Research Topic for MSN

[eRiNn88]

I need to come up with a research topic for my MSN program and I wanted to make it MICU specific so that I will be able to share with my fellow staff members and hopefully make positive changes to my unit. Thus far I have:

- Effectife and efficient orientation programs

- Advanced directives

- Spirituality in critical care nursing

- preparing and supporting staff to serve as preceptors for students

- care plans, critical pathways and patient care protocols for critical care (maybe sepsis related?)

- patient focused staffing approach

- collaboration of advanced practice nurse with staff nurses, clinical nurses, specialists, nurse managers, medical staff, and allied health staff

I did want to go more of medical diagnosis related problem, but I'm not opposed to something concerning communication or protocol related.

I'm just having a tough time picking something. Any different ideas or things related to anyone else's ICU on this list?

Thanks!

[eRiNn88]

Actually I narrowed it down to:

- Sedation vented patients vs. non-sedated patients and something to do with BIS monitoring (still thinking through)

- CAM-ICU limitations and use with delirium

- Family perceptions, responses, and experiences

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Actually I narrowed it down to:

- Sedation vented patients vs. non-sedated patients and something to do with BIS monitoring (still thinking through)

- CAM-ICU limitations and use with delirium

- Family perceptions, responses, and experiences

Are you interested in quantitative or qualitative research? The first of these three ideas would likely be quantitative, the third would be best investigated in a qualitative manner. The CAM project could probably go either way.

I did think the spirituality idea you mentioned in the first post sounded interesting.

What have you found on your unit so far? in the literature?

[eRiNn88]

It's going to be a 20 page paper for my research class at least. So I'm trying to expand my ventilated patient idea with a secondary topic. I've found a lot of information regarding sedation practices of vented patients in the ICU and many of them refer to secondary delirium problems after extubation. I wanted to tie in patient perception of sedation vs. non-sedation and issues cause with not sedation patients while ventilating. Some of the research suggest PTSD and anxiety issues.

BIS monitor idea was going to be geared more to over-sedation issues and if it works to adequately gauge sedation level.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Interesting! Are you looking at sedation holiday too? Do you have to tie it in with current practice and suggest an EBP-based protocol?

[eRiNn88]

It's more of a literature review on the topic. I could include sedation holiday and tie it into the delirium aspect if I can find research that suggests it. Going from sedated - to non-sedated - and back to sedation could most definitely cause confusion in patients' already prone to it, such as our liver cirrhosis or septic patients.

[yassmin]

Sorry I am interesting in what are you doing

also I have same problem

I need a smart title for my master dldegree about nursing administration

if you can help plz.