evidence based practice paper topics nursing

Best Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Nursing Research Topics and Ideas

We have already explored as much as there is regarding evidence-based nursing in our comprehensive EBP paper-writing guide . A time comes in your nursing school journey, either at basic (ADN, LPN, or BSN) or advanced levels (MSN, DNP, or PhD), when you are required to select a suitable evidence-based practice nursing research topic, research, and write an evidence-based nursing paper, report, or white paper. The process for selecting the topic is more or less the same as when selecting a nursing dissertation topic or topic for a nursing capstone .

You have to go through the instructions, consider an area of nursing specialization that interests you, do some thorough research, reading, and analysis, come up with a few topics, and eliminate and remain with the most suitable topic for your EBP nursing paper. You can locate good EBP project ideas from course materials (readings, handouts, PPTs, and class notes), online blogs and websites (like NurseMyGrade), nursing textbooks, nursing journals and articles, and other online resources.

General, Current, and Latest Evidence-Based Nursing Topics

• Effects of evidence-based practice on the quality and safety of patients
• Attitudes and readiness for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice among newly hired nurses
• Engaging advanced practice nurses in evidence-based practice through an e-monitoring program
• Effectiveness of EBP practice guidelines in preventing adverse events in clinical settings
• The attitudes of nurses toward adhering to clinical guidelines regarding the management of various conditions
• Prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among surgical patients
• Effectiveness of warming interventions for women undergoing Cesarean Section
• Strategies for managing second-stage labor
• Effects of gum chewing and early mobilization on intestinal mobility after cesarean birth
• Therapeutic use of music in maternity wards post-cesarean section
• Strategies for preparing women for unplanned Cesarean birth
• Effectiveness of hydrotherapy during labor
• Strategies to implement skin-to-skin contact in the OR following Cesarean birth
• Benefits of the EBP Organizational culture and readiness scale
• Transferability, reach, and impact of the EBP Questionnaire
• Barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation of EBP in clinical settings
• Challenges to implementing EBP in healthcare systems
• The beliefs and competencies of medical-surgery nurses on EBP
• Effects of EBP courses on MSN and DNP students' attitudes and beliefs on EBP
• The impacts of gamification on EBP training among nursing students
• Strategies to promote evidence-based nursing practice among nursing students
• The link between knowledge of EBP and nurse job satisfaction
• Impacts of nursing ethics on evidence-based practice
• Strategies to address the implementation gap between practice, research, and knowledge in nursing
• Using social media to promote the dissemination of evidence-based practice
• Strategies for implementing and translating evidence-based practice
• Benefits of frequently training nursing staff on evidence-based practice
• Role of evidence-based practice in modeling professional nursing practice
• Strategies for enhancing utility and understanding of evidence-based practice during undergraduate nursing education
• Knowledge, attitude, beliefs, and use of evidence-based practice among registered pediatric nurses
• Improving the readiness of evidence-based practice in critical care units
• Strategies for improving evidence-based practice among registered nurses (RNs)
• Best strategies for assessing compliance to EBP guidelines for VAP prevention among ICU nurses
• Impacts of EBP guidelines on clinical decision-making
• Challenges in communicating research evidence and translating it to practice
• Effectiveness of SBAR Tool Implementation to advanced communication and collaboration in clinical settings
• Knowledge of EBP and the confidence of newly recruited nurses
• Role of evidence-based practice guidelines in maintaining competence among mental health nurses
• Impacts of teaching advanced evidence-based practice research in doctoral nursing programs

Evidence-Based Topics for Anesthesia

• Primary concerns in the process of extubation in the anesthesia settings
• Perceptions and attitudes of anesthesia professionals on digital anesthesia information management system
• Benefits of nurse anesthetist perioperative dialog
• Causes of high attrition rates and turnover among nurse anesthetists
• Perceptions and attitudes of nurses on automatic dispensing cabinets
• Strategies for translating evidence-based research into anesthesia practice
• Addressing challenges associated with anesthesia in clinical settings
• Causes and solutions to anesthesia-associated mortality and morbidity
• An evidence-based approach to airway management via anesthesia administration
• Attitudes, knowledge, skills, and use of anesthesia teams toward EBP practice in clinical settings
• Why anesthetists are hesitant to implement ERAS guidelines

Related read: How to complete Shadow Health Assessments .

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Evidence-Based Topics

• Improving the quality of cardiovascular care through evidence-based practice
• Addressing social determinants of health as a means of addressing cardiovascular diseases
• Effects of listening to music during cardiac rehabilitation on clinical outcomes
• Effectiveness of physical activity on cardiovascular health
• Role of physical therapists in the management of venous thromboembolism
• Effectiveness of aerobic exercise training in improving aerobic capacity after heart transplant
• Impacts of guarding on the outcomes of the 6-minute walk test
• Role of Mitsungumin 53 in cardiovascular diseases (CVD)
• Effects of autophagy on the cardiovascular system
• The ethics of using embryonic stem cells in cardiovascular research
• Use of telehealth in early detection of anxiety and depression in post-coronary patients
• Effectiveness of indoor allergen reduction in the management of asthma
• Non-invasive technologies for diagnosing coronary artery disease in women
• Impacts of smoking on the lungs of a fetus
• Strategies to address obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease
• The link between consuming fatty animal meat and cardiovascular health
• Benefits of prone positioning for patients with ARDS
• Response of COPD to prophylactic antibiotics
• Evidence-based nursing strategies for the prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury
• Impacts of home monitoring on COPD patients

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Evidence-Based Topics

• The link between probiotics use and diarrhea
• The effectiveness of vitamin C in the prevention of complex regional pain syndrome following wrist fractures
• The link between using essential oils and hypertension
• Effectiveness of cranberry products for the treatment of UTIs
• Effectiveness of botulism toxin in the treatment of restless legs syndrome
• Using therapeutic honey in tropical wound management
• Impacts of scalp cooling on alopecia among cancer patients
• Effects of spiritual beliefs on type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
• Effects of aromatherapy in the management of depression and anxiety
• Non-pharmacologic interventions for treatment-resistant depression among adolescents

Nursing Ethics Evidence-Based Topics

• Effects of abandonment on nursing staff shortage
• Effects of negligence on patient outcomes
• AI ethics awareness, attitudes, and beliefs, and the behavioral intentions of nursing students
• Attitudes and perspectives of nursing faculty on noncompliance with ethics in nursing academic environments
• Application of Nightingale's professionalism among student nurses
• Influence of nursing ethics on clinical decision-making
• Perceptions and awareness of student nurses on social justice in the healthcare system
• Benefits of increased ethical competency of nurses in clinical settings
• Ethical problems of clinical nursing practice
• Factors influencing professionalism in nursing among Registered Nurses
• Information literacy and ethical decision-making among nurses
• The link between clinical dishonesty and perceived clinical stress among nursing students
• Strategies to help nurses handle compassion fatigue
• Ethical perspectives of evidence-based practice
• Influence of laws and Legislation on evidence-based practice
• Moral distress among Registered Nurses
• Barriers and facilitators of addressing nursing research ethics
• Role of nursing ethics in the implementation of evidence-based practice

Family Practice Evidence-Based Topics

• The significance of genetic counseling in diabetes prevention
• Challenges for contraception for women with diabetes
• Management of autism in children
• Diagnosis, treatment, and management of psoriasis
• Using a gluten-free diet to improve outcomes in patients with psoriasis
• The link between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases
• Impacts of nutritional counseling on the BMI of patients
• Using Metformin over Sulfonylurea for initial treatment of gestational diabetes
• Best ways to diagnose menopause in perimenopausal women
• Dinoprostone vs. vaginal misoprostol in labor induction: which is better?
• Effectiveness of using narcotics to treat patients with chronic daily headaches
• Vitamins and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease
• The link between regular family dinners and obesity in adolescent patients
• Is the Mediterranean diet better for bone health?
• Benefits of self-managed diabetes programs
• Is acupuncture effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis?
• The link between antibiotic use and acute sinusitis
• Effectiveness of Flu vaccine on prevention of community-acquired pneumonia
• The link between male obesity and infertility
• Lower back pains and NSAIDS
• Seasonal Nasal Irrigation and Seasonal Allergic Reactions: Best management strategies
• Effectiveness of abortive treatment for acute migraine
• Effectiveness of combination treatment for hepatitis C
• Benefits of tailored education for melanoma management
• Genetic testing and obesity
• Treatment and management of atopic dermatitis

Nursing Forensics Evidence-Based Topics

• Strategies to document injuries from domestic violence abuse by forensic nurses
• Perceptions of forensic nurses on victim counseling before post-domestic violence cases
• Stress management and coping strategies in prison settings
• Mental health as a risk factor for sexual assault
• Barriers and challenges to implementing remote sexual assault nurse examiner programs
• Limit setting and de-escalation in forensic mental health units
• The risk factors for domestic minor sex trafficking in the USA
• Benefits of sexual assault nurse examiners practicing trauma-informed care
• Ethical issues involved during forensic nursing investigations
• Strategies for preparing victims of sexual assault to be witnesses in courts of law
• Role of forensic nurses in combating human and sexual trafficking
• The link between sexual assault and suicide
• Strategies to handle compassion fatigue among forensic nurses
• Strategies for emergency contraception administration among the SANE and non-SANE medical providers
• Strategies forensic nurses use to resolve difficulties in supporting offenders with mental health disorders
• Role of forensic nurses in addressing challenges for children in foster care
• Forensic nursing interventions for patients with personality disorders
• Application of telehealth among sexual assault forensic examiners
• Strategies for handling children facing maltreatment from parents
• Interprofessional collaboration to optimize trauma-informed care
• Role of pediatric forensics in clinical settings
• Role of forensic nurses in abortion investigations
• Steps and evidence-based methods for screening children for neglect or abuse
• Strategies for solving burnout among forensic nurses
• Role of forensic nurses in death investigations
• Attitudes of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) toward sexual assault victims
• Methods for promoting resilience, competence, and quality of life of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners
• Role of correctional nurses in advocating for pregnant women's rights in prison
• An evidence-based approach to suicide risk assessment following sexual assault

Gastroenterology Evidence-Based Topics

• The use of probiotics to treat and manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Using behavioral therapy adjunct to drug therapy in the management of urinary incontinence
• Pharmacological strategies for the management of Crohn's disease
• Complementary alternative medicine approaches to the management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Intermittent fasting among obese women and the management of pylori
• Homemade solutions for constipation among pregnant women

Geriatrics or Long-Term Care Evidence-Based Topics

• The effectiveness of the North Dakota Association of director of Nursing Administration (NADONA) /Long-Term Care standards of Practice in managing long-term care facilities
• Strategies to encourage elderly people to age in place
• Methods to improve drug adherence among elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease
• Methods for managing polypharmacy among elderly adults
• Design strategies to address falls for patients aging in place
• Use of technology to address the challenges of elderly adults who choose to age in place
• Benefits of music therapy for patients with Multiple Sclerosis
• Strategies for addressing pressure ulcers among the elderly
• Benefits of teaching self-care practices to elderly patients with long-term in-dwelling catheter
• Using stories to entertain and give hope to elderly patients in long-term care facilities
• Multifactorial approach towards management of falls in long-term care facilities

Hospital-Acquired Infections Evidence-Based Topics

• Effectiveness of hand hygiene in reducing hospital-acquired infections
• Strategies to prevent blood contamination and infection during transfusion
• The value of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection Bundle Compliance in preventing CLABSI
• Impacts of implementing central nervous catheter bundle in reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
• The knowledge and attitudes of nurses on evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infections
• Benefits of governments supporting nursing homes in infection management
• How effective are leadership rounds in reducing healthcare-associated infections?
• Knowledge, beliefs, and attitude of newly graduated nurses on infection prevention and control
• Evidence-based strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia
• Perceptions of NICU nurses regarding measures to prevent HAIs
• The role of chlorhexidine gluconate bathing in preventing HAIs
• Importance of communication networks in the management of infections in ICUs
• Strategies to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)
• The perspectives and experiences of patients on HAIs
• Nurse-led quality improvement interventions to reduce hospital-acquired infections in the NICU
• Using a multimodal approach to institute hand hygiene
• The correlation between hospital length of stay and acquiring infections
• Evidence-based strategies to prevent nosocomial infections in clinical settings
• Value of e-learning for preventing healthcare-associated infections
• Impacts of nurse burnout and shortage on HAIs
• Core components of an infection prevention and control program for a nursing home
• Leadership skills of the APRNs and prevention of HAIs
• The motivations of healthcare workers to reduce HAIs
• Hand hygiene knowledge and beliefs among newly recruited nurses
• Impacts of hospital design on HAIs
• Overcrowding in the ER and hospital-acquired infections
• Effects of training on nurses' knowledge and skills in indwelling urinary catheters in preventing CAUTIs
• Low rates of Influenza vaccination among nurses and HAIs
• Role of environmental cleaning in the control of HAIs
• Green cleaning and HAIs
• Compliance with Chlorhexidine wipes to prevent Hospital-acquired infections
• The knowledge of nurses of the WHO Five Moments of Hand hygiene and HAIs in the Operating rooms

Nursing Education Evidence-Based Topics

• Effectiveness of situated e-learning on medical and nursing education
• Benefits of cultural competence training among nurses on the patient satisfaction
• Experiences and attitudes of student nurses on formal preceptor programs
• The effectiveness of using virtual and augmented reality in nursing education
• Strategies to attract, train, and retain student nurses until retirement
• The application of gamification in nursing training
• Should nurses be taught basic coding concepts?
• Inclusion of LGBTQ student nurses in clinical settings
• The use of social media to facilitate learning among nursing students
• Benefits of introducing students to reflective nursing practice
• Benefits of e-learning for nursing education
• Online nursing programs as a means to prepare nurses for leadership roles
• The nurse training pipeline is an essential aspect of addressing nurse shortages
• Discrimination among nurse student acceptance of some programs/nursing schools
• Factors affecting the progress of nursing students in the USA
• Should the nursing career be ubiquitous globally?
• Student nurses should join professional organizations that advocate for their rights
• Steps to improve collaboration and teamwork among nurse students

Pain Management Evidence-Based Topics

• Effectiveness of ERAS in postoperative pain management
• Non-pharmacological methods and perceived barriers in pain management by nurses
• Psychological and behavioral pain management strategies in pediatric oncology departments
• Mindfulness mediation as a strategy for chronic pain management
• Impacts of relaxation techniques for pain management during labor
• The efficacy of cannabis-based medicines for pain management
• Use of music therapy during labor
• Impacts of massage therapy on cancer pain management
• The effectiveness of craniosacral therapy for chronic pain management
• Effectiveness of manual therapy vs. exercise therapy in the management of adult neck-pain
• Non-pharmacological pain management approaches for cancer patients
• Music-induced analgesia in chronic pain management
• The effectiveness of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation for cancer pain
• The efficacy of acupuncture in the management of postoperative pain
• The application of cannabinoids in pain management
• Acupressure for pain management during labor

Pediatrics Evidence-Based Topics

• Practical strategies for preventing failure to rescue obstetric patients
• Effectiveness of neonatal pain management via oral sucrose
• Benefits of nutritional assessment and intervention in a pediatric oncology unit
• Strategies to manage inguinal hernias in children
• Impacts of clinical settings appearance on the anxiety of kids in cancer care facilities
• Evidence-based strategies for the management of the acute phase of Kawasaki disease
• Strategies to address diabetes ketoacidosis among pediatric patients
• The use of virtual reality in managing anxiety among pediatric patients
• The use of probiotics in the prevention of diarrhea among children
• The efficiency of using gastronomy tubes among pediatric patients
• Best strategies to treat and manage infant colic
• Management of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among neonates and children
• Strategies parents can use to cope during acute pediatric hospitalizations
• Strategies to address childhood constipation
• Strategies to prevent SIDS during breastfeeding
• The safety of corticosteroids in young children with acute respiratory conditions
• Management of hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism in pediatric patients
• Efficacy of insertion and maintenance bundles in preventing central-line associated bloodstream infections in critically ill pediatric patients
• Prevalent and management strategies for burnout among pediatric nurses
• The efficacy of magnesium supplementation in addressing postoperative arrhythmias after cardiopulmonary bypass among pediatric patients

As we come to the End of this Article '

You can select a topic among the ones we have listed above or get inspired to select a topic whose research direction interests you. If you need unique topics, kindly place a one-page order and get 3-4 topics researched, suggested, and listed by an expert based on your preferences.

Nobody understands evidence-based nursing practice more than our online nursing writers. Through the years, we have helped students at the ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, and Ph.D. nursing levels access unique and exciting evidence-based topics. What's more, if you need help writing an evidence-based practice paper (report, term paper, change project, thesis, research paper, or dissertation), our astute writers can help you. You will get a 100% original, well-formatted (in APA or Harvard format), and edited paper that meets your rubric requirements.

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Key EBP Nursing Topics: Enhancing Patient Results through Evidence-Based Practice

This article was written in collaboration with Christine T. and ChatGPT, our little helper developed by OpenAI.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the use of the best available evidence to inform clinical decision-making in nursing. EBP has become increasingly popular in nursing practice because it ensures that patient care is based on the most current and relevant research. In this article, we will discuss the latest evidence-based practice nursing research topics, how to choose them, and where to find EBP project ideas.

What is Evidence-Based Practice Nursing?

EBP nursing involves a cyclical process of asking clinical questions, seeking the best available evidence, critically evaluating that evidence, and then integrating it with the patient’s clinical experience and values to make informed decisions. By following this process, nurses can provide the best care for their patients and ensure that their practice is informed by the latest research.

One of the key components of EBP nursing is the critical appraisal of research evidence. Nurses must be able to evaluate the quality of studies, including study design, sample size, and statistical analysis. This requires an understanding of research methodology and the ability to apply critical thinking skills to evaluate research evidence.

EBP nursing also involves the use of clinical practice guidelines and protocols, which are evidence-based guidelines for clinical practice. These guidelines have been developed by expert groups and are based on the best available evidence. By following these guidelines, nurses can ensure that their practice is in line with the latest research and can provide the best possible care for their patients.

Finally, EBP nursing involves continuous professional development and a commitment to lifelong learning. Nurses must keep abreast of the latest research and clinical practice guidelines to ensure that their practice is informed by the latest research. This requires a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development, including attending conferences, reading scholarly articles, and participating in continuing education programs.

You can also learn more about evidence-based practice in nursing to gain a deeper understanding of the definition, stages, benefits, and challenges of implementing it.

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How to Choose Evidence-Based Practice Nursing Research Topics

Choosing a science-based topic for nursing practice can be a daunting task, especially if you are new to the field. Here are some tips to help you choose a relevant and interesting EBP topic:

• Look for controversial or debated issues

Look for areas of nursing practice that are controversial or have conflicting evidence. These topics often have the potential to generate innovative and effective research.

• Consider ethical issues

Consider topics related to ethical issues in nursing practice. For example, bereavement care, informed consent , and patient privacy are all ethical issues that can be explored in an EBP project.

• Explore interdisciplinary topics

Nursing practice often involves collaboration with other health professionals such as physicians, social workers, and occupational therapists. Consider interdisciplinary topics that may be useful from a nursing perspective.

• Consider local or regional issues

Consider topics that are relevant to your local or regional healthcare facility. These topics may be relevant to your practice and have a greater impact on patient outcomes in your community.

• Check out the latest research

Review recent research in your area of interest to identify gaps in the literature or areas where further research is needed. This can help you develop a research question that is relevant and innovative.

With these tips in mind, you can expand your options for EBP nursing research topics and find a topic that fits your interests and goals. Remember that patient outcomes should be at the forefront of your research and choose a topic that has the potential to improve treatment and patient outcomes.

Where to Get EBP Project Ideas

There are several sources that nurses can use to get EBP project ideas. These sources are diverse and can provide valuable inspiration for research topics. By exploring these sources, nurses can find research questions that align with their interests and that address gaps in the literature. These include:

• Clinical Practice Guidelines

Look for clinical practice guidelines developed by professional organizations or healthcare institutions. These guidelines provide evidence-based guidelines for clinical practice and can help identify areas where further research is needed.

• Research databases

Explore research databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library to find the latest studies and systematic reviews. These databases can help you identify gaps in the literature and areas where further research is needed.

• Clinical Experts

Consult with clinical experts in your practice area. These experts may have insights into areas where further research is needed or may provide guidance on areas of practice that may benefit from an EBP project.

• Quality Improvement Projects

Review quality improvement projects that have been implemented in your healthcare facility. These projects may identify areas where further research is needed or identify gaps in the literature that could be addressed in an EBP project.

• Patient and family feedback

Consider patient and family feedback to identify areas where further research is needed. Patients and families can provide valuable information about areas of nursing practice that can be improved or that could benefit from further research.

Remember, when searching for ideas for EBP nursing research projects, it is important to consider the potential impact on patient care and outcomes. Select a topic that has the potential to improve patient outcomes and consider the feasibility of the project in terms of time, resources, and access to data. By choosing a topic that matches your interests and goals and is feasible at your institution, you can conduct a meaningful and productive EBP research project in nursing.

Nursing EBP Topics You Can Use in Your Essay

Here are some of the latest evidence-based practice nursing research topics that you can use in your essay or explore further in your own research:

• The impact of telehealth on patient outcomes in primary care
• The use of music therapy to manage pain in post-operative patients
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction in reducing stress and anxiety in healthcare workers
• Combating health care-associated infections: a community-based approach
• The impact of nurse-led discharge education on readmission rates for heart failure patients
• The use of simulation in nursing education to improve patient safety
• The effectiveness of early mobilization in preventing post-operative complications
• The use of aromatherapy to manage agitation in patients with dementia
• The impact of nurse-patient communication on patient satisfaction and outcomes
• The effectiveness of peer support in improving diabetes self-management
• The impact of cultural competence training on patient outcomes in diverse healthcare settings
• The use of animal-assisted therapy in managing anxiety and depression in patients with chronic illnesses
• The effectiveness of nurse-led smoking cessation interventions in promoting smoking cessation among hospitalized patients
• Importance of literature review in evidence-based research
• The impact of nurse-led care transitions on hospital readmission rates for older adults
• The effectiveness of nurse-led weight management interventions in reducing obesity rates among children and adolescents
• The impact of medication reconciliation on medication errors and adverse drug events
• The use of mindfulness-based interventions to manage chronic pain in older adults
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in reducing hospital-acquired infections
• The impact of patient-centered care on patient satisfaction and outcomes
• The use of art therapy to manage anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing medical procedures
• Pediatric oncology: working towards better treatment through evidence-based research
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in improving medication adherence among patients with chronic illnesses
• The impact of team-based care on patient outcomes in primary care settings
• The use of music therapy to improve sleep quality in hospitalized patients
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in reducing falls in older adults
• The impact of nurse-led care on maternal and infant outcomes in low-resource settings
• The use of acupressure to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in promoting breastfeeding initiation and duration
• The impact of nurse-led palliative care interventions on end-of-life care in hospice settings
• The use of hypnotherapy to manage pain in labor and delivery
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in reducing hospital length of stay for surgical patients
• The impact of nurse-led transitional care interventions on readmission rates for heart failure patients
• The use of massage therapy to manage pain in hospitalized patients
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in promoting physical activity among adults with chronic illnesses
• The impact of technology-based interventions on patient outcomes in mental health settings
• The use of mind-body interventions to manage chronic pain in patients with fibromyalgia
• Optimizing the clarifying diagnosis of stomach cancer
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in reducing medication errors in pediatric patients
• The impact of nurse-led interventions on patient outcomes in long-term care settings
• The use of aromatherapy to manage anxiety in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in improving glycemic control in patients with diabetes
• The impact of nurse-led interventions on patient outcomes in emergency department settings
• The use of relaxation techniques to manage anxiety in patients with cancer
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in improving self-management skills among patients with heart failure
• The impact of nurse-led interventions on patient outcomes in critical care settings
• The use of yoga to manage symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in promoting medication safety in community settings
• The impact of nurse-led interventions on patient outcomes in home healthcare settings
• The role of family involvement in the rehabilitation of stroke patients
• Assessing the effectiveness of virtual reality in pain management
• The impact of pet therapy on mental well-being in elderly patients
• Exploring the benefits of intermittent fasting on diabetic patients
• The efficacy of acupuncture in managing chronic pain in cancer patients
• Effect of laughter therapy on stress levels among healthcare professionals
• The influence of a plant-based diet on cardiovascular health
• Analyzing the outcomes of nurse-led cognitive behavioral therapy sessions for insomnia patients
• The role of yoga and meditation in managing hypertension
• Exploring the benefits of hydrotherapy in post-operative orthopedic patients
• The impact of digital health applications on patient adherence to medications
• Assessing the outcomes of art therapy in pediatric patients with chronic illnesses
• The role of nutrition education in managing obesity in pediatric patients
• Exploring the effects of nature walks on mental well-being in patients with depression
• The impact of continuous glucose monitoring systems on glycemic control in diabetic patients

The Importance of Incorporating EBP in Nursing Education

Evidence-based practice is not just a tool for seasoned nurses; it’s a foundational skill that should be integrated early into nursing education. By doing so, students learn the mechanics of nursing and the rationale behind various interventions grounded in scientific research.

• Bridging Theory and Practice:

Introducing EBP in the curriculum helps students bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical practice. They learn how to perform a task and why it’s done a particular way.

• Critical Thinking:

EBP promotes critical thinking. By regularly reviewing and appraising research, students develop the ability to discern the quality and applicability of studies. This skill is invaluable in a rapidly evolving field like healthcare.

• Lifelong Learning:

EBP instills a culture of continuous learning. It encourages nurses to regularly seek out the most recent research findings and adapt their practices accordingly.

• Improved Patient Outcomes:

At the heart of EBP is the goal of enhanced patient care. We ensure patients receive the most effective, up-to-date care by teaching students to base their practices on evidence.

• Professional Development:

Familiarity with EBP makes it easier for nurses to contribute to professional discussions, attend conferences, and conduct research. It elevates their professional stature and opens doors to new opportunities.

To truly prepare nursing students for the challenges of modern healthcare, it’s essential to make EBP a core part of their education.

In summary, evidence-based practice nursing is an essential component of providing quality patient care. As a nurse, it is important to stay up to date on the latest research in the field and incorporate evidence-based practices into your daily work. Choosing a research topic that aligns with your interests and addresses a gap in the literature can lead to valuable contributions to the field of nursing.

When it comes to finding EBP project ideas, there are many sources available, including professional organizations, academic journals, and healthcare conferences. By collaborating with colleagues and seeking feedback from mentors, you can refine your research question and design a study that is rigorous and relevant.

The nursing evidence-based practice topics listed above provide a starting point for further exploration and investigation. By studying the effectiveness of various nursing interventions and techniques, we can continue to improve patient outcomes and deliver better care. Ultimately, evidence-based practice nursing is about using the best available research to inform our decisions and provide the highest quality care possible to our patients.

📎 Related Articles

1. Top Nursing Research Topics for Students and Professionals 2. Nursing Debate Topics: The Importance of Discussing and Debating Nursing Issues 3. Mental Health Nursing Research Topics: Inspiring Ideas for Students 4. Top Nursing Argumentative Essay Topics: Engage in Thought-Provoking Debates 5. Top Nursing Topics for Discussion: Engaging Conversations for Healthcare Professionals 6. Exploring Controversial Issues in Nursing: Key Topics and Examples 7. Pediatric Nursing Research Topics for Students: A Comprehensive Guide

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Examples of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

Nurses play a crucial role in patient care and outcomes. By embracing evidence-based practice, nurses can ensure they are providing the highest quality and most effective care possible. In this article, we explore what evidence-based nursing practice is, how it improves patient outcomes, and how it can reduce healthcare costs. We also look at how professional nursing organizations support evidence-based practice, share examples of evidence-based practice in nursing, and discuss how nurses can advance their education to support evidence-based practice.

What is Evidence-Based Nursing Practice?

Evidence-Based Nursing Practice (EBNP) is an approach that involves integrating individual clinical expertise with the most relevant and current research evidence available. This assists healthcare providers in making informed decisions about patient care. Research conducted in the nursing field helps bridge the knowledge gap and improve healthcare organizations and patient outcomes. EBNP is built on the foundation laid by Florence Nightingale, who pioneered the use of empirical data and research studies to improve patient care and outcomes in the 19th century.

How Does Evidence-Based Practice Improve Patient Outcomes?

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) leads to positive patient outcomes by promoting informed decision-making processes among healthcare providers. As they incorporate the latest and most reliable research evidence with their clinical expertise and the unique circumstances of each patient, they can develop more effective care plans. High-quality patient care is driven by relevant research studies, which inform clinical practice and aid in detecting discrepancies in healthcare delivery, thus minimizing potential complications and enhancing overall patient satisfaction.

What Are the Core Elements of an Answerable Clinical Question?

An answerable clinical question consists of four key components, commonly called the PICO framework. The acronym PICO stands for Patient or Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. These elements are essential for formulating a specific, clear, and answerable question that can be addressed using evidence-based research. By considering each aspect of the PICO framework, healthcare providers can pinpoint crucial knowledge gaps and assess an intervention’s effectiveness concerning a particular patient population and desired outcomes.

How Does Evidence-Based Practice Reduce Healthcare Costs?

Evidence-Based Practice can potentially reduce healthcare costs by boosting healthcare providers’ efficiency and improving patient care quality. By integrating the latest research evidence and clinical expertise, professionals can identify cost-effective interventions and minimize unnecessary or redundant procedures. This leads to better utilization of resources and reduced expenditure for both healthcare organizations and patients. Furthermore, improving healthcare outcomes through EBP reduces the need for costly readmissions, prescription medications, and extended hospital stays, thus reducing the financial burden on healthcare systems.

How Do Professional Nursing Organizations Support Evidence-Based Practice?

Professional nursing organizations, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), play a vital role in promoting and supporting Evidence-Based Practice. These organizations provide guidance, resources, and opportunities for ongoing education, helping nurses and other healthcare providers enhance their clinical practice and deliver quality patient care. By offering access to reputable research studies and professional development programs, these organizations assist nurse leaders in implementing EBP throughout various healthcare settings.

What is the Role of the American Nurses Association in Evidence-Based Practice?

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is committed to promoting Evidence-Based Practice for its members and the nursing profession as a whole. The ANA provides resources, tools, and educational opportunities for nurses, encouraging continuous professional growth and development. They also advocate for nursing research funding and support nurses in conducting and disseminating research studies. The ANA empowers nurses to incorporate the most relevant evidence into their practice, ensuring patients receive the best possible care.

How Does the American Nurses Credentialing Center Promote Quality Patient Care?

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) plays a significant role in promoting quality patient care through its various certification programs, accreditation services, and the Magnet Recognition Program. By encouraging healthcare organizations to adopt EBP, the ANCC aids in improving various aspects of patient care, such as safety and satisfaction. Additionally, ANCC certification programs recognize and validate the expertise of individual nurse leaders in their respective specialties, ensuring they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to implement EBP.

What Resources Do Professional Nursing Organizations Offer for Evidence-Based Practice?

Professional nursing organizations, such as the ANA and ANCC, offer numerous resources to support nurses in implementing Evidence-Based Practice. These include access to research databases, guidelines, and best practice recommendations. Furthermore, organizations like these provide educational webinars, conferences, and workshops on EBP, helping nurses stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in their field. For instance, the ANA’s Florence Nightingale Library offers diverse resources, including publications and e-books that cover various aspects of nursing practice, including EBP. Nurses can also find MSN programs specializing in EBP, such as the program developed by Darby Faubion, which is designed to train nurse leaders in implementing evidence-based practice in diverse healthcare settings.

What are Some Examples of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing?

Evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates clinical expertise, best research evidence, and patient values to optimize health outcomes. This approach supports the nursing profession in delivering quality patient care. There are several examples that showcase the value of EBP in nursing:

1. Hand hygiene: Research studies have consistently demonstrated the importance of handwashing in preventing hospital-acquired infections. Florence Nightingale was a pioneer in emphasizing cleanliness in patient care. Today, healthcare organizations follow guidelines from the American Nurses Association and other agencies to ensure that hand hygiene is a standard of practice.

2. Fall prevention: EBP guides the proper assessment of patients at risk for falls and the implementation of strategies to prevent these incidents. Healthcare providers use evidence-based tools like the Morse Fall Scale to assess patients and develop a comprehensive care plan.

3. Pressure ulcer prevention: Evidence-based guidelines help nurses understand the risk factors and implement interventions to prevent pressure ulcers. Examples include turning patients regularly, using pressure-relieving devices, and maintaining skin integrity through proper care.

4. Pain management: EBP supports nurses in identifying a patient’s pain and managing it effectively using a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, improving patient outcomes and overall experience.

How Can Implementing Evidence-Based Practice Improve Patient Outcomes?

The evidence-based practice contributes to positive patient outcomes by guiding nurses in delivering the best possible care. Some of the ways in which EBP can lead to improved patient outcomes are:

1. Enhanced decision-making: EBP promotes the use of research findings and other evidence in clinical practice, allowing nurses to make informed decisions when developing and implementing care plans.

2. Consistency in care: Healthcare providers who consistently apply evidence-based practices across the various aspects of patient care ensure that their patients receive uniform, high-quality care, reducing the knowledge gap between providers and improving overall outcomes.

3. Decreased variations in practice: The adoption of EBP across healthcare organizations can minimize variations in clinical practice, leading to similar standards of care and promoting positive patient outcomes throughout the United States.

4. Empowered nursing workforce: Nurses equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to apply EBP are more likely to engage in effective clinical decision-making, translating into better patient care and outcomes.

How Does Evidence-Based Practice Impact Quality Patient Care?

EBP directly influences the quality of patient care delivered by nurses and other healthcare professionals. Implementing EBP in nursing practice results in:

1. Improved clinical effectiveness: EBP helps healthcare providers identify the most effective interventions and treatment strategies based on the latest research evidence, ensuring that patients receive the best possible care.

2. Reduced healthcare costs: Utilizing evidence-based interventions can decrease the use of unnecessary or ineffective treatments, lowering healthcare costs for both patients and healthcare organizations.

3. Improved patient satisfaction: Adherence to EBP principles leads to better patient outcomes and experiences, resulting in heightened patient satisfaction and a positive perception of the healthcare organization.

4. Greater professional accountability: Nurses who embrace EBP take responsibility for staying updated on current research and integrating evidence into practice, ensuring their actions align with best practices and fostering a culture of excellence.

What Techniques Can Help Nurses Apply Evidence-Based Practice?

To successfully integrate EBP into nursing, healthcare providers can adopt several strategies:

1. Develop a culture of curiosity and learning: Encourage continuous learning among nursing staff by fostering an environment that values inquiry, research, and evidence-based practices. Nursing is a rapidly evolving field, and the latest research and technology can impact patient outcomes significantly. As such, it is essential to cultivate a culture of curiosity and continuous learning among the nursing staff. Leaders in healthcare organizations can promote and encourage nursing staff to stay current on new treatments, procedures, and technology. This can be accomplished through regular training sessions, attending conferences, and offering mentorship programs. By ensuring that nurses have the latest knowledge and tools at their disposal, patients can receive better care. Also, fostering a continuous learning environment can help attract and retain top talent.

2. Collaborate with other healthcare professionals: Teamwork, especially with healthcare professionals in other disciplines, can help to expand knowledge, share insights, and promote the use of EBP throughout the organization. For example, a nurse may collaborate with a physical therapist to develop a care plan for a patient with mobility issues. The physical therapist can provide insights on exercises and techniques that can aid the patient’s mobility, while the nurse can contribute information on the patient’s overall health and specific needs. Furthermore, collaborating with other healthcare professionals can help to identify common challenges and barriers to EBP implementation, and together they can develop solutions to overcome these hurdles. This can lead to more effective and efficient patient care, ultimately improving outcomes and satisfaction for both patients and healthcare providers.

3. Access and use resources: A wide array of tools and resources exist to support evidence-based practice, such as online databases, journals, and reference materials. Encourage regular use of these resources to support informed clinical decision-making. It is important to ensure healthcare professionals have the knowledge and skills necessary to access and use these resources. Training sessions can be offered to teach staff how to effectively search for and critically evaluate evidence. In addition, it can be beneficial to establish a process for regular updates to these resources, ensuring the most current and relevant information is available. Providing support and resources for staff who may not have access to these materials outside of work can also ensure they have the tools necessary to provide the best care possible. By promoting the regular use and access to these resources, healthcare professionals can make informed clinical decisions based on the best available evidence.

4. Engage in reflection: Reflecting on individual and team practices can help identify areas for improvement and encourage the implementation of evidence-based approaches at all levels of patient care. Reflection plays a critical role in improving the quality of healthcare services. It creates a culture of self-awareness, which helps team members understand their roles, responsibilities, and strengths. Reflective practice enables individuals and teams to identify areas where they need to improve their skills and knowledge. It also encourages the implementation of evidence-based approaches that have been shown to be effective in patient care. Reflection can involve various activities, such as discussing challenging cases, analyzing outcomes of previous treatments, and reviewing feedback from patients. By engaging in reflection, healthcare professionals can continuously improve their practices and provide the highest quality care possible.

How Can Nurses Advance Their Education to Support Evidence-Based Practice?

By obtaining advanced degrees and participating in professional development programs, nurses can acquire the knowledge and skills required to deliver evidence-based care. Several educational options exist for nurses looking to enhance their expertise in EBP.

Why Should Nurses Pursue an Online RN to BSN Program?

Pursuing an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is an excellent way for registered nurses to deepen their understanding of EBP. A BSN program typically focuses on enhancing clinical reasoning skills, research, and evidence-based practice, preparing nurses for the challenges of modern patient care. Online RN to BSN programs provide flexibility, allowing working professionals to balance their education with career and personal commitments.

How Can Nurses Find MSN Programs Focused on Evidence-Based Practice?

Nurses can find Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs that emphasize evidence-based practice by conducting thorough research on graduate nursing programs. Pay particular attention to a program’s curriculum, faculty expertise, accreditation status, and any available specialties that align with your professional interests. Seek recommendations from colleagues, mentors, and nurse leaders such as Darby Faubion, a well-known nursing advocate.

How Does Continuing Education Contribute to Improving Patient Outcomes?

Continuing education equips nurses with the latest knowledge and skills required to provide evidence-based care, promoting improved patient outcomes. By participating in workshops, conferences, and other professional development opportunities, nurses can stay informed on best practices, innovative research, and emerging trends in healthcare. Many healthcare organizations, including the American Nurses Credentialing Center, offer continuing education options tailored for nurses looking to maintain their licenses and advance their clinical practice to ultimately contribute to positive patient outcomes.

Other Resources from Xavier University Online

MSN vs. DNP: Which Nursing Degree is Right For You?

The Advantages of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree in Addressing the Nursing Shortage

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What is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing?

5 min read • June, 01 2023

Evidence-based practice in nursing involves providing holistic, quality care based on the most up-to-date research and knowledge rather than traditional methods, advice from colleagues, or personal beliefs. 

Nurses can expand their knowledge and improve their clinical practice experience by collecting, processing, and implementing research findings. Evidence-based practice focuses on what's at the heart of nursing — your patient. Learn what evidence-based practice in nursing is, why it's essential, and how to incorporate it into your daily patient care.

How to Use Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

Evidence-based practice requires you to review and assess the latest research. The knowledge gained from evidence-based research in nursing may indicate changing a standard nursing care policy in your practice Discuss your findings with your nurse manager and team before implementation. Once you've gained their support and ensured compliance with your facility's policies and procedures, merge nursing implementations based on this information with your patient's values to provide the most effective care. 

You may already be using evidence-based nursing practices without knowing it. Research findings support a significant percentage of nursing practices, and ongoing studies anticipate this will continue to increase.

Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Examples

There are various examples of evidence-based practice in nursing, such as:

• Use of oxygen to help with hypoxia and organ failure in patients with COPD 
• Management of angina
• Protocols regarding alarm fatigue
• Recognition of a family member's influence on a patient's presentation of symptoms
• Noninvasive measurement of blood pressure in children 

Improving patient care begins by asking how you can make it a safer, more compassionate, and personal experience. 

Learn about pertinent evidence-based practice information on our  Clinical Practice Material page .

Five Steps to Implement Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

Evidence-based nursing draws upon critical reasoning and judgment skills developed through experience and training. You can practice evidence-based nursing interventions by  following five crucial steps  that serve as guidelines for making patient care decisions. This process includes incorporating the best external evidence, your clinical expertise, and the patient's values and expectations.

• Ask a clear question about the patient's issue and determine an ultimate goal, such as improving a procedure to help their specific condition. 
• Acquire the best evidence by searching relevant clinical articles from legitimate sources.
• Appraise the resources gathered to determine if the information is valid, of optimal quality compared to the evidence levels, and relevant for the patient.
• Apply the evidence to clinical practice by making decisions based on your nursing expertise and the new information.
• Assess outcomes to determine if the treatment was effective and should be considered for other patients.

Analyzing Evidence-Based Research Levels

You can compare current professional and clinical practices with new research outcomes when evaluating evidence-based research. But how do you know what's considered the best information?

Use critical thinking skills and consider  levels of evidence  to establish the reliability of the information when you analyze evidence-based research. These levels can help you determine how much emphasis to place on a study, report, or clinical practice guideline when making decisions about patient care.

The Levels of Evidence-Based Practice

Four primary levels of evidence come into play when you're making clinical decisions.

• Level A acquires evidence from randomized, controlled trials and is considered the most reliable.
• Level B evidence is obtained from quality-designed control trials without randomization.
• Level C typically gets implemented when there is limited information about a condition and acquires evidence from a consensus viewpoint or expert opinion.
• Level ML (multi-level) is usually applied to complex cases and gets its evidence from more than one of the other levels.

Why Is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Essential?

Implementing evidence-based practice in nursing bridges the theory-to-practice gap and delivers innovative patient care using the most current health care findings. The topic of evidence-based practice will likely come up throughout your nursing career. Its origins trace back to Florence Nightingale. This iconic founder of modern nursing gathered data and conclusions regarding the relationship between unsanitary conditions and failing health. Its application remains essential today.

Other Benefits of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing

Besides keeping health care practices relevant and current, evidence-based practice in nursing offers a range of other benefits to you and your patients:

• Promotes positive patient outcomes
• Reduces health care costs by preventing complications 
• Contributes to the growth of the science of nursing
• Allows for incorporation of new technologies into health care practice
• Increases nurse autonomy and confidence in decision-making
• Ensures relevancy of nursing practice with new interventions and care protocols 
• Provides scientifically supported research to help make well-informed decisions
• Fosters shared decision-making with patients in care planning
• Enhances critical thinking 
• Encourages lifelong learning

When you use the principles of evidence-based practice in nursing to make decisions about your patient's care, it results in better outcomes, higher satisfaction, and reduced costs. Implementing this method promotes lifelong learning and lets you strive for continuous quality improvement in your clinical care and nursing practice to achieve  nursing excellence .

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• Helen Noble 1 ,
• Allison Shorten 2
• 1 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queens University Belfast , Belfast , UK
• 2 Department of Family, Community and Health Sciences , University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing , Birmingham , Alabama , USA
• Correspondence to Dr Helen Noble, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; helen.noble{at}qub.ac.uk

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EBN perspectives bring together key issues from the commentaries in one of our nursing topic themes.

Introduction

This article is part of Evidence Based Nursing ( EBN ) Perspective series. In this series, published commentaries related to a specific nursing theme are collated and highlights are discussed. The topic for this edition is ‘nursing issues’, covering 21 commentaries published from October 2016 over a 12-month period. A summary of works is organised into key themes, research methods are identified and important implications for practice and future research are explored.

Evidence-Based Nursing commentaries on nursing issues (October 2016–October 2017)

Theme 1: professional issues—nursing workforce/workplace.

Staffing and nurse-perceived quality of care (http://ebn.bmj.com/content/20/1/19).

Greater nurse autonomy associated with lower mortality and failure to rescue rates (http://ebn.bmj.com/content/20/2/56).

Health, psychosocial and workplace characteristics may identify nurses and midwives at risk of high absenteeism (http://ebn.bmj.com/content/20/3/83).

Good peer relationships can attenuate the negative effect of horizontal violence on job satisfaction  (http://ebn.bmj.com/content/19/3/91).

Simple variations to traditional models of care can dramatically improve emergency department performance (http://ebn.bmj.com/content/20/3/87).

Emergency department nurses report high workload and management pressure to meet 4-hour treatment targets (http://ebn.bmj.com/content/19/3/90).

Information gaps in medication communication during clinical handover calls for a different approach (http://ebn.bmj.com/content/19/4/125).

Nurses require confidence, knowledge and communication skills for referrals to doctors (http://ebn.bmj.com/content/20/3/84).

Reporting of professional misconduct is influenced by nurses’ level of education and managerial experience (http://ebn.bmj.com/content/20/3/89).

Mindfulness training can reduce depression and anxiety among nurses (http://ebn.bmj.com/content/20/2/57).

Theme 2: Evidence-based nursing care—patient care/therapies

Earplugs could be an effective sleep hygiene strategy to reduce delirium …

Competing interests None declared.

Provenance and peer review Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.

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200+ Great Ideas of Nursing Research Topics to Get Started

Running out of topic ideas for your nursing research paper?

Stay on this page to find really cool and helpful lists of interesting research topics for your nursing dissertation or thesis.

What are Some Cool topics to Research?

Whenever students are asked to work on a research paper or present their thesis, the very first concern for them is choosing a unique, interesting, and research-worthy topic that makes their research significant and has enough future scope.

When it comes to finding a unique topic without working on something that’s already been done, most of the nursing and healthcare students struggle. A good research topic should be unique, relevant to current times, and have future scope as well. And you’ll find all three qualities in the topics mentioned below:

1. Primary Healthcare Nursing Research Topics

Primary healthcare refers to essential or basic health care service based on socially acceptable and scientifically sound methods and technology. Since it includes physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being, there are many topics for nursing scholars to explore:

• Strengthening primary healthcare system as the first line of referral system
• Introduction of home health nursing in the community set up
• Primary health care delivery system clinical pathways
• From home visits to home health care: strengthening primary health care delivery system
• Expanding the roles of community health nurses
• Millennial models of health care system
• Strengthening disease surveillance program in the community health setup
• Home health care of debilitated patients
• Acceptance of evidence-based practice in the primary health care
• Strengthening continuity of care in the community/home health care post-hospitalization
• Physical rehabilitation and occupational therapy in the community health care setting

2. Good Research Topics in Healthcare Management

Healthcare management is the management, administration, or oversight of healthcare systems, hospitals, public health systems, and other medical facilities. Since it comprises the overall management of all the work of the hospitals, it opens avenues for a lot of research work. Take, for example, the following:

• Evaluating who is responsible for failure in surgeries?
• Healthcare Contracts Limitations
• Medical Home Service
• Analysing nursing channels that nurses can use for becoming physicians?
• Gender Bias in Nursing Profession
• Starting Private Practice as a Nurse
• Medicare: Pros and Cons
• What are the most appropriate methods for increasing staff retention in a health care setting?
• Nursing Uniform Code Rules
• Role of nurses in enhancing a hospital quality improvement
• Legal Risks with Non-English Patients
• Medical Marijuana: Risk, Benefits, and Management Rules
• Shortage of Men in Healthcare
• Health tracking apps for continuity of care post discharge to home
• Telehealth: the impact of virtual care to urban and rural areas
• Strategic referral system to prevent tertiary hospital congestion
• Clinical pathways for referral system
• Drive-thru pharmacy
• Strenghtening the roles of social works and social workers in the health care team
• Case management approach in the healthcare delivery system
• Defining and application of Expected Length of Stay in patient management
• Impact of case managers in Expected Length of Stay and patient outcomes
• Redefining hospital cultures on bed rest versus mobilization
• Redefining hospital cultures on diet and food services
• Redefining hospital cultures on the assumption of the sick roles
• Strict implementation of Expected Length of Stay to prevent hospital congestion
• Roles of Case manager in the Clinical pathways
• Case Manager as a new nursing role an specialization
• Nurse navigator as a new form of nurse entrepreneurship
• Case management clinical pathway for smooth admission, patient flow and continuity of care after discharge
• Increase nursing specialization
• Internet savvy for healthcare providers

3. Nursing Research Topics about Pain Management

Pain management, in nursing, includes study of all the interventions nurses can make during their hospital hours – mainly to relieve a patient’s pain or ailments through medicinal interventions. Pain is complex, with many treatment options such as therapies, medicines, and also mind-body techniques. Nursing research scholars can research about the following topics:

• Pain management in children suffering from life-limiting illnesses: learning about the best practices
• Headache Treatment Protocol
• A closer look at hemophilia patient’s pain management
• Myofascial Pain Rehabilitation
• Labor and delivery: best practices for pain management
• Using Opioid for Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Fetal pain perception: analysis by medical experts
• Innovative Injection Use
• Therapeutic Injections: Cons & Pros
• Cognitive hypnotherapy application: how effective are they in pain management?
• Evaluating the effectiveness of Benson’s relaxation therapy as a pain management practice.
• Post-discharge pain-management strategies: evaluating their effectiveness in a health care setting?
• Phantom Pains Phenomenon
• Pain management in cancer patients: best practices according to expert nurses
• Spinal cord nerve injury related to chronic constipation
• Mobile pain unit

4. Pediatric Nursing Research Topics

In Pediatric nursing, the nursing staff is responsible for medical care of the children and neonates, and adolescents – mainly in a day-clinic or the in-patient setting. Though the main role of child health nursing is administering procedures and medicines to all children as per their prescribed nursing care plans, the research scholars can write papers on the following topics:

• Speech Disorders Therapy
• ADHD Causes & treatment
• Prevalence of misdiagnosis in child health or paediatric ward
• Vaccination & Autism
• Systematic review of range of child health nursing services in UK
• Antibiotic Resistance in Preschool Children
• Mental and Emotional health of children under 10
• Eating Disorders in Children
• Social Media Impact on Teenagers
• Seizures Causes in Infants
• Teething issues in children under 10
• Psychological Aspects of Infant Care
• Use of social media platforms in preparation and prevention of hospital phobia among pediatric groups
• Family engagement in the pediatric care by using hospital information system
• Safety and efficacy of telehealth for pediatric patients

What are the Current issues in Nursing?

Nursing is a high-pressure job. It demands patience, determination, and perseverance. As a high-pressure job, it gets quite challenging and leads to issues from time to time. Some of the examples being staff shortages, long working hours, workplace hazards, personal health, and workplace violence. All of these can be addressed in nursing research papers:

• Analysis of the registered nurse workforce and the relationship to work environments
• Transforming loss: A developing concept for nursing
• Nursing Staff Shortages
• Nursing Practitioners
• Meeting Patient Expectations: A challenge for nurses
• Biggest obstacles nurses face in their education and maintaining career alongside
• Workplace Violence and Hazards Nurses face
• Diversity in Healthcare
• Importance of Community Nursing
• Future of Nursing in the Digital Age
• What measure can a nurse take for helping a person with their eating disorder?
• Clinical Nurse Roles
• How can nurses help in treating patients who already know they don’t have a survival rate?
• Ethics and Homeless People Treatment
• Critical Care Nursing Management
• A nurse’s role in helping and assisting patients with chronic diseases?
• Nursing Theorists Works
• Remote Intensive Care Unit
• Stress Management Practice for Nurses Working in Night Shifts
• Between Career & Professional Service
• Preceptorship and training after distant education program and online learning
• Centralized infectious disease surveillance
• Centralized reporting of chronic diseases
• Patient become more educated: the pros and cons of social media
• Fake news and misinformation on health related issue with the rise of social media platforms
• BPO and call centers for medical procedures booking and admission to decongest emergency room
• Application of BPO in the quality assurance monitoring in documentation

What are Some of the Research Topic Ideas in Surgical Nursing?

• Moral distress among nurses in Surgical units
• Patient’s satisfaction and experience about care provided by nurses in the surgical units
• Organizational effects on patient satisfaction in surgical units
• Medical-Surgical nurses and their perceived leadership abilities as responders in patient deterioration events
• Role of Nurses in Surgical Wards
• Medical-surgical nursing: Critical thinking in client care
• Pain assessment and management in surgical nursing
• Understanding technology in contemporary surgical nursing
• Understanding Medical surgical nursing as an integrated approach
• Standardising fast-track surgical nursing care
• Mobilization team for the fast recovery of post-operative patients
• Use of telehealth for pre-operative preparations and elective surgical admissions to lessen hospital length of stay among surgical patients
• Continuity of care post surgery in the community health care

What have been some of the more important nursing research questions discussed in nursing class?

If you are here to find more important topics for your nursing dissertations, then scroll through this section for topics that are often discussed in nursing classes. Nursing research articles and topics change over time. However, we find these relevant to current times and challenges in healthcare:

1. Research topic ideas for Midwifery Nursing

Nurse-midwife, as a licensed healthcare professional, specialises in child birth and also women’s reproductive health. Apart from attending pregnant women during childbirth, they are responsible for several roles during emergencies, and pre and postnatal care. Hence, opening avenues for research topics such as:

• Role of nurses in improving patient safety during childbirth: Evidence from obstetric trauma
• Evaluate the impact of delayed umbilical cord clamping after child birth
• Maternal & Neonatal Practices in Rural Areas
• Emerging trends in obstetrical and midwifery nursing
• First Antenatal Appointment Analysis
• Limiting interventions during a low-risk labour
• Mental Illness & Post-natal Period
• Analysing the role of prenatal care in pregnant women
• Shift Study Midwives & Length
• Evaluating impact of AIDS and Hepatitis B in the pregnant women
• Self-Instruction Kits & Natal Safety
• Studying advanced trends in obstetrics and gynaecology
• Midwifery Continued Care
• Evaluating pros and cons of labouring in water
• Gestational Weight Gain Challenges
• Vitamin D’s role as a supplement during pregnancy
• Studying clinical reasoning integration into midwifery practice
• Obese Pregnant Women Safety Rules
• A decade after BEmONC and CEmONC

2. Health Promotion Research Topics

Health promotion mainly comes from behavioral social science which draws from the environmental, biological, psychological, medical, and physical sciences for promoting health and preventing diseases. For health promotion, the research topics include the following:

• Healthcare Dangers of Digital Age
• Benefits and Shortages of Telemedicine
• Healthy living and Preventive medicine for Senior Citizens
• Role of School Nurses
• Obstacles for Smoking cessation
• Healthy Eating & Sports
• Causes of Youth Inactivity
• Roles of Parents for Healthy Lifestyle of Children
• Obesity and Mental Stability
• Pharmacist Responsibility
• Social Media and Educational Strategies
• HealthBank as new form of medical insurance inside the hospital organization
• Collaboration of private health insurance company with public and private hospitals

3. Adult Research Topics for Nursing Students

As a nursing scholar, you can also write research papers on adult healthcare, disease prevention, and management. Take, for example, reasons behind anxiety disorders in adults. Find more topics in the list below:

• Nurses’ experiences with urinary catheter insertion: A qualitative focus group study
• Clinical Cardiology Innovations
• CV Imaging Process
• Migraine Case Example
• Bipolar Disorder Non-Chemical Practices
• Mental Health & Psychiatric Care in Adults
• Online nursing education program
• Self care in Nursing
• Home health care for longterm vented patients
• Clinical Instructor, Preceptorship, Educator and Professor as specialized field requiring licensure
• Specialization program in nursing education

4. Geriatric Care Nursing Journal Topics

Nurses working in Geriatric care and management are responsible for coordinating and planning care of the elderly people dealing with mental or physical disabilities. Some of the research work topic ideas for geriatric care include the following:

• Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke in Elderly people
• Pain in elderly people: Assessment and Management
• Joint Disorders Study in Elderly Population
• Rapid Nutritional assessment in Elderly
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Bladder Cancer Therapy
• Atrial Fibrillation Study
• Critical Care Requirements
• Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
• Geriatrics Ethics
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Parkinson’s Disease Precautions
• Geriatric care clinical pathways of care: holistic approach

What are the recent nursing research paper topics?

If you’re facing the challenge of choosing a recent nursing research topic, we’ve got your back. Many nurses, including experienced and freshers, are faced with this challenge at some point. But there’s no need to panic. So, without further ado, let’s jump-start the list of most recent research topics for nursing students:

1. Women’s Health Nursing Research Topics

Research topics related to women’s health are always trending, relevant, and have future scope as well. Hence, these topics are still worth exploring and researching:

• Culture affects women’s health
• Substance Abuse and Addiction in Women
• Menopause Challenges
• Infertility Ethical Rules
• Ovarian Cancer and Ovarian Disorder Analysis
• Modern Neonatal Practices
• Pregnancy Prevention Measures
• Sepsis after labour
• Cosmetic Dermatology
• Cystic Fibroids
• Sleep Disorders in Women
• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Women’s Sexual Health Disorders
• HPV and Cervical Cancer
• Vaginal Atrophy Causes
• Sleep disturbances in Women

2. Mental Health Nursing Research Articles Topics

Research papers focusing on mental health are still one of the most read and referred papers. And there’s still more scope for research on topics such as:

• Evaluating the concept of Integrated Mental and Physical Health Care
• Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health
• Possible skills required for Nurses in Mental health care setting
• Assessing the mental health of nurses
• Depression Causes
• Schizophrenia Diagnostics
• Alcohol Addiction Disorders
• Bipolar Disorder
• Studying the impact of PTSD in the Army Veterans
• Impact of Video Games on Teenage Aggression
• Stress Among Police Officers
• Psychiatric Patient Ethics
• Forbidden Substances: Prevention and Use
• Bioterrorism Medicine
• Physical Traumas & Recovery Methods
• Application of Nursing Case Management in Psychiatry

Nursing leaders have called for research focusing on which of the following topics?

If you’d like to take an expert’s opinion before choosing a topic for your nursing dissertation, this section will be helpful. Our list of best nursing research topics doesn’t end here. We’ve got here more interesting topics that are recommended by nursing leaders and experts. Take a look at some more relevant topics:

• Preterm Labor Dangers
• Labor and Delivery Management Practices
• Saving Mother & Child Challenges
• Abortion Care Ethical Side
• Adolescent Gynecology Education
• Antenatal Care Recommendations
• Hypertensive Disorders Causes
• Newborn Resuscitation Rules
• Caesarean Section Preparation
• Delivery Room Behavior Checklist
• Nurses play vital roles in healthcare. Why are they invisible in the media?
• Increasing nursing research capacity: The roles of nurse scientists within healthcare systems
• Microeconomics and macroeconomics for sources of hospital funds
• Diverting patients and funds to economical services
• Culture vs evidence based practice
• Social media influencer in health education dissemination
• Acceptance of evidence based practice in the hospital
• Impact of socio-cultural nursing to evidence-based practice
• Hindrances in the implementation of evidence-based practice
• Nursing faculty shortage and brain-drain
• Online continuing professional education and development

Final Thoughts

Nursing research topics for a dissertation or thesis should not be difficult to find through the ideas suggestion above. Just make sure that you provide a twist (segment or expand the topic, perhaps) and come up with a unique topic for your paper.

During the initial stages of finalising a nursing research topic, you can struggle with a lot of choices or overwhelming information. However, when you start to consider a research topic’s limitations and scope, and outline your topic into a question, you’ll be able to get a better understanding of the topic you can manage in terms of workload.

We hope these nursing research topics mentioned above help you find that unique thesis statement or idea you’re looking for. In case you’re still having a tough time making a choice, leave us a comment or drop a mail, and we will direct you to better resources.

• https://www.journals.elsevier.com/applied-nursing-research/recent-articles
• https://www.syberscribe.com.au/blog/10-emerging-trends-healthcare-technology-2019-beyond/
• https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/nursing/top-10-nursing-trends/
• http://ojin.nursingworld.org/

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Best Nursing Research Topics for Students

What is a nursing research paper.

• What They Include
• Choosing a Topic
• Best Nursing Research Topics
• Research Paper Writing Tips

Writing a research paper is a massive task that involves careful organization, critical analysis, and a lot of time. Some nursing students are natural writers, while others struggle to select a nursing research topic, let alone write about it.

If you're a nursing student who dreads writing research papers, this article may help ease your anxiety. We'll cover everything you need to know about writing nursing school research papers and the top topics for nursing research.  

Continue reading to make your paper-writing jitters a thing of the past.

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A nursing research paper is a work of academic writing composed by a nurse or nursing student. The paper may present information on a specific topic or answer a question.

During LPN/LVN and RN programs, most papers you write focus on learning to use research databases, evaluate appropriate resources, and format your writing with APA style. You'll then synthesize your research information to answer a question or analyze a topic.

BSN , MSN , Ph.D., and DNP programs also write nursing research papers. Students in these programs may also participate in conducting original research studies.

Writing papers during your academic program improves and develops many skills, including the ability to:

• Select nursing topics for research
• Conduct effective research
• Analyze published academic literature
• Format and cite sources
• Synthesize data
• Organize and articulate findings

About Nursing Research Papers

When do nursing students write research papers.

You may need to write a research paper for any of the nursing courses you take. Research papers help develop critical thinking and communication skills. They allow you to learn how to conduct research and critically review publications.

That said, not every class will require in-depth, 10-20-page papers. The more advanced your degree path, the more you can expect to write and conduct research. If you're in an associate or bachelor's program, you'll probably write a few papers each semester or term.

Do Nursing Students Conduct Original Research?

Most of the time, you won't be designing, conducting, and evaluating new research. Instead, your projects will focus on learning the research process and the scientific method. You'll achieve these objectives by evaluating existing nursing literature and sources and defending a thesis.

However, many nursing faculty members do conduct original research. So, you may get opportunities to participate in, and publish, research articles.

Example Research Project Scenario:

In your maternal child nursing class, the professor assigns the class a research paper regarding developmentally appropriate nursing interventions for the pediatric population. While that may sound specific, you have almost endless opportunities to narrow down the focus of your writing. 

You could choose pain intervention measures in toddlers. Conversely, you can research the effects of prolonged hospitalization on adolescents' social-emotional development.

What Does a Nursing Research Paper Include?

Your professor should provide a thorough guideline of the scope of the paper. In general, an undergraduate nursing research paper will consist of:

Introduction : A brief overview of the research question/thesis statement your paper will discuss. You can include why the topic is relevant.

Body : This section presents your research findings and allows you to synthesize the information and data you collected. You'll have a chance to articulate your evaluation and answer your research question. The length of this section depends on your assignment.

Conclusion : A brief review of the information and analysis you presented throughout the body of the paper. This section is a recap of your paper and another chance to reassert your thesis.

The best advice is to follow your instructor's rubric and guidelines. Remember to ask for help whenever needed, and avoid overcomplicating the assignment!

How to Choose a Nursing Research Topic

The sheer volume of prospective nursing research topics can become overwhelming for students. Additionally, you may get the misconception that all the 'good' research ideas are exhausted. However, a personal approach may help you narrow down a research topic and find a unique angle.

Writing your research paper about a topic you value or connect with makes the task easier. Additionally, you should consider the material's breadth. Topics with plenty of existing literature will make developing a research question and thesis smoother.

Finally, feel free to shift gears if necessary, especially if you're still early in the research process. If you start down one path and have trouble finding published information, ask your professor if you can choose another topic.

The Best Research Topics for Nursing Students

You have endless subject choices for nursing research papers. This non-exhaustive list just scratches the surface of some of the best nursing research topics.

1. Clinical Nursing Research Topics

• Analyze the use of telehealth/virtual nursing to reduce inpatient nurse duties.
• Discuss the impact of evidence-based respiratory interventions on patient outcomes in critical care settings.
• Explore the effectiveness of pain management protocols in pediatric patients.

2. Community Health Nursing Research Topics

• Assess the impact of nurse-led diabetes education in Type II Diabetics.
• Analyze the relationship between socioeconomic status and access to healthcare services.

3. Nurse Education Research Topics

• Review the effectiveness of simulation-based learning to improve nursing students' clinical skills.
• Identify methods that best prepare pre-licensure students for clinical practice.
• Investigate factors that influence nurses to pursue advanced degrees.
• Evaluate education methods that enhance cultural competence among nurses.
• Describe the role of mindfulness interventions in reducing stress and burnout among nurses.

4. Mental Health Nursing Research Topics

• Explore patient outcomes related to nurse staffing levels in acute behavioral health settings.
• Assess the effectiveness of mental health education among emergency room nurses .
• Explore de-escalation techniques that result in improved patient outcomes.
• Review the effectiveness of therapeutic communication in improving patient outcomes.

5. Pediatric Nursing Research Topics

• Assess the impact of parental involvement in pediatric asthma treatment adherence.
• Explore challenges related to chronic illness management in pediatric patients.
• Review the role of play therapy and other therapeutic interventions that alleviate anxiety among hospitalized children.

6. The Nursing Profession Research Topics

• Analyze the effects of short staffing on nurse burnout .
• Evaluate factors that facilitate resiliency among nursing professionals.
• Examine predictors of nurse dissatisfaction and burnout.
• Posit how nursing theories influence modern nursing practice.

Tips for Writing a Nursing Research Paper

The best nursing research advice we can provide is to follow your professor's rubric and instructions. However, here are a few study tips for nursing students to make paper writing less painful:

Avoid procrastination: Everyone says it, but few follow this advice. You can significantly lower your stress levels if you avoid procrastinating and start working on your project immediately.

Plan Ahead: Break down the writing process into smaller sections, especially if it seems overwhelming. Give yourself time for each step in the process.

Research: Use your resources and ask for help from the librarian or instructor. The rest should come together quickly once you find high-quality studies to analyze.

Outline: Create an outline to help you organize your thoughts. Then, you can plug in information throughout the research process. 

Clear Language: Use plain language as much as possible to get your point across. Jargon is inevitable when writing academic nursing papers, but keep it to a minimum.

Cite Properly: Accurately cite all sources using the appropriate citation style. Nursing research papers will almost always implement APA style. Check out the resources below for some excellent reference management options.

Revise and Edit: Once you finish your first draft, put it away for one to two hours or, preferably, a whole day. Once you've placed some space between you and your paper, read through and edit for clarity, coherence, and grammatical errors. Reading your essay out loud is an excellent way to check for the 'flow' of the paper.

Helpful Nursing Research Writing Resources:

Purdue OWL (Online writing lab) has a robust APA guide covering everything you need about APA style and rules.

Grammarly helps you edit grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Upgrading to a paid plan will get you plagiarism detection, formatting, and engagement suggestions. This tool is excellent to help you simplify complicated sentences.

Mendeley is a free reference management software. It stores, organizes, and cites references. It has a Microsoft plug-in that inserts and correctly formats APA citations.

Don't let nursing research papers scare you away from starting nursing school or furthering your education. Their purpose is to develop skills you'll need to be an effective nurse: critical thinking, communication, and the ability to review published information critically.

Choose a great topic and follow your teacher's instructions; you'll finish that paper in no time.

Joleen Sams is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner based in the Kansas City metro area. During her 10-year RN career, Joleen worked in NICU, inpatient pediatrics, and regulatory compliance. Since graduating with her MSN-FNP in 2019, she has worked in urgent care and nursing administration. Connect with Joleen on LinkedIn or see more of her writing on her website.

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Evidence-Based Practice: Step by Step: The Seven Steps of Evidence-Based Practice

Melnyk, Bernadette Mazurek PhD, RN, CPNP/PMHNP, FNAP, FAAN; Fineout-Overholt, Ellen PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN; Stillwell, Susan B. DNP, RN, CNE; Williamson, Kathleen M. PhD, RN

Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk is dean and distinguished foundation professor of nursing at Arizona State University in Phoenix, where Ellen Fineout-Overholt is clinical professor and director of the Center for the Advancement of Evidence-Based Practice, Susan B. Stillwell is clinical associate professor and program coordinator of the Nurse Educator Evidence-Based Practice Mentorship Program, and Kathleen M. Williamson is associate director of the Center for the Advancement of Evidence-Based Practice.

Contact author: Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, [email protected] .

This is the second article in a new series from the Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation's Center for the Advancement of Evidence-Based Practice. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a problem-solving approach to the delivery of health care that integrates the best evidence from studies and patient care data with clinician expertise and patient preferences and values. When delivered in a context of caring and in a supportive organizational culture, the highest quality of care and best patient outcomes can be achieved.

The purpose of this series is to give nurses the knowledge and skills they need to implement EBP consistently, one step at a time. Articles will appear every two months to allow you time to incorporate information as you work toward implementing EBP at your institution. Also, we've scheduled "Ask the Authors" calls every few months to provide a direct line to the experts to help you resolve questions. See details below.

In this second article on implementing evidence-based practice, the authors offer an overview of the multistep process.

Research studies show that evidence-based practice (EBP) leads to higher quality care, improved patient outcomes, reduced costs, and greater nurse satisfaction than traditional approaches to care. 1-5 Despite these favorable findings, many nurses remain inconsistent in their implementation of evidence-based care. Moreover, some nurses, whose education predates the inclusion of EBP in the nursing curriculum, still lack the computer and Internet search skills necessary to implement these practices. As a result, misconceptions about EBP—that it's too difficult or too time-consuming—continue to flourish.

In the first article in this series ("Igniting a Spirit of Inquiry: An Essential Foundation for Evidence-Based Practice," November 2009), we described EBP as a problem-solving approach to the delivery of health care that integrates the best evidence from well-designed studies and patient care data, and combines it with patient preferences and values and nurse expertise. We also addressed the contribution of EBP to improved care and patient outcomes, described barriers to EBP as well as factors facilitating its implementation, and discussed strategies for igniting a spirit of inquiry in clinical practice, which is the foundation of EBP, referred to as Step Zero. ( Editor's note : although EBP has seven steps, they are numbered zero to six.) In this article, we offer a brief overview of the multistep EBP process. Future articles will elaborate on each of the EBP steps, using the context provided by the Case Scenario for EBP: Rapid Response Teams .

Step Zero: Cultivate a spirit of inquiry. If you've been following this series, you may have already started asking the kinds of questions that lay the groundwork for EBP, for example: in patients with head injuries, how does supine positioning compared with elevating the head of the bed 30 degrees affect intracranial pressure? Or, in patients with supraventricular tachycardia, how does administering the β-blocker metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL) compared with administering no medicine affect the frequency of tachycardic episodes? Without this spirit of inquiry, the next steps in the EBP process are not likely to happen.

Step 1: Ask clinical questions in PICOT format. Inquiries in this format take into account patient population of interest (P), intervention or area of interest (I), comparison intervention or group (C), outcome (O), and time (T). The PICOT format provides an efficient framework for searching electronic databases, one designed to retrieve only those articles relevant to the clinical question. Using the case scenario on rapid response teams as an example, the way to frame a question about whether use of such teams would result in positive outcomes would be: "In acute care hospitals (patient population), how does having a rapid response team (intervention) compared with not having a response team (comparison) affect the number of cardiac arrests (outcome) during a three-month period (time)?"

Step 2: Search for the best evidence. The search for evidence to inform clinical practice is tremendously streamlined when questions are asked in PICOT format. If the nurse in the rapid response scenario had simply typed "What is the impact of having a rapid response team?" into the search field of the database, the result would have been hundreds of abstracts, most of them irrelevant. Using the PICOT format helps to identify key words or phrases that, when entered successively and then combined, expedite the location of relevant articles in massive research databases such as MEDLINE or CINAHL. For the PICOT question on rapid response teams, the first key phrase to be entered into the database would be acute care hospitals , a common subject that will most likely result in thousands of citations and abstracts. The second term to be searched would be rapid response team , followed by cardiac arrests and the remaining terms in the PICOT question. The last step of the search is to combine the results of the searches for each of the terms. This method narrows the results to articles pertinent to the clinical question, often resulting in fewer than 20. It also helps to set limits on the final search, such as "human subjects" or "English," to eliminate animal studies or articles in foreign languages.

Step 3: Critically appraise the evidence. Once articles are selected for review, they must be rapidly appraised to determine which are most relevant, valid, reliable, and applicable to the clinical question. These studies are the "keeper studies." One reason clinicians worry that they don't have time to implement EBP is that many have been taught a laborious critiquing process, including the use of numerous questions designed to reveal every element of a study. Rapid critical appraisal uses three important questions to evaluate a study's worth. 6-8

• Are the results of the study valid? This question of study validity centers on whether the research methods are rigorous enough to render findings as close to the truth as possible. For example, did the researchers randomly assign subjects to treatment or control groups and ensure that they shared key characteristics prior to treatment? Were valid and reliable instruments used to measure key outcomes?
• What are the results and are they important? For intervention studies, this question of study reliability addresses whether the intervention worked, its impact on outcomes, and the likelihood of obtaining similar results in the clinicians' own practice settings. For qualitative studies, this includes assessing whether the research approach fits the purpose of the study, along with evaluating other aspects of the research such as whether the results can be confirmed.
• Will the results help me care for my patients? This question of study applicability covers clinical considerations such as whether subjects in the study are similar to one's own patients, whether benefits outweigh risks, feasibility and cost-effectiveness, and patient values and preferences.

After appraising each study, the next step is to synthesize the studies to determine if they come to similar conclusions, thus supporting an EBP decision or change.

Step 4: Integrate the evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences and values. Research evidence alone is not sufficient to justify a change in practice. Clinical expertise, based on patient assessments, laboratory data, and data from outcomes management programs, as well as patients' preferences and values are important components of EBP. There is no magic formula for how to weigh each of these elements; implementation of EBP is highly influenced by institutional and clinical variables. For example, say there's a strong body of evidence showing reduced incidence of depression in burn patients if they receive eight sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy prior to hospital discharge. You want your patients to have this therapy and so do they. But budget constraints at your hospital prevent hiring a therapist to offer the treatment. This resource deficit hinders implementation of EBP.

Step 5: Evaluate the outcomes of the practice decisions or changes based on evidence. After implementing EBP, it's important to monitor and evaluate any changes in outcomes so that positive effects can be supported and negative ones remedied. Just because an intervention was effective in a rigorously controlled trial doesn't mean it will work exactly the same way in the clinical setting. Monitoring the effect of an EBP change on health care quality and outcomes can help clinicians spot flaws in implementation and identify more precisely which patients are most likely to benefit. When results differ from those reported in the research literature, monitoring can help determine why.

Step 6: Disseminate EBP results. Clinicians can achieve wonderful outcomes for their patients through EBP, but they often fail to share their experiences with colleagues and their own or other health care organizations. This leads to needless duplication of effort, and perpetuates clinical approaches that are not evidence based. Among ways to disseminate successful initiatives are EBP rounds in your institution, presentations at local, regional, and national conferences, and reports in peer-reviewed journals, professional newsletters, and publications for general audiences.

When health care organizations adopt EBP as the standard for clinical decision making, the steps outlined in this article naturally fall into place. The next article in our series will feature a staff nurse on a medical–surgical unit who approached her hospital's EBP mentor to learn how to formulate a clinical question about rapid response teams in PICOT format.

Ask the Authors on January 22!

On January 22 at 3:30 PM EST, join the "Ask the Authors" call. It's your chance to get personal consultation from the experts! And it's limited to the first 50 callers, so dial-in early! U.S. and Canada, dial 1-800-947-5134 (International, dial 001-574-941-6964). When prompted, enter code 121028#.

Go to www.ajnonline.com and click on "Podcasts" and then on "Conversations" to listen to our interview with the authors.

Case Scenario for EBP: Rapid Response Teams

You're a staff nurse on a busy medical–surgical unit. Over the past three months, you've noticed that the patients on your unit seem to have a higher acuity level than usual, with at least three cardiac arrests per month, and of those patients who arrested, four died. Today, you saw a report about a recently published study in Critical Care Medicine on the use of rapid response teams to decrease rates of in-hospital cardiac arrests and unplanned ICU admissions. The study found a significant decrease in both outcomes after implementation of a rapid response team led by physician assistants with specialized skills. 9 You're so impressed with these findings that you bring the report to your nurse manager, believing that a rapid response team would be a great idea for your hospital. The nurse manager is excited that you have come to her with these findings and encourages you to search for more evidence to support this practice and for research on whether rapid response teams are valid and reliable.

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Center for Nursing Inquiry

Evidence-based practice, what is ebp.

As nurses, we often hear the term evidence-based practice (EBP). But, what does it actually mean? EBP is a process used to review, analyze, and translate the latest scientific evidence. The goal is to quickly incorporate the best available research, along with clinical experience and patient preference, into clinical practice, so nurses can make informed patient-care decisions ( Dang et al., 2022 ). EBP is the cornerstone of clinical practice. Integrating EBP into your nursing practice improves quality of care and patient outcomes.

How do I get involved in EBP?

As a nurse, you will have plenty of opportunities to get involved in EBP. Take that “AHA” moment. Do you think there’s a better way to do something? Let’s turn to the evidence and find out!

When conducting an EBP project, it is important to use a model to help guide your work. In the Johns Hopkins Health System, we use the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice (JHEBP) model. It is a three-phase approach referred to as the PET process: practice question, evidence, and translation. In the first phase, the team develops a practice question by identifying the patient population, interventions, and outcomes (PICO). In the second phase, a literature search is performed, and the evidence is appraised for strength and quality. In the third phase, the findings are synthesized to develop recommendations for practice.

The JHEBP model is accompanied by user-friendly tools. The tools walk you through each phase of the project. Johns Hopkins nurses can access the tools via our Inquiry Toolkit . The tools are available to individuals from other institutions via the Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing (IJHN) .

If you’re interested in learning more about the JHEBP model and tools, Johns Hopkins nurses have access to a free online course entitled JHH Nursing | Central | Evidence-Based Practice Series in MyLearning. The course follows the JHEBP process from beginning to end and provides guidance to the learner on how to use the JHEBP tools. The course is available to individuals from other institutions for a fee via the Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing (IJHN) .

Where should I start?

All EBP projects need to be submitted to the Center for Nursing Inquiry for review. The CNI ensures all nurse-led EBP projects are high-quality and value added. We also offer expert guidance and support, if needed.

Who can help me?

The Center for Nursing Inquiry  can answer any questions you may have about the JHEBP tools. All 10 JHEBP tools can be found in our Inquiry Toolkit : project management guide, question development tool, stakeholder analysis tool, evidence level and quality guide, research evidence appraisal tool, non-research evidence appraisal tool, individual evidence summary tool, synthesis process and recommendations tool, action planning tool, and dissemination tool. The tools walk you through each phase of an EBP project.

The Welch Medical Library  serves the information needs of the faculty, staff, and students of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Nursing and Public Health. Often, one of the toughest parts of conducting an EBP project is finding the evidence. The informationist  assigned to your department can assist you with your literature search and citation management.

When do I share my work?

Your project is complete. Now what? It’s time to share your project with the scholarly community.

To prepare your EBP project for publication, use the JHEBP Dissemination Tool . The JHEBP Dissemination Tool (Appendix J) details what to include in each section of your manuscript, from the introduction to the discussion, and shows you which EBP appendices correspond to each part of a scientific paper. You can find the JHEBP Dissemination Tool in our Inquiry Toolkit . 

You can also present your project at a local, regional, or national conference. Poster and podium presentation templates are available in our Inquiry Toolkit .

To learn more about sharing your project, check out our Abstract & Manuscript Writing webinar and our Poster & Podium Presentations webinar !

Submit Your Project

Do you have an idea for an EBP project?

Evidence Based Nursing Practice

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All Mayo staff with LAN IDs and passwords can use  Document Delivery  to receive copies of journal articles and book chapters.

If you require additional assistance, please contact the  Library .

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• Mayo Clinic Evidence Based Practice

Systems - integration of evidence with patient records Summaries - practice guidelines found via  Clinical Key &  UpToDate Synopses of Syntheses - focused journals:  Evidence-Based Nursing , Evidence-Based Medicine ,  ACP Journal Club Syntheses - m eta-analyses, systematic reviews and other evidence syntheses found through Cochrane , CINAHL , PubMed Synopses of Single Studies - focused journals:  Evidence-Based Nursing , Evidence-Based Medicine ,  ACP Journal Club Single Studies -  CINAHL , PubMed

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What is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing? (With Examples, Benefits, & Challenges)

Are you a nurse looking for ways to increase patient satisfaction, improve patient outcomes, and impact the profession? Have you found yourself caught between traditional nursing approaches and new patient care practices? Although evidence-based practices have been used for years, this concept is the focus of patient care today more than ever. Perhaps you are wondering, “What is evidence-based practice in nursing?” In this article, I will share information to help you begin understanding evidence-based practice in nursing + 10 examples about how to implement EBP.

What is Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing?

When was evidence-based practice first introduced in nursing, who introduced evidence-based practice in nursing, what is the difference between evidence-based practice in nursing and research in nursing, what are the benefits of evidence-based practice in nursing, top 5 benefits to the patient, top 5 benefits to the nurse, top 5 benefits to the healthcare organization, 10 strategies nursing schools employ to teach evidence-based practices, 1. assigning case studies:, 2. journal clubs:, 3. clinical presentations:, 4. quizzes:, 5. on-campus laboratory intensives:, 6. creating small work groups:, 7. interactive lectures:, 8. teaching research methods:, 9. requiring collaboration with a clinical preceptor:, 10. research papers:, what are the 5 main skills required for evidence-based practice in nursing, 1. critical thinking:, 2. scientific mindset:, 3. effective written and verbal communication:, 4. ability to identify knowledge gaps:, 5. ability to integrate findings into practice relevant to the patient’s problem:, what are 5 main components of evidence-based practice in nursing, 1. clinical expertise:, 2. management of patient values, circumstances, and wants when deciding to utilize evidence for patient care:, 3. practice management:, 4. decision-making:, 5. integration of best available evidence:, what are some examples of evidence-based practice in nursing, 1. elevating the head of a patient’s bed between 30 and 45 degrees, 2. implementing measures to reduce impaired skin integrity, 3. implementing techniques to improve infection control practices, 4. administering oxygen to a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), 5. avoiding frequently scheduled ventilator circuit changes, 6. updating methods for bathing inpatient bedbound clients, 7. performing appropriate patient assessments before and after administering medication, 8. restricting the use of urinary catheterizations, when possible, 9. encouraging well-balanced diets as soon as possible for children with gastrointestinal symptoms, 10. implementing and educating patients about safety measures at home and in healthcare facilities, how to use evidence-based knowledge in nursing practice, step #1: assessing the patient and developing clinical questions:, step #2: finding relevant evidence to answer the clinical question:, step #3: acquire evidence and validate its relevance to the patient’s specific situation:, step #4: appraise the quality of evidence and decide whether to apply the evidence:, step #5: apply the evidence to patient care:, step #6: evaluating effectiveness of the plan:, 10 major challenges nurses face in the implementation of evidence-based practice, 1. not understanding the importance of the impact of evidence-based practice in nursing:, 2. fear of not being accepted:, 3. negative attitudes about research and evidence-based practice in nursing and its impact on patient outcomes:, 4. lack of knowledge on how to carry out research:, 5. resource constraints within a healthcare organization:, 6. work overload:, 7. inaccurate or incomplete research findings:, 8. patient demands do not align with evidence-based practices in nursing:, 9. lack of internet access while in the clinical setting:, 10. some nursing supervisors/managers may not support the concept of evidence-based nursing practices:, 12 ways nurse leaders can promote evidence-based practice in nursing, 1. be open-minded when nurses on your teams make suggestions., 2. mentor other nurses., 3. support and promote opportunities for educational growth., 4. ask for increased resources., 5. be research-oriented., 6. think of ways to make your work environment research-friendly., 7. promote ebp competency by offering strategy sessions with staff., 8. stay up-to-date about healthcare issues and research., 9. actively use information to demonstrate ebp within your team., 10. create opportunities to reinforce skills., 11. develop templates or other written tools that support evidence-based decision-making., 12. review evidence for its relevance to your organization., bonus 8 top suggestions from a nurse to improve your evidence-based practices in nursing, 1. subscribe to nursing journals., 2. offer to be involved with research studies., 3. be intentional about learning., 4. find a mentor., 5. ask questions, 6. attend nursing workshops and conferences., 7. join professional nursing organizations., 8. be honest with yourself about your ability to independently implement evidence-based practice in nursing., useful resources to stay up to date with evidence-based practices in nursing, professional organizations & associations, blogs/websites, youtube videos, my final thoughts, frequently asked questions answered by our expert, 1. what did nurses do before evidence-based practice, 2. how did florence nightingale use evidence-based practice, 3. what is the main limitation of evidence-based practice in nursing, 4. what are the common misconceptions about evidence-based practice in nursing, 5. are all types of nurses required to use evidence-based knowledge in their nursing practice, 6. will lack of evidence-based knowledge impact my nursing career, 7. i do not have access to research databases, how do i improve my evidence-based practice in nursing, 7. are there different levels of evidence-based practices in nursing.

• Level One: Meta-analysis of random clinical trials and experimental studies • Level Two: Quasi-experimental studies- These are focused studies used to evaluate interventions. • Level Three: Non-experimental or qualitative studies. • Level Four: Opinions of nationally recognized experts based on research. • Level Five: Opinions of individual experts based on non-research evidence such as literature reviews, case studies, organizational experiences, and personal experiences.

8. How Can I Assess My Evidence-Based Knowledge In Nursing Practice?

• How we work

Top 150 Nursing Research Topic Ideas for 2023

#i',$content, -1); --> table of contents nursing research topics for students quantitative nursing research topics qualitative research topics in nursing evidence-based practice nursing research topics pediatric nursing research topics nurses are at the front of patient care, and as such, their work can have a profound impact on public health. while nursing constantly evolves, some nurses dedicate themselves to research to advance the profession. whether you are looking for nursing research topics for school, education, or research purposes, nursingpaper is here to help you with your needs for research topic ideas. we have gathered 150 different topics for nursing research paper to use to develop your career. nursing research topics for students.

Nursing topics for research papers can vary depending on your interests and the subjects available to you in your program. As an aspiring student nurse, selecting the right nursing research topic is crucial in writing a successful paper. When choosing a nursing research topic as a student nurse, the topic needs to be interesting, relevant, original, and meaningful.

• Cardiovascular diseases associated with Diabetes Mellitus Type 1
• Care for patients with end-stage congestive heart failure
• Pharmacology treatment for sickle cell anemia
• Nursing treatment methods for patients with Clostridium difficile
• Nursing care for a patient with increased intracranial pressure
• Assessment of patients after a cerebral vascular accident
• Communication techniques for trauma victims
• Importance of communication with physicians using the SBAR technique
• Dietary changes for patients post cholecystectomy
• Importance of patient education on the American Diabetes Association (ADA) diet
• Oxygen treatment for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Importance of engaging clinical nurses in patient discharge education
• Clinical assessment of a patient with non-verbal autism
• Nursing care for a patient with benign prostate hypertrophy in the hospital setting
• Importance of assessing the quality of intravenous lines before use
• The negative impact of artificial nails in the critical care environment
• The effects of low-quality charting systems on patient care
• Distinguishing migraine symptoms from stoke symptoms in the emergency room
• Assessing alcohol withdrawal and providing ordered treatments
• Assessing the mental health of patients with schizoaffective disorders
• Urinary catheter care in elderly patients
• Research on the use of maggots for wound care treatments
• Effectiveness of soothing music for people with dementia
• Research measures that are taken to prevent falls in nursing homes
• Preventing medication errors in long-term care centers
• Methods to triage patients in a crisis situation
• Cultural differences in end-of-life care of patients
• Life-saving measures for patients having a myocardial infarction
• Research methods of inducing pregnancy
• Pain scales for non-verbal patients

Quantitative Nursing Research Topics

• Admission/Application Essay
• Admission Editing
• Admission Proofreading
• Annotated Bibliography
• Argumentative essay
• Article paraphrasing
• Article review
• Book Report/Review
• Business plan
• Capstone Project
• Concept map
• Concept paper
• Conference Paper
• Critical review
• Custom List of Topics
• Data analysis
• Defence Presentation
• Discussion Post
• Dissertation
• Dissertation Chapter - Abstract
• Dissertation Chapter - Discussion
• Dissertation Chapter - Introduction Chapter
• Dissertation Chapter - Literature Review
• Dissertation Chapter - Methodology
• Dissertation Chapter - Results
• Dissertation revision
• Evidence-based practice paper
• Exam Answers
• Grant proposal
• Interview essay
• Letter of recommendation
• Literature review
• Literature review outline
• Marketing plan
• Math Problem
• Multiple Choice Questions
• Non-word assignment
• Nursing care plan
• Nursing teaching plan
• Paraphrasing
• Personal Statement
• PICO/PICOT Questions
• PowerPoint Presentation Plain
• PowerPoint Presentation with Speaker Notes
• Problem solution
• Proofreading
• Quality improvement project
• Reaction paper
• Reflection paper
• Reflective Journal
• Research Paper
• Research Proposal
• Retyping (PDF / PNG / Handwriting to Word)
• Scholarship Essay
• Scoping review
• Shadow health assessment
• Statistical Analysis
• Statistics Project
• Swot-analysis
• Systematic review
• Thesis chapter - Background
• Thesis chapter - Conclusion & future works
• Thesis chapter - Implementation
• Thesis chapter - Introduction
• Thesis chapter - Other (not listed above)
• Thesis chapter - Results & evaluation
• Thesis chapter - Theory & problem statement
• Thesis literature review
• Thesis Proposal
• Thesis revision
• Topic Suggestion
• Topic Suggestion + Summary + References

Quantitative nursing research topics rely on statistical data that can be measured and depends on numbers to provide a conclusion. When creating quantitative nursing research paper topics, exploring ideas that hold measurable data is critical. Exploring scenarios with a quantitative focus includes exploration into the relevant subject matter. Regarding nursing, research topics that capture measurable metrics can often be the most illuminating – from examining patient outcomes under different treatments or exploring trends within demographics. Whatever the focus, applying statistical analysis through quantitative nursing research methods opens up exciting opportunities for discovering topics in clinical practice!

• Evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment for COVID-19 in third world countries
• Research effects of second-hand smoke on children under 13
• Distress in patients with undertreated pain postoperatively
• Impact on patient satisfaction with staffing additional certified nursing assistants
• Nutritional deficiencies in underserved communities
• Immunity development of breastfeeding versus bottle feeding
• Effects of mandatory re-assessment of pain after receiving opioids
• Barriers to pain management in chronic pain patients
• Effectiveness of sedation on patients with intra-aortic balloon pumps
• Effects of standing orders on immediate post-operative coronary artery bypass graft surgery
• Evaluation of assessment levels of patients with absent seizures
• Recognizing signs of increased intracranial pressure in sedated patients
• Amount of hospice patients in the emergency department that could have been avoided
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome evaluation in intubated patients
• Effects of COVID-19 hospital readmission on hospitals
• Cross infections of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus between patients in shared rooms
• Cross infections of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus between patients with a shared nurse in separate rooms
• Infections postoperatively in relation to hospital stay length
• Time from door to Cardiac Cath Lab during a myocardial infection and patient outcomes
• Communication between nurses and doctors and its effects on patient care
• Doctor communication with patients and its impact on patient readmission rates
• Patient injuries related to restraints in long-term care
• Effectiveness of medicated restraints on patients versus physical restraints
• Covid-19 impact on nursing homes housing patients requiring long-term care
• Fall-related patient injuries due to low nurse staffing levels
• Patient outcomes with early cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction
• Intraabdominal pressure assessment quality in the intensive care unit
• Recognition of early stroke symptoms in the emergency room
• Level of preparedness for emergency cesarean needs
• Efficacy of a rapid response team during an emergency
• Benefits of role clarity during a Code Blue event

Qualitative Research Topics in Nursing

Unlocking complex truths behind nursing issues is possible through qualitative research topics. When writing about qualitative research topics in nursing, you should know that these topics are used to explore real-world problems. Qualitative nursing research uses concepts that explore profound insights into issues using personal accounts. Instead of using statistical data and numbers, it makes for interesting nursing research topics as it focuses on words and meanings. This research topic will account for and document how people think or respond in a particular setting. It offers an opportunity to understand human behaviors from unique perspectives.

• Effects of patient care in facilities that hire a high percentage of travel nurses
• Cause and effects of nurse burnout
• Ethical considerations of the dying patient in the hospital setting
• Nurse compassion fatigue in the critical care setting
• Substance use disorder in nurses
• The perspective of patient families in palliative care
• Assistance in developing care plans for family caregivers
• Education needs for patients in hospice
• Patient understanding of controlling asthma triggers
• Efficacy of water drinking education for pregnant women
• Quality of care for patients who receive an abortion
• Effects on patient moods with pet therapy
• Quality control of assessing patients through telehealth
• Research challenges of managing chronic disease outpatient
• Accuracy of information received from paramedics to the emergency department
• Cultural barriers to care
• Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder
• Differences between home health care and long-term care
• Ethical dilemmas of physician-assisted suicide
• Post-traumatic stress disorder in nurses who work in areas of high trauma
• Non-pharmacological pain methods
• Achieving better healthcare in low-income areas
• Effectiveness of hand sanitizer versus hand washing in the hospital setting
• The use of fabric facemasks by healthcare professionals
• How management goals affect patient care
• Developing care plans for the dying patient
• Strategies for developing diet plans for diabetic patients
• Understanding concepts in working during a crisis scenario
• Using spiritual care in healthcare
• Holistic care for oncology patients

Evidence-Based Practice Nursing Research Topics

Evidence-based practice allows nurses to stay up-to-date on the most reliable information for providing optimal care. Evidence-based practice is reviewing, analyzing, and translating the latest clinical evidence. These nursing research topics involve the best and most current topics for patient practice. Evidence-based practice is considered the gold standard of medical care when treating patients. In today’s ever-advancing medical landscape, healthcare workers must utilize this research topic for patient treatment to achieve successful outcomes.

• Intravenous catheter sizes for blood products
• Infection control of the COVID-19 patients
• Oxygen tanks versus generators for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Oral care and ventilator-associated pneumonia
• Use of personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of diseases
• Urinary catheter care to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections
• Use of sequential compression devices to prevent deep vein thrombosis
• Early mobilization of post-surgical patients
• Reducing alarm fatigue in the critical care setting
• Use of adjunct therapy to opioids
• Preventing obstruction after abdominal surgery
• Burnout prevention in nurses
• Early treatment in sepsis to reduce mortality rates
• Use of sterile aseptic technique for changing central line catheters
• Reduced patient-to-nurse ratios to prevent poor outcomes
• Utilizing suicide scaling upon hospital admissions
• Comfort care in end-of-life treatments
• Alcohol as a treatment for severe withdraw
• Diagnostic CT scan before TPA treatment
• Preventative skin barrier treatment for pressure ulcer protection
• Sepsis prevention protocols
• Standardized discharge planning and documentation
• Statin therapy after myocardial infarction
• Daily bed baths for patients in critical care units
• 2 hours turn schedule in pressure ulcer prevention
• Use of SBAR communication technique
• Different colored gowns for suicide ideation patients
• Hourly checks on patients to prevent falls
• Fluid bolus treatment for septic patients
• Prevention techniques for medically inducing labor

Pediatric Nursing Research Topics

Pediatric care is a popular nursing research paper topic. It offers many possibilities for exploring nursing science to improve care for children and adolescents. Pediatric nursing requires special training and certifications to care for children, and thus makes a great topic choice for nursing research. Nursing research delves into this exciting topic, exploring various techniques to ensure kids receive quality healthcare from those with special training and certifications in their caring work.

• Ethical treatment of pediatric patients with cancer
• Strategies for treating children who are malnourished
• Non-invasive blood pressure measurements in children
• Techniques for rejuvenating newborns
• Preventing childhood obesity
• Pediatric services in low-income areas
• Antibiotic treatment in toddlers
• Childhood vaccination correlation with autism
• Pet therapy for hospitalized children
• Treating pain in young children
• Asking pediatric patients about drug and alcohol use
• Protecting pediatric patients from COVID-19
• Communicating with pediatrics
• Emotional awareness of pediatric oncology patients
• Hypothermia treatment adolescence
• Drowning prevention in children
• Effects of bullying on mental health in adolescence
• Common causes of new-onset seizures in children
• Recognizing child abuse in the emergency department
• Anaphylactic reactions in school-aged kids
• Pain management in non-verbal children
• Ethical considerations of pediatric patients in hospice
• Care for the pediatric patient with Tetralogy of Fallot
• Work-related stressors while caring for sick children
• Music therapy for pediatric patients
• Emotional maturity in sick children
• Reducing the stress of the pediatric patient
• Caring for grieving parents
• Comprehensive workup for a child with breathing complications in the emergency room
• Psychology issues of the chronically ill pediatric patient and family members

NursingPaper offers services that help you to choose and write research topics for the required papers in your education program. Nursing students have a lot of opportunities to write nursing research papers and improve their skills on specific topics. Selecting one of these nursing research topics allows you to narrow your field of study and learn more about a particular issue. With NursingPaper, nursing students have a chance to excel in their studies and sharpen their skills!

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The Effectiveness of an Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Educational Program on Undergraduate Nursing Students’ EBP Knowledge and Skills: A Cluster Randomized Control Trial

Daniela cardoso.

1 Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing, Nursing School of Coimbra, Portugal Centre for Evidence-Based Practice: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, 3004-011 Coimbra, Portugal; tp.cfnese@osodracf (A.F.C.); tp.cfnese@oiregor (R.R.); moc.liamg@7ramed (M.A.R.); tp.cfnese@olotsopa (J.A.)

2 FMUC—Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal

Filipa Couto

3 Alfena Hospital—Trofa Health Group, Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing, Nursing School of Coimbra, 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal; moc.liamg@otuoccdapilif

Ana Filipa Cardoso

Elzbieta bobrowicz-campos.

4 Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing, Nursing School of Coimbra, 3004-011 Coimbra, Portugal; [email protected] (E.B.-C.); tp.cfnese@stnasasiul (L.S.); tp.cfnese@ohnituocv (V.C.); tp.cfnese@otnipaleinad (D.P.)

Luísa Santos

Rogério rodrigues, verónica coutinho, daniela pinto, mary-anne ramis.

5 Mater Health, Evidence in Practice Unit & Queensland Centre for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, 4101 Brisbane, Australia; [email protected]

Manuel Alves Rodrigues

João apóstolo, associated data.

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available because this issue was not considered within the informed consent signed by the participants of the study.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) prevents unsafe/inefficient practices and improves healthcare quality, but its implementation is challenging due to research and practice gaps. A focused educational program can assist future nurses to minimize these gaps. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of an EBP educational program on undergraduate nursing students’ EBP knowledge and skills. A cluster randomized controlled trial was undertaken. Six optional courses in the Bachelor of Nursing final year were randomly assigned to the experimental (EBP educational program) or control group. Nursing students’ EBP knowledge and skills were measured at baseline and post-intervention. A qualitative analysis of 18 students’ final written work was also performed. Results show a statistically significant interaction between the intervention and time on EBP knowledge and skills ( p = 0.002). From pre- to post-intervention, students’ knowledge and skills on EBP improved in both groups (intervention group: p < 0.001; control group: p < 0.001). At the post-intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in EBP knowledge and skills between intervention and control groups ( p = 0.011). Students in the intervention group presented monographs with clearer review questions, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and methodology compared to students in the control group. The EBP educational program showed a potential to promote the EBP knowledge and skills of future nurses.

1. Introduction

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is defined as “clinical decision-making that considers the best available evidence; the context in which the care is delivered; client preference; and the professional judgment of the health professional” [ 1 ] (p. 2). EBP implementation is recommended in clinical settings [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ] as it has been attributed to promoting high-value health care, improving the patient experience and health outcomes, as well as reducing health care costs [ 6 ]. Nevertheless, EBP is not the standard of care globally [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], and some studies acknowledge education as an approach to promote EBP adoption, implementation, and sustainment [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].

It has been recommended that educational curricula for health students should be based on the five steps of EBP in order to support developing knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes toward EBP [ 16 ]. These steps are: translation of uncertainty into an answerable question; search for and retrieval of evidence; critical appraisal of evidence for validity and clinical importance; application of appraised evidence to practice; and evaluation of performance [ 16 ].

To respond to this recommendation, undergraduate nursing curricula should include courses, teaching strategies, and training that focus on the development of research and EBP skills for nurses to be able to incorporate valid and relevant research findings in practice. Nevertheless, teaching research and EBP to undergraduate nursing students is a challenging task. Some studies report that undergraduate students have negative attitudes/beliefs toward research and EBP, especially toward the statistical components of the research courses and the complex terminology used. Additionally, students may not understand the importance of the link between research and clinical practice [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. In fact, a lack of EBP and research knowledge is commonly reported by nurses and nursing students as a barrier to EBP. It is imperative to provide the future nurses with research and EBP skills in order to overcome the barriers to EBP use in clinical settings.

At an international level, several studies have been performed with undergraduate nursing students to assess the effectiveness of EBP interventions on multiple outcomes, such as EBP knowledge and skills [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. The Classification Rubric for EBP Assessment Tools in Education (CREATE) [ 24 ] suggests EBP knowledge should be assessed cognitively using paper and pencil tests, as EBP knowledge is defined as “learners’ retention of facts and concepts about EBP” [ 24 ] (p. 5). Additionally, the CREATE framework suggests EBP skills should be assessed using performance tests, as skills are defined as “the application of knowledge” [ 24 ] (p. 5). Despite these recommendations, few studies have assessed EBP knowledge and skills using both cognitive and performance instruments.

Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an EBP educational program on undergraduate nursing students’ EBP knowledge and skills using a specific cognitive and performance instrument. The intervention used in this study was recently developed [ 25 ], and this is the first study designed to assess its effectiveness in undergraduate EBP.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. design.

A cluster randomized controlled trial with two-armed parallel group design was undertaken (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03411668).

2.2. Sample Size Calculation

The sample size was calculated using the software G*Power 3.1.9.2. (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Dusseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany) Recognizing that there were no studies performed a priori using a cognitive and performance instrument to assess the effectiveness of an EBP educational program on undergraduate nursing students’ EBP knowledge and skills, we used an effect size of 0.25, which is a small effect size as proposed by Cohen [ 26 ]. A power analysis based on a type I error of 0.05; power of 0.80; effect size f = 0.25; and ANOVA repeated measures between factors determined a sample size of 98 as total.

Taking into account that our study used clusters (optional courses) and that each one had an average of 25 students, we needed at least four clusters to cover the total sample size of 98. However, to cover potential losses to follow-up, we included a total of six optional courses.

2.3. Participants’ Recruitment and Randomization

We recruited participants from one Portuguese nursing school in 2018. From the 12 optional clinical nursing courses (such as Community Nursing Intervention in Vulnerable Groups; Ageing; Health and Citizenship; The Child with Special Needs: Diagnoses and Interventions in Pediatric Nursing; Liaison Psychiatry Nursing; Nursing in the Emergency Room; etc.) in the 8th semester of the nursing program (last year before graduation), students from three clinical nursing courses were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EBP educational program) and students from another three clinical nursing courses were randomly assigned to the control group (no intervention— education as usual ) before the baseline assessment. An independent researcher performed this assignment using a random number generator from the random.org website [ 27 ]. This assignment was performed based on a list of the 12 optional courses provided through the nursing school’s website.

2.4. Intervention Condition

The participants in the intervention group received education as usual plus the EBP educational program, which was developed by Cardoso, Rodrigues, and Apóstolo [ 25 ]. This intervention included EBP contents regarding models of thinking about EBP, systematic reviews types, review question development, searching for studies, study selection process, data extraction, and data synthesis.

This program was implemented in 6 sessions over 17 weeks:

• Sessions 1–3—total of 12 h (4 h per session) during the first 7 weeks using expository methods with practice tasks to groups of 20–30 students.
• Sessions 4–6—total of 6 h (2 h per session) during the last 10 weeks using active methods through mentoring to groups of 2–3 students.

Due to the nature of the intervention, it was not possible to blind participants regarding treatment assignment nor was it feasible to blind the individuals delivering treatment.

2.5. Control Condition

The participants in the control group received only education as usual; i.e., students allocated to this control condition received the standard educational contents (theoretical, theoretical–practical, practical) delivered by the nursing educators of the selected nursing school.

2.6. Assessment

All participants were assessed before (week 0) and after the intervention (week 18) using a self-report instrument. EBP knowledge and skills were assessed by the Adapted Fresno Test for undergraduate nursing students [ 28 ]. This instrument was adapted from the Fresno Test, which was originally developed in 2003 to measure knowledge and skills on EBP in family practice residents [ 29 ]. The Adapted Fresno Test for undergraduate nursing students has seven short answer questions and two fill-in-the-blank questions [ 28 ]. At the beginning of the instrument, two scenarios, which suggest clinical uncertainty, are presented. These two scenarios are used to guide the answers to questions 1 to 4: (1) write a clinical question; (2) identify and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of information sources as well as the advantages and disadvantages of information sources; (3) identify the type of study most suitable for answering the question of one of the clinical scenarios and justify the choice; and (4) describe a possible search strategy in Medline for one of the clinical scenarios, explaining the rationale. The next three short answer questions require that the students identify topics for determining the relevance and validity of a research study and address the magnitude and value of research findings. The last two questions are fill-in-the-blank questions. The answers are scored using a modified standardized grading system [ 28 ], which was adapted from the original [ 29 ]. The instrument has a total minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 101. The inter-rater correlation for the total score of the Adapted Fresno Test was 0.826 [ 28 ]. The rater that graded the answers to the Adapted Fresno Test was blinded to treatment assignment.

Despite the fact that in the study proposal we did not consider any kind of qualitative analysis in order to assess EBP knowledge and skills in a more practical context, we decided during the development of the study to perform a qualitative analysis of monographs at the posttest. The monographs were developed by small groups of nursing students and were the final written work submitted by the students for their bachelor’s degree course. In this work, the students were asked to define a review question regarding the context of clinical practice where they were performing their clinical training. Students then proceeded to answer the review question through a systematic process of searching and selecting relevant studies and extracting and synthesizing the data. From the 58 submitted monographs (30 from the control group and 28 from the intervention group), 18 were randomized for evaluation (nine from the control group and nine from the intervention group) by an independent researcher using the random.org website [ 27 ] based on a list provided by the research team. Three independent experts (one psychologist with a doctoral qualification and two qualified nurses, one with a master’s degree) performed a qualitative analysis of the selected monographs. All experts had experience with the EBP approach and were blinded to treatment assignment. The experts independently used an evaluation form to guide the qualitative analysis of each monograph. This form presented 11 guiding criteria regarding review questions, inclusion/exclusion criteria, methodology (namely search strategy, study selection process, data extraction, and data synthesis), results presentation, and congruency between the review questions and the answers to them that were provided in the conclusion section. Thereafter, the experts met to discuss any discrepancies in their qualitative analysis until consensus was reached.

2.7. Statistical Analyses

The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS; version 24.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Differences in sociodemographic characteristics of study participants and outcome data at baseline were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-squared test for nominal data and independent the t -test for continuous data.

Taking into account the central limit theorem and that ANOVA tests are robust to violation of assumptions [ 30 ], we decided to perform two-way mixed ANOVA to compare the outcome between and within groups. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze how many participants had improved their EBP knowledge and skills item-by-item, how many remained the same, and how many had decreased performance within each group. Statistical significance was determined by p -values less than 0.05.

To minimize the noncompliance impact, an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was used to analyze participants in the groups that they were initially randomized to [ 31 ] by using the last observation carried forward imputation method.

2.8. Ethics

This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra (Reference: CE-037/2017). The institution where the study was carried out provided written approval. All participants gave informed consent, and the data were managed in a confidential way.

Twelve potential clusters (optional courses in the 8th semester of the nursing program) were identified as eligible for this study. Of these, three were randomized for the intervention group and three for the control group. During the intervention, eight participants (two in the intervention group and six in the control group) were lost to follow-up because they did not fill-in the instrument in the post-intervention. Figure 1 shows the flow of participants through each stage of the trial.

Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) diagram showing the flow of participants through each stage of the trial. ITT: intention-to-treat.

3.1. Demographic Characteristics

As Table 1 displays, 148 undergraduate nursing students with an average age of 21.95 years (SD = 2.25; range: 21–41) participated in the study. A large majority of the sample were female ( n = 118, 79.7%), had a 12th grade educational level ( n = 144, 97.3%), and had participated in some form of EBP training ( n = 121, 81.8%).

Socio-demographic characterization of the sample—ITT analysis.

* Defined as any kind and duration of evidence-based practice (EBP) training, such as EBP contents in a course, a workshop, a seminar.

At baseline, the experimental and control groups were comparable regarding sex, age, education, EBP training, and performance on the Adapted Fresno Test ( Table 1 and Table 3). The baseline data were similar with dropouts excluded; therefore, only ITT analysis results are presented.

3.2. EBP Knowledge and Skills

3.2.1. adapted fresno test.

The two-way mixed ANOVA showed a statistically significant interaction between the intervention and time on EBP knowledge and skills, F (1, 146) = 9.550, p = 0.002, partial η 2 = 0.061 ( Table 2 ). Excluding the dropouts, the two-way mixed ANOVA analysis was similar. Thus, only the ITT analysis results are presented.

Main effects of time and group and interaction effects on EBP knowledge and skills—ITT analysis.

To determine the difference between groups at baseline and post-intervention, two separate between-subjects ANOVAs (i.e., two separate one-way ANOVAs) were performed. At the pre-intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in EBP knowledge and skills between groups: F (1,146) = 0.221, p = 0.639, partial η 2 = 0.002. At the post-intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in EBP knowledge and skills between groups: F (1,146) = 6.720, p = 0.011, partial η 2 = 0.044 ( Table 3 ).

Repeated measures ANOVA and between-subjects ANOVA—ITT analysis.

To determine the differences within groups from the baseline to post-intervention, two separate within-subjects ANOVAs (repeated measures ANOVAs) were performed. There was a statistically significant effect of time on EBP knowledge and skills for the intervention group: F (1,73) = 53.028, p < 0.001, partial η 2 = 0.421 and for the control group: F (1,73) = 13.832, p < 0.001, partial η 2 = 0.159 ( Table 3 ).

The results of repeated measures ANOVA and between-subjects ANOVA analysis are similar if we exclude the dropouts; therefore, only ITT analysis results are presented.

The results of the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for each item of the Adapted Fresno Test are presented in Table 4 . The results of this analysis revealed that students in both the intervention and control groups significantly improved their knowledge and skills in writing a focused clinical question (Item 1) (intervention group: Z = −4.572, p < 0.000; control group: Z = −2.338, p = 0.019), in building a search strategy (item 3) (intervention group: Z = −4.740, p < 0.000; control group: Z = −4.757, p < 0.000), in identifying and justifying the study design most suitable for answering the question of one of the clinical scenarios (item 4) (intervention group: Z = −4.508, p < 0.000; control group: Z = −3.738, p < 0.000), and in describing the characteristics of a study to determine its relevance (item 5) (intervention group: Z = −2.699, p = 0.007; control group: Z = −1.980, p = 0.048).

Within groups comparison with Wilcoxon signed-rank test for each item of the Adapted Fresno Test—ITT analysis.

The students in the control group significantly improved their knowledge and skills in describing the characteristics of a study to determine its validity (item 6) ( Z = −2.714, p = 0.007). The students in the intervention group significantly improved their knowledge and skills in describing the characteristics of a study to determine its magnitude and significance (item 7) ( Z = −2.543, p = 0.011). No other significant differences were detected.

The results of the within groups comparison with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test are similar if we exclude the dropouts; therefore, only ITT analysis results are presented.

3.2.2. Qualitative Analysis of Monographs

Based on the experts’ consensus report of each monograph, the analysis of the intervention group monographs showed that the students’ groups clearly defined their review questions and inclusion/exclusion criteria. These groups of students effectively searched for studies using appropriate databases, keywords, Boolean operators, and truncation. Additionally, we found thorough descriptions from students concerning the selection process, data extraction, and data synthesis. However, only three students’ groups provided a good description of the review findings with an appropriate data synthesis as well as a clear answer to the review question in the conclusion section of their monographs. It is noted that the criteria for the results and conclusion sections were more difficult to successfully achieve, even in the intervention group.

The monographs of the control groups showed weaknesses throughout. From the nine monographs of the control group, only two presented the review question in a way that was clearly defined. In all of the monographs, the inclusion/exclusion criteria were either not very informative, unclear, or did not match with the defined review questions. Additionally, the search strategies were not clear and demonstrated limited understanding, such as lack of use of appropriate synonyms, absent truncations, and no definition of the search field for each word or expression to be searched. None of the monographs from the control group reported information about the methods used to study the selection process, to extract data, or to synthesize data. In the conclusion section, students from the control group also demonstrated difficulties in synthesizing the data and limitations by providing a clear answer to the review question.

4. Discussion

This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of an EBP educational program on undergraduate nursing students’ EBP knowledge and skills. Even though both groups improved after the intervention in EBP knowledge and skills, the study results showed that the improvement was greater in the intervention group. This result was reinforced by the results of the qualitative analysis of monographs.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to use a cognitive and performance assessment instrument (Adapted Fresno Test) with undergraduate nursing students, as suggested by CREATE [ 24 ]. Additionally, it is the first study conducted using the EBP education program [ 25 ]. Therefore, comparison of our findings with similar studies in terms of the type of assessment instrument and intervention is limited.

However, comparing our study with other previous research using other types of instruments and interventions demonstrates similar results [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. In a quasi-experimental study [ 20 ], it was found that an EBP educational teaching strategy showed positive results in improving EBP knowledge in undergraduate nursing students. A study showed that undergraduate nursing students who received an EBP-focused interactive teaching intervention improved their EBP knowledge [ 21 ]. Another study indicated that a 15-week educational intervention in undergraduate nursing students (second- and third-year) significantly improved their EBP knowledge and skills [ 22 ]. In addition, a study by Zhang, Zeng, Chen, and Li revealed a significant improvement in undergraduate nursing students’ EBP knowledge after participating in a two-phase intervention: a self-directed learning process and a workshop for critical appraisal of literature [ 23 ].

Despite the effectiveness of the program in improving EBP knowledge and skills, the students included in the present study had low levels of EBP knowledge and skills as assessed by the Adapted Fresno Test at the pretest and posttest. These low levels of EBP knowledge and skills, especially at the pretest, might have influenced our study results. As a matter of fact, the Adapted Fresno Test is a demanding test since it requires that students retrieve and apply knowledge while doing a task associated with EBP based on scenarios involving clinical uncertainty. Consequently, this kind of test is very useful to truly assess EBP knowledge retention and abilities in clinical scenarios that do not allow guessing the answers. Notwithstanding, due to these characteristics, the Adapted Fresno Test may possibly be less sensitive when small changes occur or when students have low levels of EBP knowledge and skills. Nevertheless, even using instruments with Likert scales, other studies also showed that students have low levels of EBP knowledge and skills [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].

The low levels of EBP knowledge and skills of the undergraduate nursing students may be a reflection of a persistent, traditional education with regard to research. By this we mean that the focus of training remains on primary research—preparing students to be “research generators” instead of preparing them to be “evidence users” [ 32 ]. Furthermore, the designed and tested intervention used in this study was limited in time (only 17 weeks), was provided by only two instructors, and was delivered to fourth-year undergraduate nursing students, which are limitations for curriculum-wide integration of EBP.

Indeed, a curriculum that promotes EBP should facilitate students’ acquisition of EBP knowledge and skills over time and with levels of increasing complexity through their participation in EBP courses and during their clinical practice experiences [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. As Moch, Cronje, and Branson suggest, “It is only in such practical settings that students can experience the challenges intrinsic to applying scientific evidence to the care of real patients. In these clinical settings, students can experience both the frustrations and the triumphs inevitable to integrating scientific knowledge into patient care.” [ 35 ] (p. 11). Therefore, in future studies, other broad approaches for curriculum-wide integration of EBP as well as its long-term effects should be evaluated.

Previously in the Discussion, we highlighted the limitations of the proposed intervention in terms of time constraints (only 17 weeks), instructors’ constraints (only two instructors provided the intervention), and participants’ constraints (fourth-year undergraduate nursing students). In addition, the study was also restricted to one Portuguese nursing school, which can limit the generalization of the results. However, our study tried to address some of the fragilities identified in other studies [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ] on the effectiveness of EBP educational interventions by including a control group and by measuring EBP knowledge and skills with an objective measure and not a self-reported measure.

Bearing this in mind, future studies in multiple sites should assess the long-term effects of the EBP educational intervention and the impact on EBP knowledge and skills of potential variations in contents and teaching methods. In addition, studies using more broad interventions for curriculum-wide integration of EBP should also be performed.

5. Conclusions

Our findings show that the EBP educational program was effective in improving the EBP knowledge and skills of undergraduate nursing students. Therefore, the use of an EBP approach as a complement to the research education of undergraduate nursing students should be promoted by nursing schools and educators. This will help to prepare the future nurses with the EBP knowledge and skills that are essential to overcome the barriers to EBP use in clinical settings, and consequently, to contribute to better health outcomes.

Acknowledgments

This paper contributed toward the D.C. PhD in Health Sciences—Nursing. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), hosted by the Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC) and funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). Moreover, the authors gratefully thank Catarina Oliveira for all the support as a Ph.D. supervisor and Isabel Fernandes, Maria da Nazaré Cerejo, and Irma Brito for help and facilitation of data collection.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, D.C., M.A.R., and J.A.; methodology, D.C., M.A.R., and J.A.; validation, D.C., M.A.R., and J.A.; formal analysis, D.C., F.C., and A.F.C.; investigation, D.C., F.C., A.F.C., E.B.-C., L.S., R.R., V.C., D.P., M.-A.R., M.A.R., and J.A.; resources, D.C., M.A.R., and J.A.; data curation, D.C., F.C., and A.F.C.; writing—original draft preparation, D.C.; writing—review and editing, F.C., A.F.C., E.B.-C., L.S., R.R., V.C., D.P., M.-A.R., M.A.R., and J.A.; supervision, M.A.R. and J.A.; project administration, D.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

This work was funded by National Funds through the FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of the project Ref. UIDP/00742/2020.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by Ethical Committee of Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra (protocol code: CE-037/2017 and date of approval: 22 May 2017).

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Data Availability Statement

Conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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