Research Fellowship Help!

[RNKimmy]

Hi Everyone!

Long time reader, come here often for information but now I'm needing some more specific advice.

I'm a staff nurse who was approached to be a part of a research fellowship training program at my hospital. The idea of conducting a research project is very interesting to me but I'm having a hard time formulating a place to start (I was approached Friday and they want an initial proposal by Tuesday!)

I work on a medsurg floor that also has oncology pts/chemo administration as well as inpt hospice. I want to pick a topic that 1) will hold my interest for the next 2yrs of this program and 2) actually have an impact/significance for my pts/co-workers

I'd like to explore something relating to family perceptions of suffering at end-of-life, complementary pain control techniques, or something like use of physical therapy/exercise with oncology pain control. I'd be open also to something related to our adult medical pts but I can't seem to come up with any blaring clinical issues that should be addressed as they want the research/interventions to be patient, not staff, focused

This is a huge opportunity for me and I really want to do a good job; but I have been searching the databases for hours and haven't gotten very far. I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with researching anything similar? what kind of outcomes you measured? or any advice you can offer?

Thank you in advance for any help!!

[ToughingItOut]

Hi RNKimmy,

This may seem like a very simple idea, but I have seen small research initiatives focused on increased use of medical alert bracelets. While simple and tried and true, the decision to order and wear a medical alert bracelet can make a huge impact. I recently cared for a 30 year old Type I research subject who had never even heard of one!

Other than that, how do you feel about the recent push for greater legalization of medical marijuana among cancer/hospice patients? There's got to be something there.

[RNKimmy]

Thanks for the suggestions! Appreciate your help

[link51411]

families of oncology patients perceive their loved ones to be in pain and emotional/spiritual distress during end-of-life treatment.

There is a testable hypothesis right there. Now make a questionnaire to give to families on your floor and see what you get. If the answer is yes take it a step further and say

Patient/familes that recieve _______________ do not perceive their loved one to.....

We do QOL and pain assessments often in our patient population. from what you are describing above it sounds like you have 5 different research questions. Try to come up with one hypothesis which pertains to one patient population and then say how can we test this and do not take time collecting data that does not directly relate to that hypothesis and population. Then when you finish move on to another pt. population with the same question or come up with a different hypothesis all together.

Right now I work with some MDs that do not have a lot of research experience and I am stuck in a study that has been going on for 5 years because, as opposed to just finishing their original protocol and then creating a new one, they just keep adding stuff to the study and we can not finish it or publish anything because the data is all over the place.

The second problem I see is when the hypothesis is not proven to the liking of the investigator they do not write the paper and attempt to publish. No is just as important of an answer as yes and we need to share the info either way if not only to prevent others from throwing time and resources down the drain.

I have a form that I use that a friend from Harvard shared with me that helps me control/orginize research ideas that come to mind contact me if you would like a copy and you can use or toss it.