HS Senior Project Ideas?

mama_d, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

Could you do research on a specific health disorder, and have your "product" be an informational booklet about said disorder for those newly diagnosed? Include things like the disease in layman's terms, diet restrictions (maybe with a few recipes within such restrictions), local agencies to contact for help if needed, etc.

I'm thinking of the books we give to our new diabetics and CHFers here.

Or maybe see if you can work with a local pediatrician and evaluate the use of distraction techniques on pain in children (from shots, etc.) You could get together a collection of toys appropiate to different developmental levels...do a control group and experimental group and all that jazz. I know from personal experience that when our toddler has to get his elbow reduced (he has nursemaids elbow and therefore is prone to dislocating it) I better have snacks, juice, and hot wheels available for afterward or he'll wake up the dead with his screaming. It seems like there's more and more research being done on the undertreatment of pain in kids and alternatives to drugs to treat said pain.

JamesJr. · Sep 10, 2008

Thanks so much for your ideas!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

one of the things i had to do in one of my bachelor's degree nursing classes was to visit a medical products store and get the prices of some of the commonly used medical devices we see patients using. you might want to do some window-shopping at one of these stores to get some ideas. i was trying to think of what products we nurses use that you might be able to get your hands on that you could write about and basically use for a show-and-tell project. you need something that wouldn't cost too much money but that you could still find research about. i was thinking about things as simple as the tools we use to assess patients for such as pulses, temperature, even the dip sticks they use for different lab tests now. the older glass thermometers with mercury work on principles of chemistry but they measure body temperature, a basic body function which you should be able to find information on. ivs which we use a lot of in the hospital work by the principle of gravity. i'm sure a friendly nurse would be willing to give you an empty iv bag or two and the tubing to go with it. finding something to hang the bags on shouldn't be hard. this is a table of commonly used iv solutions.doc and chart of commonly transfused blood products.doc that list the solutions that we infuse through ivs. if you can find someone who will lend you a manual blood pressure cuff there is plenty of information about blood pressures and how to take them.

CorgiMom · Sep 10, 2008

Exploring diseases is not really about nursing. You could research information about types of nursing jobs and then interview and videotape nurses about their experiences and what they like or dislike about their career choice. You would have to get their written permission to tape them. It might be very enlightening to discover more about nursing than what the media usually portrays.

allnurses Guide · Sep 10, 2008

This won't help . . . but thought I'd throw it in in case you do go on a mission trip.

My daughter did her senior project on Vietnam. She went with me last summer on a medical mission for 2 1/2 weeks. Her project was a fundraiser for the organization and she showed photos of the medical/dental clinics and all the patients (kids, grownups, etc.). She worked in the dental clinic and got to give lidocaine injections and pull teeth. She got a perfect score and everyone was impressed by the unique nature of the project.

steph

mama_d, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

Exploring diseases is not really about nursing. You could research information about types of nursing jobs and then interview and videotape nurses about their experiences and what they like or dislike about their career choice. You would have to get their written permission to tape them. It might be very enlightening to discover more about nursing than what the media usually portrays.

I like your idea as well.

But I have to say that alot of what I do does include exploring diseases, their process, the impact on my patient's life, consequences of noncompliance, and what changes they can make to adapt to the disease in order to maintain fullest quality of life possible. Perhaps it's just done differently where you're at, at our facility most of the patient education regarding diet/lifestyle changes/support systems is done by the nursing staff. We have booklets written by senior staff members that are given to our new diabetics, CHFers, COPDers, and MI patients with such information in it.

casi, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

My first question is what is it that interests you about nursing? There are so many aspects of nursing that you can touch upon.

What could be fun is shelling out the money for a summer CNA course and do your project on becoming a nursing assistant.

One project that I'm doing in school that I'm in love with is we are teaching a preschool class about something health related. A lot of research goes into what kind of kids you are teaching, what their learning needs are, and where they are cognatively. I'm sure that there are headstart programs in your area that would love to have you.

Check out local senior organizations and see if they have a friendly visitors type of program where you go out and visit elderly people in their homes and form relationships. It could be interesting to see how your concepts on aging change.

JamesJr. · Sep 10, 2008

No way!

What could be fun is shelling out the money for a summer CNA course and do your project on becoming a nursing assistant.

I was researching this today and contacted my local community college about it! What a coincidence. Your idea about teaching kids something also sounds great! Maybe teaching preschool kids the importance of handwashing or something similar? Everyone above has posted some really valuable information and I appreciate it all! One of my closest teachers at school is a nurse, and I am hoping she might be mentor for the project. I will discuss your ideas with her and see what her input is. Thanks everyone, I really do appreciate it all.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Sep 10, 2008

you might interview different types of nurses to learn the education and experience required for their position, what are their normal routines, what are their major work-related challenges, etc. For instance, there is a big difference between what a hospital nurse does versus a nurse in MD office, in public health, faculty at nursing school, etc. I would also ask entry-level salaries for the various positions. This may help you ( and others) decide what TYPE of nurse you want to become and be able to set goals. Include Nurse Practitioner (Advanced Practice) and CRNA (in hospital usually) to compare to positions that may be more well known. Might even include a game in the project that asks questions such as "who makes the most?" "how long did this nurse have to go to school?" BTW, look up AHEC in your county. That is an agency that educates people on allied health education opportunities in your area. Also, call the various colleges, etc. for info. Good luck

JamesJr. · Sep 19, 2008

I just wanted to update everyone. I discussed all of your ideas with my English teacher who is currently in charge of the projects. I really wanted to do the teaching thing where I went to a pre-school and taught kids how to wash hands, do some activities, etc. Her response was that it was "wimpy" and too humanitarian. She wants everyone to learn to do something. So I am learning to swim. I am so disappointed. Oh well. Some other students are learning to make wedding cakes, how to dance, how to play the chello, and I'm learning to swim...Oh well! I appreciate each of your responses and thanks so much for your help!