FNP grad student needs topic for thesis.

[emac44]

Hello All:)

I am searching for a topic to do my project/thesis on and am having difficulty. My initial literature review was on DRUG SEEKING BEHAVIOR IN THE ED and I had planned to create a screening tool to assist in identifying these behaviors. However, there is not much of a knowledge deficit in this area due to the Prescription Monitoring Programs. I need a new idea and haven't had any luck thus far. I would like to do something related to pain, but have no ideas as to what I could teach and to who (nurses, patients, caregivers). Any helpful suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

[lmccrn62, MSN, RN]

How about attitudes of healthcare providers in patients who are seeking pain relief in the ED.

[iluvgusgus]

What about drug seeking behavior on M/S floors, which ran rampant in my hospital on my floor. I have never heard of prescription monitoring programs. In Florida, the state with the most prescriptions of oxycodone and many "pill mills", we would see lots of patients whose pain drs got shut down and then would come to the ED for pain management. some people would move across the state in search of a new pain doctor. Or you could research the attitudes of nurses and doctors towards pts with drug seeking behavior and pt outcomes. From experience, I had a pt who was a known drug seeker, always admitted for chest pain workups. Ive had him a few times on different admissions over a year's time. One shift, he kept complaining about chest pain and he was to be discharged that day. I paged and paged the dr about this to get more meds because I believed he truly was in pain. She told me to stop bothering her. I think I paged her one or 2 more times after I was " told" to stop and she finally ordered an EKG and an echo. Turns out he had pericarditis and then had to be treated with IV abx for the next 4 wks ... and to think the poor guy was going to be turned out to the street again only to return for "chest pain" and be treated in the same manner again and not get the medical attention that he really needed? That's sad. Imagine how many people are probably stereotyped and are not treated appropriately.

[Philly RN 12]

You could look at methadone clinic effectiveness (how long does it take for pts to reach sobriety or get addicted to methadone)

Compliance to treatment(chf pt non compliance to meds and read mission time)

Effectiveness of phone follow up program to increase treatment compliance

Family coping during acute hospitalization of loved one(what happens when breadwinner is incapacitated and how do they overcome/cope/collapse under increased stress. What can hospital assist with?)