I write, therefore, I cite: why and how tools can help the author.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are beholden to the scholarly works of others. From the time as a student with formal course papers through the time of practice and into the time of authorship, the knowledge gained from those before us has shaped our thinking and decision making and has directly influenced our work. As professionals, NPs are expected to be effective stewards of the profession by continually refining and advancing knowledge and practice. The written work, along with other forms of scholarship, provides the foundation from which NPs can accomplish such refinement of knowledge and the advancement of practice. This editorial highlights the importance of citing the works of those before us and provides an overview of some of the tools that NPs can use in scholarly pursuits.