated. Ο The methodology is briefly described. Ο The most important results are summarised. Ο The main conclusions are stated. Ο Any recommendations and/or suggestions for further research are mentioned. Ο The abstract can be understood by someone without prior knowledge of the topic. Ο Implications to nursing and policy and further research.

References:

Elsevier. 2018 Collegian . The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research. Author Information Pack .  Accessed 7 April 2020.

McCombes, S. 2020. How to write an abstract . Accessed 7 April 2020.

McDonald, J. 2015. How to write and abstract: Some useful tips. What’s the purpose of an abstract? Accessed 7 April 2020.

Nordquist, R. 2019. How to Write an Abstract Definition and Tips . Accessed 7 April 2020.

American Psychological Association. (2020). APA style guide. 7th Edition. Abstract and Keywords Guide Accessed 28 October 2020.

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Affiliations.

• 1 Associate Professor in General Nursing, School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: [email protected].
• 2 Digestive oncology nurse specialist and researcher, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
• 3 Associate Professor. School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway, Ireland.
• 4 Specialist Nurse & PhD student, Department of Head and Neck and ENT Cancer Surgery of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Francisco Gentil, Lisbon, Portugal.
• 5 Nursing Research Head Nurse & Associate Professor, Catalan Institute of Oncology, School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
• 6 Reader, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Blantyre, Scotland.
• 7 Reader in Supportive Cancer Care, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
• PMID: 36841679
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soncn.2023.151395

Objectives: This article provides practical guidance on developing a comprehensible abstract, including those required for funding applications, conferences, and publication. In addition, we discuss and demonstrate the practicalities of editing and revising an abstract for conference or peer review and identify emerging formats that may be more relevant to nurses and researchers.

Data sources: This article has been informed by literature and the coauthors' respective experiences of preparing and reviewing abstracts for publication and conference presentation.

Conclusion: Abstracts are a valuable tool to communicate the most important elements of the methods and results of a research project for a conference, manuscript, or even a research funding application. However, abstracts may often be an overlooked part of the dissemination process. An abstract determines whether or not a piece of research is relevant for presentation at a conference or valuable enough to be considered for peer review and subsequent publication. A strong and clearly written abstract positively predisposes reviewers of grant applications.

Implications for nursing practice: Writing an abstract is arguably the most challenging component of academic writing, summarizing the results of a substantive research project in three to five sentences and positioning them concisely within the background and implications for future practice, policy, and research. A well-written abstract is clear, concise, and critical and requires time and revision to ensure success.

Keywords: Abstract; Abstracting; Indexing; Journal article; Meeting abstract; Writing skills.

Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication types

• Abstracting and Indexing*
• Peer Review

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Abstract Writing Workshop Templates

Abstract writing tips, conference calendar.

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You have done the work and acquired the knowledge, now share your results with your peers and wider community. Disseminating knowledge through conference presentations is the next step in the clinical enquiry process. Abstract Writing Workshops are scheduled throughout 2024. Below are documents used in the workshops, and to help get started and organized. 

• Abstract Components Template
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• Getting Started Writing Abstracts Powerpoint
• Title & Authorship
• Abstract Examples
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• Additional Help

The goal of the Title & Abstract is to Grab the Readers Attention!  This can be achieved through  consolidating content into easy-to-digest chunks of information.

• Title is succinct, convincing, and engaging.
• First sentence should be powerful.
• Entice reviewers or readers with compelling, understandable writing.

When Considering Authorship, 

• Decide who will be the first, or lead author, and the order of the remaining authors ​
• contributed to the work,
• AND drafted or reviewed the work,
• AND approved final version,
• AND agreed to be accountable for all aspects of accuracy and integrity
• OR Add as Acknowledgements, rather than author

International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE, 2022).  Defining the Role of Authors  and Contributors . [website] <accessed April 16, 2024>​

Review highly-regarded publications in your field. Many associations publish a special issue of conference proceedings.

• AACN Am J of Critical Care - May issue, NTI research abstracts
• AORN Journal - October issue
• Association of California Nurse Leaders ACNL - Research and EBP abstracts and templates
• ONS - Oncology Nursing Forum - March issue
• Journal of Nursing Scholarship; Worldviews in Evidence Based Nursing
• Nursing Research 

Well-constructed Abstracts Should Answer the Following:

• WHY was the work important, and what were the issues and scope of the problems? (Purpose/Question(s)/Problem/Aims/Significance)
• WHERE your setting was and what population did you use? (Background/Introduction/Context)
• HOW did you design your research initiative or education initiative? (Methods/Approach/QI Model/Intervention)
• WHAT were the outcomes, findings, and lessons learned? (Results/Outcomes/Significance/Discussion/Limitations or Barriers(
• WHAT NOW and how should others use this information? (Implications/Recommendations)

Think "A-B-C" to Guide Your Writing: Follow the ABCs of Effective Communication

• Accuracy : Mirror the content of your study or project
• Brevity : Outline the major points in as few words as possible
• Clarity : Use clear, consistent and precise language

More Abstract Writing Guidelines

• Write in short, complete sentences
• Use specific terms and define any common jargon or acronyms
• Use digits unless the number starts a sentence
• Use active voice and past tense

Sherman, R.O. (2017). Chapter16: Writing Abstracts For Podium or Poster Presentations. In C. Saver (ed.): Anatomy of writing for publication for nurses. (3rd ed.) Sigma Theta Tau International.   

Pietsch, T. (2021). Poster Series Part 1, Writing an Abstract for a Research or QI Poster Presentation. Association of Rehabilitation Nurses. Retrieved August 23, 2023 from  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O75LjadRvw    

Connor, L. (2019) Writing an Abstract for an EBP Initiative for a Poster or Podium Presentation. Retrieved October 11, 2023 from  https://fuld.nursing.osu.edu/writing-abstract-ebp-initiative-poster-or-podium-presentation  

When you have an abstract ready to submit

• Ask - Others to read your abstract before you submit
• Check - Understanding and clarity
• Check - Spelling and grammatical errors
• Check - Consistent use of terms

Some Final Key Points for Abstracts

• Complete and comprehensive
• Sections should interconnect
• Interesting to reviewers and readers
• Generates discussion
• Magnet conference emphasizes Nurse-led projects and efforts around Engagement
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses conference emphasizes the nurse's role in improving patient outcomes
• Association of California Nurse Leaders conference emphasizes the implementation of leadership strategies to change culture and influence outcomes
• Western Institute of Nursing conference focuses on studying the correlation between nursing interventions and patient outcomes

If you get frustrated, stuck, or cannot find the right words... reach out to mentors for help and advice.

Where to Get Help

• Kimberly Sanchez [email protected]  
• Andrea Harrow [email protected]

Office Hours: Fridays in the Keck Hospital Hoffman Cafe, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

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• Introduction
• New Member Manual & Brochure
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Abstracts, Posters & Publishing

Huntington Health encourages nurses to disseminate research and evidence-based practice projects. Important avenues of dissemination include abstract and poster presentations at conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Creating a Winning Abstract - Johns Hopkins  - View on YouTube

HH Abstract Worksheet – EBP, PI/QI, or Poster Project  -  To help guide you to an effective abstract or poster presentation

Writing and Submitting an Abstract Checklist -  Email the  [email protected]  for a copy of the checklist.

Poster Development Workshop  - PowerPoint Slides

How to Prepare for a Poster Presentation  -   View on YouTube

« Design »

PosterNerd.com (formerly MakeSigns.com)  -  Recommended for poster templates and poster ordering by the EBP/Nursing Research Council

PosterNerd Tutorials  -   5 Minute Overview,  Scientific Poster Parts,  Layout & Design,  Images, Charts, & Graphs,  Poster Sizing

Multimedia Resources  -  Find online visual resources that may be used for presentations. Includes, images, slides, and video resources. Please review the individual resource's terms of use .

The Nuts and Bolts of Publishing (2011)  - PowerPoint

Improve your Academic Writing: Seven Useful Tips  -  View on YouTube

TED-Ed. Beware of Nominalizations  -  Helen Sword, 2012; View on YouTube

Avoiding Wordiness  -   View on YouTube

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Writing abstracts for conferences: How to WOW the reviewers

By Lorraine Byrnes, PhD, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CNM, FAANP and Beth Kelsey, EdD, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP

In the September 2017 issue of Women’s Healthcare , we published an article in the Professional development department about creating award-winning posters for conference presentations . In this issue, we discuss writing abstracts for conferences.

A conference abstract is an informative summary of the content you plan to present to conference attendees. The purpose of the abstract is to provide adequate information for the committee reviewers to determine whether it would be of interest to the conference audience and to assess the quality of your work. Your challenge is to provide this information in a complete, yet concise, manner that will catch the attention of the reviewers in a favorable way.

Select the right organization and conference

Most nursing organizations host an annual conference; many organizations also host regional and local conferences. You may be able to submit the same abstract to more than one conference, but read the abstract guidelines to be sure. Take time to explore potential conferences for your abstract submission and submit to a conference that will be feasible and affordable for you to attend. Consider the cost of registration, travel, and lodging. If accepted, will you be available to attend the conference? Registration, travel, and lodging expenses may be covered by your employer, but you need to verify this coverage prior to submitting your abstract.

Plan to submit your abstract to conferences that attract audiences that would be interested in your work. At the same time, choose conferences that interest you and that are held at a time and place that suit your schedule.

Consider conferences, both national and even international, that provide an opportunity for you to network with colleagues and disseminate information about a clinical practice, education, research, or policy study specific to your area of interest. Also, find out whether you need to be a member of an organization to which you are submitting an abstract (many organizations have this requirement).

Read abstracts from the previous year’s conference to see the topics that were presented. Many organizations holding conferences post these abstracts on their websites, in their journals, or in the Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository on the Sigma Theta Tau International website. Don’t be discouraged if your topic has been presented in recent years; emphasize the unique contribution that your study or project makes to nursing and/or healthcare knowledge and practice!

Many conferences have broad themes or focus areas. Decide whether your presentation topic is a good fit for the theme; if so, be sure to include key words linking the theme to your abstract submission.

A word of caution: Predatory conferences have become a concern in recent years among researchers. A predatory conference is one that is not hosted by a nationally or internationally recognized organization. The goal of a predatory conference is to profit from researchers’ need to publish and present by charging fees to do so. If you have concerns about a conference that you are interested in attending for the purpose of presenting, discuss these concerns with your mentor or seek guidance from an academic librarian. Unfortunately, Beall’s List, the one e-resource for checking the predatory status of journals and conferences, has become unavailable.

Prepare to write your abstract

An important step—one that is often overlooked—is seeking mentorship in abstract writing. If you do not have a mentor, now is the time to reach out to potential mentors and ask for guidance. Persons who can serve as mentors include colleagues who have presented at conferences, faculty members with whom you have had a relationship, and nursing leaders with expertise in your subject area. Even if you do not have a relationship with a person who would be a suitable mentor for you, we encourage you to ask her or him to serve in this capacity for you. Don’t forget: This person once looked to others to serve as mentors during her or his professional development. People who are able to play this important role in your professional development are likely quite busy, so allow adequate time for them to respond to your request.

Carefully read the abstract submission guidelines for the conference. Follow the guidelines’ detailed instructions and formatting requirements to the letter . Comply with font, spacing, and margin rules. Allow adequate time for writing, review by a mentor or colleague, and revision, if necessary; poorly written abstracts will be rejected. Of utmost importance: Adhere to the word limit! Abstracts that do not meet all the criteria set forth in the conference guidelines will not even be reviewed.

Write your abstract

Here are our step-by-step recommendations for writing the abstract itself:

The title of the abstract should concisely and accurately reflect the topic of the submission. At the same time, it should catch the reviewers’ attention and pique their interest. Choose the title wording carefully, because, once submitted, it cannot be changed. This title will be used in all conference materials.

The abstract submission guidelines may indicate the number of words permitted in the title. If you have some leeway, aim for a title length of 10 to 15 words. Reviewers and others who have written about abstract and manuscript titles offer these tips:

• Include key words. Review the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) for acceptable keywords.
• Example of a research study title: Pregnant adolescents’ satisfaction with group based care: a qualitative study
• Example of a QI project title: Increasing human papillomavirus vaccination rates in a family practice: a team-based approach
• Connect the title to the theme of the conference.
• Avoid the use of adjectives, which are usually unnecessary to convey the content.
• Don’t try to be cute or funny; misinterpretation is always a possibility.
• Don’t use abbreviations or acronyms, which may not be understood by all readers.

The required abstract submission format may be either unstructured or structured. Less common is a requirement for an unstructured format, which may entail simply a summary of your work in paragraph form. More common is a requirement for a structured format that provides specific section headings for organizing the abstract. These headings may vary, depending on whether the abstract submission is for a research study, an evidence-based practice (EBP)/QI project, or other type of work. Be careful to choose the correct format for your abstract. One strategy to help organize an abstract with an unstructured format is to use headings and then delete them prior to submission.

In typical cases, you are asked to provide a brief introduction describing the background/significance of the research study or background/problem for an EBP/ QI project and a statement of purpose for the study or project. Connect the purpose to previous or current research or EBP. This connection should be stated as a gap in knowledge or inadequate application of evidence in practice that affects quality of care and patient outcomes. Let the reviewers know why your study or project was relevant. If there is a research question or outcome objective, state it in one sentence.

After providing the background, describe the type of setting used and sample/population, including the sampling method. Then describe succinctly the methodology (e.g., design type, interventions/procedures, measurement tools, data collection, data analysis), results/findings, and implications for clinical practice, education, research, or policy.

Some conference committees accept abstracts on studies or projects in progress. Use the guidelines to determine whether your work has moved forward sufficiently to be accepted as “in progress.” In most cases, the expectation is that data collection has started prior to the abstract submission date. If that is not the case, wait for the next year to submit the abstract or find a conference with a later abstract submission date.

Word limits

Writing an informative summary with all the required components within the word limit imposed on abstract submissions (typically, 350-500 words) is challenging! You’ll need to be succinct and precise and, at the same time, make a favorable impression on the reviewers. Make full use of the word count allowed. If you fi nd that your word count exceeds the limit, follow these tips for streamlining your content while still providing essential information.

• Use accepted statistical symbols and abbreviations when expressing sample numbers, means, standard deviations, and greater than/less than instead of writing out these words.
• Use simple rather than complex sentences.
• Avoid unnecessary adjectives/adverbs/ancillary words throughout the abstract.
• Continuously ask yourself, “If I remove this word, will the meaning of the sentence remain the same?”
• Start with a longer abstract and then pare it down. This task may be diffi cult; your mentor or colleague should be able to provide guidance here.
• Maintain focus on your study or project. Do not stray into other areas.
• Avoid repetition.

Clarity and consistency

The information in each sentence should be clear and concise in conveying your meaning. Make each word count; omit words that are irrelevant. The abstract text should be well organized and flow smoothly from one component to the next. There should be evident consistency among the purpose, methodology, results, and implications.

Grammar, spelling, and style

Pay strict attention to the elements of good writing. Use active rather than passive voice and be consistent in your verb tense. For example, if your study or project has been completed, use past tense throughout the abstract. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms unless they are spelled out the first time they are used. Use proper resources to check your grammar and spelling. If your writing style is suboptimal, ask a skilled writer or editor for advice. If English is not your primary language, ask a mentor or colleague who speaks and reads English fluently to proofread your work. Even if you follow the abstract guidelines to the letter, if you ignore the basic rules of writing, your abstract may be rejected.

Significance, relevance, and innovation

Here the word significance refers to implications for practice and/or future research related to your findings/results. This significance should be well articulated and answer the “so what” question. The reviewers should be able to discern that the significance is relevant to the intended audience and purpose/theme of the conference. Reviewers are also seeking innovation—abstracts that convey something new—to have maximum impact on the conference audience. Emphasize the provocative issues and new ideas that arose from your study or the uniqueness of your project, and how the audience will be able to use the information you present to improve clinical practice and health outcomes for their patients.

Add learning objectives (if possible)

Abstract guidelines may request the provision of learning objectives for the audience. Words used in the objectives may be in addition to the maximum word count for the abstract itself. Use this opportunity to your advantage, but be sure to word the objectives as measureable behaviors (e.g., describe, discuss, explain, list) that learners can perform after reviewing your poster or attending your presentation. Maintain consistency between the learning objectives and the presentation content. Bloom’s taxonomy provides an excellent framework for writing learning objectives.

Consider the conference reviewers’ perspective

Reviewers generally serve the conference organization on a voluntary basis and have expertise in the content area. Abstracts are made available to reviewers after all identifying information is removed (blind review). The reviewers’ charge is to read the submitted abstracts without bias and consider the overall rigor of the submission and fit for the conference. Reviewers may be assigned abstracts representing their particular area of expertise. They are given specific criteria upon which to judge abstract submissions.

Of primary importance to reviewers is the quality of the study or project. The reviewers’ judgment and decision is based solely on the abstract. The reviewers do not have an opportunity to request clarification or further information. Therefore, incomplete or poorly written submissions tend to be rejected. The goal is to submit an abstract that reflects the effort invested in the study/project.

Go from how to WOW

In this article, we have shown you how to improve your chance for success in preparing and submitting your conference abstract. With the proper time, care, and attention, you can wow  the reviewers and earn a place as a presenter at the conference of your choice.

Lorraine Byrnes is Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Undergraduate Nursing Programs, at Hunter Bellevue School of Nursing in New York, New York. Beth Kelsey is Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana; editor-in-chief of Women’s Healthcare: A Clinical Journal for NPs; and NPWH Director of Publications.

American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association . 6th ed. Washington, DC: Author; 2010.

Fowler J. Writing for professional publication. Part 11: writing conference abstracts. Br J Nurs . 2011;20(7):451.

Holland K, Watson R. Writing for Publication in Nursing and Healthcare: Getting It Right . Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012.

Ickes MJ, Gambescia SF. Abstract art: how to write competitive conference and journal abstracts. Health Promot Pract . 2011;12(4):493-496.

Pearce PF, Ferguson LA. How to write abstracts for manuscripts, presentations, and grants: maximizing information in a 30-s sound bite world. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract . 2017;29:452-460.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. Medical Subject Headings 2017 .

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Women's Healthcare Newsletter

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• Undergraduate Students
• Graduate Students
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The Clinical Inquiry Process Resource Guide

• Choosing A Mentor
• VCU Health System Resources and Contacts
• Research v. EBP v. PI/QI
• The Phases of the Clinical Inquiry Process
• Clinical Questions: Sources and Determining Feasibility
• Types of Clinical Questions - Broad to Focused
• Constructing Your PICO Question
• Stakeholders: Recruit & Assemble Team
• Background Info.
• Primary Res.
• Evidence Summaries/Synthesis
• Trans. Lit.
• Meta-Search Engines
• Useful Documents for this Section
• The Clinical Inquiry Process Diagram
• Conference List
• Creating a Poster
• Abstract Writing

Abstract Examples

• Writing for Publication
• Presentation Skills
• Poster Examples
• Authors & Acknowledgements

Roy Brown, MLIS, AHIP

Dale Wright, MS, RN, PCCN, ACNS-BC

Updated:  March 27, 2018 

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