Any suggestions for interesting research topics for the neonatal population?

Specialties NICU

Published

Hi all,

I am currently enrolled in a research course, and we have to come up with a research topic to develop a grant proposal for. I'd obviously like my topic to revolve around the neonatal population, but I thought I'd pick all of your brains as far as the exact topic. I need your help to make this into something interesting! In a 1 hour presentation :uhoh3: at the end of the semester, we have to present our proposals to the rest of the class, so I'd like to find something that'd also keep the interest of all of my non-neonatal counterparts!

Is there anything that you see day-to-day in your jobs that you question? Why a certain protocol is being done? Any disease processes that you wish you had more answers to? What we could be doing better for our babies?

Anything relating to nutrition, growth and development, etc that you wish we knew more about?

I'd truly appreciate any brainstorming help that'd you'd be willing to offer! Thanks so much for your help!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I read your post and had several thoughts....

1 is the incidence of child abuse higher in the premature populations vs normal term infants

2what are the effects of shortstaffing on the LOS(i am thinking here of the infants that cry conitnually and no one has time to hold them to calm them, so then do they stay longer because they don't grow as well)

3is zantac better than prevacid in treating reflux

4 do we over treat reflux in preemies

5 is the bond between mother infant stronger in moms who visit daily versus the ones who visit rarely, and along the same lines are these rarely visiting moms more prone to child abuse, shaken baby

6 is the chronically agitated/irritable baby allowed to cry more because we have "written them off" and feel nothing can help them. would a "holding program" help this infant become less irritable.

7 are standard nipples truly better than red nipples fir preemies. do they take longer to learn to eat with a yellow, is their los longer because of it.

8 is it better to leave an ng in or reinsert and remove with each tube feeding. does leaving it in lead to more treatment of reflux or actual reflux. does reinserting it cause too much stress to justify doing it this way.

9 does giving a pacifier with tube feeds really make the baby more ready to feed more quickly

10 how much does dressing the baby in baby clothes affect how parents feel about the baby. does it help them feel more like parents and that the baby is a baby how does it affect the nurses preception of pt

11 should parents be allowed to stay overnight, does this lead them to be more stressed, feel expected to stay and be a bad parent of not, feel more involved if do

12 should oral meds be given orally or mixed in the bottle. do they get their whole dose is it accurate does taking them by mouth cause any oral aversion

13 do RNs working with NNPs have better job satisfaction then those who work with resident docs

just a few thoughts.....don't know if any will help :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Excellent suggestions, sasha!! :balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Shasha, thanks so much for the long list!!! That is very helpful! I'll let you know if any of them turn out. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Staff nurse.

...how about gyn history and fetal outcome? As in # of miscarriages and elective abortions and subsequent pregnancy outcome?

...I bring this up because there are some pts. who do not want to give abortion history or even birth history with a new partner/husband present. I ran into this in the 70s, pts. not admitting to previous births or abortions because they didn't want new husband to know thay had given a child up for adoption. One time the doctor during delivery asked the pt. the ages of her other children, as he noticed her episiotomy scar as she was crowning. She claimed this was her first. After the birth and with the husband out of the room, the doc told her he needed to know, because it could have affected THIS delivery. She didn't want her husband to know she had given a baby up for adoption.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

I've always had a curiosity about NEC and risk factors and how it can be dealt with effectively.

Also weight gain in the preemie, whether the extensive supplimenting is good, especially HMF and whether the q3h schedule they usually follow for po feeds is the best.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If it has to be an hour long presentation then I would go for pain management. There is lots of literature and many aspects that can be explored.

I question the use of thickeners for reflux and how many more of those kids end up with NEC.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

How about a research study on pain management therapies in neonates. I've heard all sides.....oral sucrose is better than narcotics, narcotics are better, not all babies on vents need pain meds [garbage as far as I'm concerned] etc. Exactly what have we found out regarding premature infant pain, and the most effective ways of managing it?

Hope this helps.

SteveRN21

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I read your post and had several thoughts....

1 is the incidence of child abuse higher in the premature populations vs normal term infants

2what are the effects of shortstaffing on the LOS(i am thinking here of the infants that cry conitnually and no one has time to hold them to calm them, so then do they stay longer because they don't grow as well)

3is zantac better than prevacid in treating reflux

4 do we over treat reflux in preemies

5 is the bond between mother infant stronger in moms who visit daily versus the ones who visit rarely, and along the same lines are these rarely visiting moms more prone to child abuse, shaken baby

6 is the chronically agitated/irritable baby allowed to cry more because we have "written them off" and feel nothing can help them. would a "holding program" help this infant become less irritable.

7 are standard nipples truly better than red nipples fir preemies. do they take longer to learn to eat with a yellow, is their los longer because of it.

8 is it better to leave an ng in or reinsert and remove with each tube feeding. does leaving it in lead to more treatment of reflux or actual reflux. does reinserting it cause too much stress to justify doing it this way.

9 does giving a pacifier with tube feeds really make the baby more ready to feed more quickly

10 how much does dressing the baby in baby clothes affect how parents feel about the baby. does it help them feel more like parents and that the baby is a baby how does it affect the nurses preception of pt

11 should parents be allowed to stay overnight, does this lead them to be more stressed, feel expected to stay and be a bad parent of not, feel more involved if do

12 should oral meds be given orally or mixed in the bottle. do they get their whole dose is it accurate does taking them by mouth cause any oral aversion

13 do RNs working with NNPs have better job satisfaction then those who work with resident docs

just a few thoughts.....don't know if any will help :)

Good job Sasha :yelclap:

Some of the topics sound interesting but I'm also interested in the area of infant pain management.

There're some people out there believe that these premature babies don't feel pain but it's not true At ALL!

My department is looking into the area of development a pain score chart for every baby. Pain management is definitely something we are looking into seriously. :icon_roll

Up Vote Up Vote ×
:yeah::heartbeatthank you sasha
Up Vote Up Vote ×

How about the effect of social media on decision-making in the NICU. with everyone posting their lives on facebook (etc),and the daily trials and joys of their baby's life, and having 100s of friends- does this change how we make decisions?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment