A conceptual framework for scientific writing in nursing.

Formal scientific writing is the central mode of communication used across disciplines to disseminate ideas and persuade others of the validity of scientific arguments. Dissemination of knowledge is important because it provides evidence for nursing practices and plays a critical part in defining the boundaries of the discipline. Despite its relevance to nursing, education about this essential skill is not currently evidence based and relies on a combination of mentorship and trial and error. This is problematic because considerable time is required to become proficient using that method, which slows down the dissemination of knowledge and creates a barrier for many skilled individuals who aspire to a career in academics. This article's aim is to present a conceptual framework for scientific writing that has been used in medical education and to demonstrate how it could be used to structure educational programs to teach novice nursing scholars about scientific writing.