Any ideas for thesis? Help!

Here's something that I wonder about at work a lot. We all know how it feels to work so hard for a baby and see it get discharged, only to question how well the infant will be taken care of at home. What about studying the factors involved in compliance with discharge follow-up appointments? In other words, when we tell them to go for pedi or subspecialty followup, do they really always go and how can we make it more likely that they'll go?

(I know what I want to say here, but it isn't coming out so clearly. Pardon me, as it's nearly 4 am and I am in the middle of some serious sleep pattern issues.)

Here's something that I wonder about at work a lot. We all know how it feels to work so hard for a baby and see it get discharged, only to question how well the infant will be taken care of at home. What about studying the factors involved in compliance with discharge follow-up appointments? In other words, when we tell them to go for pedi or subspecialty followup, do they really always go and how can we make it more likely that they'll go?

(I know what I want to say here, but it isn't coming out so clearly. Pardon me, as it's nearly 4 am and I am in the middle of some serious sleep pattern issues.)

I totally agree with you! So much, in fact, that my second job (part time, in all my spare time ), is as a Help Me Grow nurse. It's an Ohio program aimed at creating a good start for newborns (and toddlers up to 3 years old) and families. I visit, along with service co-ordinators. We help with Dr. visits, finances, nutrition, and provide the essential teaching that, regrettably is many times not adequately provided in the hospital. It's free, voluntary, and really helps with these issues. The salary I receive is a pittance, but it's soooo rewarding:balloons:

I think this would be a great research topic. However, the big roadblock I'm hitting with just about any other ideas I have is that it really should be measureable. Also, to be really beneficial, this should encompass a rather large area. This is just me, and I'm not sure I could quite get there (and keep my sanity). This is the population I would love to follow up with after graduation!

Thanks!!!!!

Stephanie :-)

Could you work with WIC ? This would give you a big population to work with.

I had a breakthrough today!!!

One of my good friends has her MSN with a focus on community and family health, and we were talking, and she said "Well, what about our Hispanic population?" We have an increasing Hispanic population, particularly Guatemalan, in an area that previously had basically no diversity, so it's a culture shock for the town, as well as our new residents.

Well, after brainstorming and thinking out loud for a little while (neither of us are ever short on words:wink2: ), we thought about, "How could we make healthcare more effective and culturally sensitive for the Hispanic population". I went further, (so I could narrow this for my purposes), and thought about pregnant women and newborn care. I'm thinking this will be a qualitative study, where I would interview different women who are pregnant and up to six weeks postpartum. This would fit perfectly, as I do home visits for these very clients.

PLUS :monkeydance: :monkeydance: :monkeydance:

It just so happens that she happens to know a local man at our Latin Community Center who has just received a $9500 grant to perform this very type of study, but can't find anyone who is qualified or knowledgeable enough to run it!!!!!!!!! It's not the money I'm so happy about (because I probably will see very little, if any of it), but it will help pay for interpreters and supplies, which I would not have been able to do on my own--I would have had to depend on friends and colleagues to lend a helping hand, which I know can be a royal P.I.T.A).

I'm doing my own little happy dance right now!!!

I would really like to thank all of you who had input, and welcome any other ideas, also..you are all great!

Stephanie :-)