Need an Interesting, Sweet, Awesome, Unique, Different Research Paper Ideas!

[Pinkpea11]

For one of my nursing classes we are doing a research paper. All of my classmates topics are the usual, such as hand washing, infections, breastfeeding, etc. I want to do something different. I can't imagine being the professor reading a paper on a topic they read many, many, times before.

All I'm asking is for any RN's out there who remember a interesting research paper topic in which you actually wanted to read? Or if any other nursing students like me had any luck researching an interesting topic?

My interests are cardiac, ICU, and OR.

My current idea is rocking chair therapy for DVT prevention. However I can't find any information on it.

Any ideas or hints would be greatly appreciated! Don't do the work for me though! Just ideas..

I'll keep looking and let you know what I decided. Thanks!

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Would singing lessons be helpful for people at risk for lung infections? Post op?

Correlate incidents/errors to staffing levels?

Survey a unit and count handwashing episodes when the unit is understaffed vrs overstaffed.

[helikias]

This is way OT, so might not work for your class, but here is a really bizarre ailment I bet your teacher would not be bored reading about: http://www.rnib.org.uk/eyehealth/eyeconditions/conditionsac/Pages/charles_bonnet.aspx

[CathyLew]

I think if I had to do one, I would do something pertaining to the changing environment of health care, incorporating the tech aspect. Maybe health hazzards with the implementation of computer charting. Carpal Tunel syndrome, how older nurses station set up is not condusive to having good body posture with computers. (we had issues with keyboards being too high, monitors off to the side, causing neck strain) nurses stations are not computer desks....and they should be! Other issues with technology...aging nursing population, poor eyesite, tiny hand held computer screens.

I bet you ask most PT staff, they could take one look at where computers are, how nurses are using them, and give a dozen body posture, or stress related issues that will cause problems down the line.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I've always been intrigued by the concept of ICU psychosis. I just googled it and got lots of info.

Since your interest lies in ICU....

[pennyaline]

I can tell you from the point of view of someone who has read a lot of papers written about the same topic over and over again, that most instructors would rather read a familiar topic covered in a well-written paper than a novel topic done atrociously or with an eye toward being obviously new and different. One of the basics of writing a good paper is choosing a topic that can be researched fairly and thoroughly. Topics that are too different frequently lack enough solid background work to make the presentation truly objective. When you're overreaching, it shows, badly. When you're rehashing, fudging or synthesizing data, it looks even worse.

[itsmejuli]

As a nursing student its all and fine and dandy to want to do a different kind of paper. But the fact is that you're going to spend way too much time coming up with an idea and then researching it.

I'd rather spend my value time writing an excellent paper on a familiar topic that is easy to research and get good citations for.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I can tell you from the point of view of someone who has read a lot of papers written about the same topic over and over again, that most instructors would rather read a familiar topic covered in a well-written paper than a novel topic done atrociously or with an eye toward being obviously new and different. One of the basics of writing a good paper is choosing a topic that can be researched fairly and thoroughly. Topics that are too different frequently lack enough solid background work to make the presentation truly objective. When you're overreaching, it shows, badly. When you're rehashing, fudging or synthesizing data, it looks even worse.

As a faculty member, I totally agree. It takes far, far longer to grade a paper that is "different" or one that is on a topic unfamiliar to me than it does to grade a standard paper on a familiar topic. When I am grading a couple dozen papers (while also juggling preparing classes, writing and grading tests, etc.) -- I need to be fast and efficient with my time.

I don't read student papers to be entertained -- or to be educated. I read the papers to assess whether the student has demonstrated the mastery of the skills the student was supposed to learn. It's far easier to do that if I am familiar with the topic and can see at a glance whether or not the student has surveyed the literature properly, come to reasonable conclusions, etc. If I am unfamiliar with the topic, I may have to do some extra research myself to educate myself so that I can adequately assess the student's work. That takes extra time -- time I don't have.

I do give some students the freedom to be creative with some of their projects -- but only if the student is an "A" student and they have indicate a real interest in the special project they want to do. As the OP doesn't have a special interest in a particular topic, I would suggest he/she focus on impressing the teacher by doing a great job with a conventional topic rather than cause extra work for the probably overworked and underpaid teacher by choosing a more risky topic.

[GoalsInTransition]

mandatory HIV testing for pregnant mothers

black market for live-donor organs (kidneys, esp. in developing nations)

hymenoplasty for Muslim women

fistula repair in rape victims in D.R. Congo & Rwanda

[KateRN1]

How the presentation of nursing in media affects patient attitudes towards nurses. My current favorite subject.

[elkpark]

I can tell you from the point of view of someone who has read a lot of papers written about the same topic over and over again, that most instructors would rather read a familiar topic covered in a well-written paper than a novel topic done atrociously or with an eye toward being obviously new and different. One of the basics of writing a good paper is choosing a topic that can be researched fairly and thoroughly. Topics that are too different frequently lack enough solid background work to make the presentation truly objective. When you're overreaching, it shows, badly. When you're rehashing, fudging or synthesizing data, it looks even worse.

As a faculty member, I totally agree. It takes far, far longer to grade a paper that is "different" or one that is on a topic unfamiliar to me than it does to grade a standard paper on a familiar topic. When I am grading a couple dozen papers (while also juggling preparing classes, writing and grading tests, etc.) -- I need to be fast and efficient with my time.

I don't read student papers to be entertained -- or to be educated. I read the papers to assess whether the student has demonstrated the mastery of the skills the student was supposed to learn. It's far easier to do that if I am familiar with the topic and can see at a glance whether or not the student has surveyed the literature properly, come to reasonable conclusions, etc. If I am unfamiliar with the topic, I may have to do some extra research myself to educate myself so that I can adequately assess the student's work. That takes extra time -- time I don't have.

I do give some students the freedom to be creative with some of their projects -- but only if the student is an "A" student and they have indicate a real interest in the special project they want to do. As the OP doesn't have a special interest in a particular topic, I would suggest he/she focus on impressing the teacher by doing a great job with a conventional topic rather than cause extra work for the probably overworked and underpaid teacher by choosing a more risky topic.

Ditto.