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Discussion

Topic for evidence-based research paper?

I have a quick question for y'all:

I'm about to write my evidence-based research paper for Med Surg class, and I'm stuck on a topic about which to write. Writing, in itself, is no problem for me: I can whip out a 2000 word essay in one day, with very few errors (my English professor used to badger me about switching majors to English, LOL!).

It's not a long paper: one and a half to two pages long, so that is easy. My problem is the TOPIC. Everyone and his/her brother is going to be writing about the EVP of hand-hygiene, etc., but I want to write about something more esoteric and original--you just KNOW that the instructors' eyes probably glaze over after reading the 50th paper on hand washing, LOL!

My brain is rather fried this week due to being under the weather, and I am wondering if I can solicit some interesting, different, and original topics from my fellow board members. If not, I am sure that I will think of something once I am no longer taking this cold medicine, LOL!

Thanks!

~~Elizabeth

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    • Featured Replies

    • Experts

    I always suggest this strategy to my students when they need to pick a paper topic:

    Browse the literature BEFORE you pick a topic. See what topics have the type of literature readily available that you will need to complete the assignment. For an evidence-based practice paper, I suggest looking through the published care guidelines at guidelines.gov and the comprehensive research reviews at the Cochrane collaboration site.

    As you browse ... see what topics seem to have the evidence you need to write your paper -- as you see what seems interesting to you.

    You should also keep in mind what specialty area you would like to work in after graduation. Picking a topic related to that specialty area will be advantageous to you later. It will help you be really knowledgable about that aspect of care ... and also be something you can perhaps list on your resume and discuss in an interview that will help you get a job.

    Far too many students fail to take advantage of these opportunities to pick a topic for a project. They SHOULD be picking topics that will help them get a good job and be good at that job once they get it. They should also pick a topic for which there are sufficient resources readily available so that they can do a good job. My suggestions will help you pick a topic that will be both "reasonably do-able" and also help further you career in the direction you want to go.

    Good luck!

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    Since you are looking for something other than hand-washing, some other suggestions are :

    Deep breathing and coughing practices post-surg

    Patient ambulation post-surg

    Pain management (my specialty)

    Use of guided imagery in pain management post-surg

    Best of luck to you!:yeah:

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    • Author

    Thank you both! :-) Since I have asthma, I am thinking of writing something along the lines of the use of spacers in MDIs and their effectiveness at delivering the correct dose of the meds (vs. inhaling the meds directly into your mouth).

    ~~Elizabeth

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    • Experts

    Will you be able to find evidence for your paper in the nursing literature? Or will that research be in the Pharmacology or Respiratory Therapy literature. Is it a requirement that the paper be based on the nursing literature? It the assignment has such a requirement, you might be setting yourself up for problems.

    Check the reqirements of the paper ... and check to be sure your topic will allow you to fulfill whatever the requirements are.

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    • Author

    It basically can be any topic on any kind of evidence based practice, as long as it is focused upon patient safety and any accompanying nursing implications/interventions. I found a really good article on the effectiveness of MDIs used with a spacer as compared to using a nebulizer.

    The patient safety involves using the devices correctly to insure that the correct dosage is administered, and the nursing implications could involve proper patient teaching on use and insuring a higher likelihood of pt. compliance with a spacer instead of a nebulizer due to ease of use and cost. Or something like that. ;-)

    Just writing about it here has helped to flush these ideas out of my head, so thank you for allowing me to ramble, LOL!

    ~~Elizabeth

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    • Experts

    Great! It sounds like you are doing a good job of thinking it through. I'm glad it is working out for you.

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    Please where I can articles on evidence based practice on maternity or newborn.

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    Please where can I find articles on evidence based practice on maternity or newborn.

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