ethics in nursing research topics

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• Ethical context of nursing research
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• Roberta Heale 1 ,
• Allison Shorten 2
• 1 School of Nursing, Laurentian University , Sudbury, Ontario , Canada
• 2 Yale School of Nursing, Yale University , Connecticut , USA
• Correspondence to: Dr Roberta Heale, School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, Canada P3E2C6; rheale{at}laurentian.ca

https://doi.org/10.1136/eb-2016-102514

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Nursing research is held to the same ethical standards as all other research involving human participants. Nurses need to understand and apply ethical principles to their own research, as well as to the reading and review of research. The Declaration of Helsinki in 1964 is a statement about ethical principles, initially applied to medical research, but which now guides all types of research. Of the three core principles, the most important is ‘respect of persons’ where the participants' welfare takes precedence over interests of the researchers, society or science. Safeguards to participants are paramount and include strategies to mitigate potential harm related to emotional well-being, impact on employment, financial or social status and more. 1

Although we now accept these principles as the norm, it was not always the case. Some historical studies were considered to be so profoundly unethical that they became the catalyst for ethical review guidelines and processes designed to protect human participants during research. One such study was the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment conducted between 1932 and 1972 in which African-American men in Alabama were not informed of their diagnosis of syphilis and researchers knowingly failed to treat them. 2

How do we know if a study has been conducted ethically? When reading research, it is important to look for a description of how ethical standards were upheld. At a minimum, there should be evidence of either approval or exemption by a formal committee designated to review the ethical risks and processes associated with human research. Ethics committees have many names, depending on the location (institutional review board; ethical review board; research ethics board and more) and approval numbers from ethics review are often required for publication.

Ethical principles considered by review committees include the following:

Minimising harm . Strategies for mitigating risk and harm to participants must be specified and implemented during the conduct of the research.

Informed consent. When informed consent is required, participants should understand that they are voluntarily taking part in research and be clear about their role in the research. Any benefits, rewards, risks, inconveniences and demands of them must be outlined ahead of time. The possibility of coercion to participate must be addressed when recruiting participants. Participants must also be given the opportunity to withdraw from research at any point if they change their mind.

Protection of anonymity and confidentiality. In this case, researchers should have a procedure ensuring that participant's identity and all data are kept confidential at all times. 3 Data storage arrangements and plans for data sharing and retention are critical components of the study protocol.

There are some cases that require special consideration for research ethics. It is not always feasible for study participants to give informed consent. A study where human behaviour is being observed, such as nurses providing patient care, may result in behaviour being altered by informing participants about being observed. Other studies stretch this farther by using deception; such as telling participants that a survey is testing them for a particular issue, when it is actually determining their level of bias to an issue. Informing the participants may alter the way they answer the survey items. 3 In all cases, the protocol of the research study must include strategies to minimise harm to participants.

Another special circumstance in considering the ethics of human research occurs when the participants are part of a vulnerable group. At times, this includes people who are not able to provide informed consent, such as children or patients with dementia. In other circumstances, participants may be at high risk of exploitation due to limitation in personal power, such as the prison population. Finally, there are also groups, such as Indigenous peoples, where community engagement has become an important step in planning research to ensure research reflects cultural practices, is consistent with their worldview and has clear relevance and benefits for participants. 4

Ethical principles for nursing research are in many ways the natural extension of ethical principles for professional nursing practice. Whether planning research or reading research, understanding and applying ethical principles is an important element of ensuring the highest quality evidence for practice.

• Hennink M ,
• ↵ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . The Tuskegee Timeline . 2016 . http://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/timeline.htm
• ↵ Laerd Dissertation. Principles of research ethics . 2012 . http://dissertation.laerd.com/principles-of-research-ethics.php#second

Twitter Follow Roberta Heale at @robertaheale

Competing interests None declared.

Provenance and peer review Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.

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Ethics and Integrity in Nursing Research

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• First Online: 02 April 2020
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• Edie West 2  

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Most ethical issues that arise in the field of nursing tend to focus on human rights or direct client care issues, while the existing ethical frameworks and “nursing codes of ethics” put forth by leading nursing organizations tend to focus on increasing the ethical sensitivity or competence of nurses. Professional nursing, in its position as “art” and “science,” conducts cutting-edge research spanning a cornucopia of topics in the natural, social, formal, and applied sciences. However, the nature of nursing, which focuses on caring, preventing harm, protecting dignity, and advocacy roles in defense of patient rights, is sometimes at odds with the ethics of what can be considered more purely scientific research. This is primarily due to ambiguity or outright conflict with nursing standards (i.e., existing guidance frameworks or nursing ethics codes) and current research standards. This chapter will briefly explore the history of ethics development within the discipline of nursing. It will then explore the dichotomy between nursing and current research ethics via a comprehensive review and analysis of current relevant nursing literature. Identification of key ethical issues faced by nurse-researchers and how these issues were addressed can help to provide clarity and shed some light on the key issues identified in this chapter. In addition, it can help to formulate a framework that other nurse-researchers can use to maintain ethics and scientific integrity while investigating issues and proposing viable solutions to problems yet to be addressed in the field of nursing research.

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West, E. (2020). Ethics and Integrity in Nursing Research. In: Iphofen, R. (eds) Handbook of Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16759-2_46

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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.

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.

Plus, get exclusive access to discounts for nurses, stay informed on the latest nurse news, and learn how to take the next steps in your career.

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Nursing research ethics, guidance and application in practice

Affiliation.

• 1 Lecturer, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, Ireland.
• PMID: 27467646
• DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2016.25.14.803

Ethics is fundamental to good research practice and the protection of society. From a historical point of view, research ethics has had a chequered past and without due cognisance there is always the potential for research to do harm. Research ethics is fundamental to research practice, nurse education and the development of evidence. In conducting research, it is important to plan for and anticipate any potential or actual risks. To engage in research, researchers need to develop an understanding and knowledge of research ethics and carefully plan how to address ethics within their research. This article aims to enhance students' and novice researchers' research ethics understanding and its application to nursing research.

Keywords: Ethics; Nursing; Research; Students; Understanding.

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• Confidentiality
• Education, Nursing / methods*
• Ethics, Nursing / education*
• Ethics, Research / education*
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• Nursing Research / ethics*
• Research Personnel / education*

Research ethics: What nurses need to know

To: Ethics Advisory Board    

From: Conscientious RN

Subject: Patient care during research 

I’ve been asked to care for patients who are participating in a research study. What are the ethical guidelines for this type of practice?

From: ANA Center for Ethics and Human Rights

Nurses frequently are called upon to provide care for patients who are participating in scientific and medical research studies, which are a primary source of evidence-based practice. These patients have dual roles: They’re hospital/clinic patients and human subjects participating in research studies. Nurses should be aware of the special concerns raised by research involving patients and other vulnerable groups, including children, people who are cognitively impaired, those who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, older adults, pregnant women, prisoners, and underserved populations.

Nurses who are asked to assist in a research study or engage in research activities in any capacity must take care to ensure that research is soundly constructed, significant, worthwhile, and in conformity with ethical standards. Federal regulations direct that, before initiation, all research proposals must be approved by a formally constituted and qualified institutional review board (IRB) to ensure participant protection and the ethical integrity of the research. Nurses also should be fully informed about the qualifications of the principal investigator, the rights and obligations of all those involved in the study, and the ethical conduct of research in general.

The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (the Code ) states that the principle of respect for autonomy, respect for persons, and respect for self-determination provides individuals with the right to choose whether to participate in research as a human subject. In addition, research participants or legal surrogates must receive sufficient and materially relevant information to make informed decisions and to understand that they have the right to decline to participate or to withdraw at any time without fear of adverse consequences or reprisal.

Information needed for informed research consent includes the nature of participation; potential risks and benefits; available alternatives to taking part in the study; disclosure of incidental findings; return of research results; and an explanation of how the data will be used, managed, and protected. Details about the nature of consent must be communicated in a manner that is comprehensible to the patient or a legally authorized representative.

According to the Code , nurses remain committed to patients throughout the continuum of care and during their research participation. Patients who are in research studies may perceive that they don’t have a choice of whether to participate since they’re currently in the hospital and depend on their providers (who may also be the principal study investigators) for care. An individual’s human rights, however, are not altered because of participation in a research study. A patient’s welfare may never be sacrificed for research ends.

Nurses should be aware of threats to integrity, including requests to deceive a patient, withhold information, falsify records, or misrepresent research aims. Nurses may see researchers seemingly pressuring patients to stay in a study when the patients have clearly stated that they wish to withdraw. The Code states that nurses have a duty to question and, if necessary, to report to appropriate oversight bodies, such as the IRB, any researcher who violates participants’ rights or is involved in research that is ethically questionable. Nurses also have a duty to advocate for participants who wish to decline to participate or to withdraw from a study before completion.

— Response by Kathryn Schroeter, PhD, MA-Bioethics, RN, CNOR, CNE, chair of the ANA Ethics and Human Rights Advisory Board

Do you have a question for the Ethics Inbox? Submit at [email protected] .

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Last Update: August 14, 2023 .

• Definition/Introduction

Ethical values are essential for any healthcare provider. Ethics comes from the Greek word “ethos,” meaning character. Ethical values are universal rules of conduct that provide a practical basis for identifying what kinds of actions, intentions, and motives are valued. [1]  Ethics are moral principles that govern how the person or a group will behave or conduct themselves. The focus pertains to the right and wrong of actions and encompasses the decision-making process of determining the ultimate consequences of those actions. [2]  Each person has their own set of personal ethics and morals. Ethics within healthcare are important because workers must recognize healthcare dilemmas, make good judgments and decisions based on their values while keeping within the laws that govern them. To practice competently with integrity, nurses, like all healthcare professionals, must have regulation and guidance within the profession. [3]  The American Nurses Association (ANA) has developed the Code of Ethics for this purpose.

• Issues of Concern

The onset of nursing ethics can be traced back to the late 19 century. At that time, it was thought that ethics involved virtues such as physician loyalty, high moral character, and obedience. [3]  Since that early time, the nursing profession has evolved, and nurses are now part of the healthcare team and are patient advocates. The first formal Code of Ethics to guide the nursing profession was developed in the 1950’s. Developed and published by the ANA, it guides nurses in their daily practice and sets primary goals and values for the profession. Its function is to provide a succinct statement of the ethical obligations and duties of every individual who enters the nursing profession. It provides a nonnegotiable ethical standard and is an expression of nursing’s own understanding of its commitment to society. The Code of Ethics has been revised over time. The current version represents advances in technology, societal changes, expansion of nursing practice into advanced practice roles, research, education, health policy, and administration, and builds and maintains healthy work environments. [3]

The Code of Ethics for Nurses is divided into nine provisions to guide the nurse. The following is a summary of the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses: 

Provision 1. The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person. 

The nurse must have a high level of respect for all individuals, and allow dignity in regards to dealings in care and communication. It's important that patient's families are also treated with respect for their relationship to the patient. Nurses must understand the professional guidelines in communications and work with colleagues and patient families. It's important to understand the proper professional relationship that should be maintained with families and patients. All individuals, whether patients or co-workers have the right to decide on their participation in care and work.

Provision 2. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population.

The patient should always be a first and primary concern. The nurse must recognize the need for the patient to include their individual thought into care practices. Any conflict of interest, whether belonging to external organizations, or the nurse's habits or ideals that conflict with the act of being a nurse, should be shared and addressed to not impact patient care. Collaboration with internal and external teams to foster best patient care is a necessity. Understanding professional boundaries and how they relate to patient care outcomes is important.

Provision 3. The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient.

It is important for the nurse to understand all privacy guidelines with regards to patient care and patient identifiers. Nurses involved in research must understand all aspects of participation including informed consent and full disclosure to the patient of all aspects required to participate in the study. The nurse must understand any institutional standards set in place to review his/her performance; this includes measurements of progress and the need for further review or study to meet performance standards. To become a nurse, competence must be demonstrated in clinical and documentation prowess. Standards of competence will continue at institutions and academic organizations that employ the nurse. If there is witness or recognition of questionable healthcare practice, it is important that the patient is protected by reporting any misconduct or potential safety concern. And finally, the nurse will not provide patient care while under the influence of any substance that may impair thought or action, this includes prescription medication.

Provision 4 . The nurse has authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing practice; makes decisions; and takes action consistent with the obligation to provide optimal patient care.

As a nurse, it's inherent that accountability for all aspects of care aligns with responsible decision making. Use of authority must be professional and about all aspects of individualism and patient, ethical concerns. Nursing decisions must be well thought, planned, and purposefully implemented responsibly. Any delegation of nursing activities or functions must be done with respect for the action and the ultimate results to occur. 

Provision 5 . The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to promote health and safety, preserve wholeness of character and integrity, maintain competence, and continue personal and professional growth.

A nurse must also demonstrate care for self as well as others. An ideal nurse, will have self-regard towards healthcare practices and uphold safe practice within the care setting and at home. It's important for a nurse to have a high regard for care as an overall inert ability once the profession is entered. A character becoming a nurse would include integrity. Nurses should be concerned for personal growth in regards to continued learning of the profession. The ability to grow as a nurse with improvements to care, changes or trends in care should be adapted to maintain competence and allow growth of the profession.

Provision 6. The nurse, through individual and collective effort, establishes, maintains, and improves the ethical environment of the work setting and conditions of employment that are conducive to safe, quality health care.

As a nursing profession, standards should be outlined within and external to institutions of work that dictate ethical obligations of care and need to report any deviations from appropriateness. It's important to understand safety, quality and environmental considerations that are conducive to best patient care outcomes.

Provision 7 . The nurse, in all roles and settings, advances the profession through research and scholarly inquiry, professional standards development, and the generation of both nursing and health policy.

Nurse education should include principles of research, and each nurse should understand how to apply scholarly work and inquiry into practice standards. Nurse committees and board memberships are encouraged to contribute to health policy and professional standards. The ability to maintain professional practice standards should continue, changing and enhancing as developments in practice may over time.

Provision 8. The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities. 

Through collaboration within the discipline, maintaining the concept that health is a right for all individuals will open the channels of best practice possibilities. The nurse understands the obligation to continue to advance care possibilities by committing to constant learning and preparation. The ability of the nurse to practice in various healthcare settings may include unusual situations that require continued acts of diplomacy and advocacy.

Provision 9. The profession of nursing, collectively through its professional organization, must articulate nursing values, maintain the integrity of the profession, and integrate principles of social justice into nursing and health policy.

Nurses must continue to gather for committees and organize groups where they may share and evaluate values for accuracy and continuation of the profession. It is within these organizations that nurses may join in strength to voice for social justice. There is a need for continued political awareness to maintain the integrity of the nursing profession. The ability of the nurse to contribute to health policy should be shared among the profession, joining nurses throughout the world for a unified voice.

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics with interpretative statements. Silver Spring, MD

• Clinical Significance

Ethical values are essential for all healthcare workers. Ethical practice is a foundation for nurses, who deal with ethical issues daily. Ethical dilemmas arise as nurses care for patients. These dilemmas may, at times, conflict with the Code of Ethics or with the nurse's ethical values. Nurses are advocates for patients and must find a balance while delivering patient care. There are four main principles of ethics: autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence.

Each patient has the right to make their own decisions based on their own beliefs and values. [4] . This is known as autonomy. A patient's need for autonomy may conflict with care guidelines or suggestions that nurses or other healthcare workers believe is best. A person has a right to refuse medications, treatment, surgery, or other medical interventions regardless of what benefit may come from it. If a patient chooses not to receive a treatment that could potentially provide a benefit, the nurse must respect that choice.

Healthcare workers have a duty to refrain from maltreatment, minimize harm, and promote good towards patients. [4]  This duty of particular treatment describing beneficence. Healthcare workers demonstrate this by providing a balance of benefits against risks to the patient. Assisting patients with tasks that they are unable to perform on their own, keeping side rails up for fall precautions, or providing medications in a quick and timely manner are all examples of beneficence.

All patients have a right to be treated fair and equally by others. Justice involves how people are treated when their interest competes with others. [5] . A current hot topic that addresses this is the lack of healthcare insurance for some. Another example is with patients in rural settings who may not have access to the same healthcare services that are offered in metropolitan areas.

Patients have a right to no harm. Non-maleficence requires that nurses avoid causing harm to patients. [6]  This principle is likely the most difficult to uphold. Where life support is stopped or patients have chosen to stop taking medication that can save their lives, the nurse is put in a morally challenging position.

Nurses should know the Code of Ethics within their profession and be aware and recognize their own integrity and moral character. Nurses should have a basic and clear understanding of key ethical principles. The nursing profession must remain true to patient care while advocating for patient rights to self-identify needs and cultural norms. Ethical considerations in nursing, though challenging, represent a true integration of the art of patient care.

Nurses have a responsibility to themselves, their profession, and their patients to maintain the highest ethical principals. Many organizations have ethics boards in place to review ethical concerns. Nurses at all levels of practice should be involved in ethics review in their targeted specialty area. It is important to advocate for patient care, patient rights, and ethical consideration of practice. Ethics inclusion should begin in nursing school and continue as long as the nurse is practicing.

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Disclosure: Lisa Haddad declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Robin Geiger declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

This book is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ), which permits others to distribute the work, provided that the article is not altered or used commercially. You are not required to obtain permission to distribute this article, provided that you credit the author and journal.

• Cite this Page Haddad LM, Geiger RA. Nursing Ethical Considerations. [Updated 2023 Aug 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.

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Understanding the 7 Principles of Ethics in Nursing

As the most trusted professionals in the U.S. who regularly make critical decisions that can impact the life and death of their patients, nurses are in tremendous positions of power. But with this power, there are significant obligations and responsibilities.

“Real-world health care practice is complicated, and nurses find themselves facing ethical dilemmas on a regular basis,” says Elaina Mahlan , MSN, faculty member of Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. “These issues are not always black and white.”

When faced with these kinds of tough decisions, nurses need a lodestar — something that all nurses can use to guide them toward ethical decisions that are consistent across the profession. That’s where the nursing code of ethics comes into play.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) first developed its Code of Ethics for Nurses in the 1950s to serve as “a moral compass to promote high levels of care, an ethical standard for those entering the nursing profession, and a commitment to society affirming the responsibilities of the registered nurse.” Since that time, it’s been consistently updated and revised to reflect advances in nursing, society, and technology.

The ANA has summarized the major tenets of the nursing code of ethics into four principles:

• Beneficence
• Nonmaleficence

To this list, Mahlan recommends adding three more principles :

• Accountability

“Nurses have to rely on these principles not only to achieve the best and most ethical outcomes but also to prevent the health care system from collapsing because nobody trusts it,” Mahlan says. “This ethical principle framework helps them to make ethical decisions, but it also relieves them as a human being from ethical distress.”

While there are seven core principles, most of them can be considered in pairs as they complement each other, while the final principle — justice — is the ethical umbrella that covers the rest.

Beneficence and Nonmaleficence

Beneficence and nonmaleficence are two sides of the same coin. At their basic level, beneficence is doing good, while nonmaleficence is doing no harm. When applied to ethics in nursing, this means nurses should offer kindness while using care to do no harm.

“Beneficence is the very essence of nursing,” Mahlan says. “Caring for others is what calls people to the profession to begin with.”

A beneficent nurse is one who considers the patient’s best interest. This could include providing medications in a timely manner, offering comfort to a dying patient and their loved ones, or even just providing a listening ear.

A nurse who embodies nonmaleficence, meanwhile, works to minimize harm, ensuring they make every effort to keep patients safe and improve patient outcomes. Examples include reporting or fixing safety hazards in the clinic, withholding medication due to adverse reactions, or pausing a treatment strategy that seems to be causing the patient more harm than good.

Autonomy and Accountability

In regard to nursing ethics, autonomy has a couple of meanings. Autonomy is the need for nurses to be able to act independently within the scope of their practice. It also refers to the duty of the nurse to provide enough information to the patient so that they can make their own decisions.

For example, if the patient gets all of the information on an approved treatment plan and decides not to move forward because of their own beliefs and values, they have the autonomy to do so, no matter what the nurse would do in their situation.

On the other hand, a nurse may decide to temporarily withhold an order that they've received from a physician if they see something within that order that doesn't make sense to them.

“I have to be able to act independently as an autonomous professional and require my other health care partners to clarify the treatment plan,” says Mahlan. “There could be errors in the system or a miscommunication. But I need to be able to say, ‘Something doesn’t seem right here, so we need a timeout.’”

But one can’t have autonomy without also being held accountable for their actions and decisions.

“One of the first things that you learn in nursing school is if you’re asked why you’re doing something, you may never answer, ‘Because the doctor ordered it,’” Mahlan says. “It may be true, of course, but it's not an acceptable answer because to be accountable, you have to understand what you’re doing and why — as well as the ramifications of that decision.”

Fidelity and Veracity

In order for autonomy and accountability to work, nurses must be trusted by both the public and their interprofessional colleagues. This is where fidelity and veracity come into play.

Fidelity is keeping your word to your patients, while veracity is being open and honest with them — even if the truth is difficult to hear.

For example, you told a patient that you would call them with their treatment options, but none of the options have a completely ideal outcome. Still, you call them at the scheduled time and explain everything in detail so they can make an informed decision.

In this case, you kept your word about calling the patient with their treatment options despite knowing it would be an uncomfortable conversation. You were also completely honest with them about the outcomes of those options, even though none of them were ideal.

Justice is the ethical principle that says what you do as a nurse, you are going to do impartially and without favoritism. That means being impartial about a patient’s ethnicity, religion, age, economic status, or sexual orientation. It also means making decisions without respect to who your employer is or who is funding the research.

“Let's say you’re a nurse manager. If you show favoritism among members of your staff, such as with rewards and benefits or disciplinary actions in the workplace, you are not operating under the ethical principle of justice,” says Mahlan.

When it comes to patient care, justice could also be advocating for a patient who may need extra assistance due to a disability or economic hardship.

“Justice is a component of equity and inclusion because justice is blind,” Mahlan says. “All of the prior six ethical principles have to operate like justice with the same impartiality. Nurses serve people equitably in a way that does the most good.”

Bolster Your Nursing Career With a Degree from Purdue Global

“Year after year for decades now, a Gallup Poll on the most trusted professions places nurses at the top,” Mahlan says. “It's critical that the profession doesn't rest on those laurels; we have to continuously nurture that trust by questioning how we’re conducting ourselves.

“We can't afford to give up protecting that trust because once it’s gone, it's extremely hard to rebuild,” she says.

If you’re ready to take your nursing career to the next level while helping to further the nation’s trust in the profession, consider an online nursing degree or certificate from Purdue Global. Our nursing programs include an online RN-to-BSN degree and an online MSN degree. Request information about our online programs today.

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Nursing Topics for Research plus Ideas

Writing a good nursing essay, term paper, or research paper begins by finding a list of good nursing research topics and then narrowing it down to a specific topic that interests you the most and aligns with your assignment instructions.

For most nursing students, finding the best nursing topics for research can be challenging and confusing. From our interaction with thousands of students, we have realized many dread choosing a nursing research paper topic when given a chance.

In fact, they prefer being given a list of nursing research paper topics they can choose from, which they suppose makes work easier for them, but that's never the case.

Choosing a good topic is part of the assessment; you must do it well because it can either break or make your final nursing school grade .

You are assigned to write on specific nursing topics when the professor wants you to understand the nursing concepts. We have your back if you are after the best nursing research topics. In this blog article, we have highlighted a list of different nursing topics you can select from for any nursing paper you will be assigned and let you have the freedom to choose a topic on your own. If you are looking for a guide on writing a nursing paper, check our guide for writing a nursing research paper and the blog post on how to write a nursing essay .

We also have advanced guides on writing capstone projects, dissertations, and QI reports; go through them and write a digestible nursing research paper that gives you a maximum score. But first, let's dive into the various topics in nursing you can write a paper about.

Steps for Selecting a Good Nursing Research Topic

Before we go into the details of the research topics in nursing, it would be wise to highlight some of the steps you need to take to identify the best topic. When assigned to write a paper, use these steps to select the best topic:

• Read the assignment instructions to identify whether you have a predetermined list of nursing topics or can choose one on your own;
• If you are allowed to select a topic of your choice, begin by identifying the nursing research area you are passionate about;
• Brainstorm for ideas on this specific area by referring to the course readings, class notes, previous class assignments, nursing topic examples online, and past nursing papers submitted by the cohorts before yours;
• Narrow down to three main topics by researching your nursing research ideas and eliminating the ones that don't fit the scope of the paper;
• Again do an elimination based on your research to identify a manageable (has a lot of scholarly resources), engaging, and suitable nursing topic for your nursing paper, and
• Research widely to identify the best sources to use when exploring your research paper in detail, then write your nursing paper.

As you choose a nursing topic, always remember the following:

• to pick a topic that falls within your area of interest or the scope of the course;
• select a topic that you can share as many details without forcing yourself or getting bored;
• choose a topic that has plenty of credible peer-reviewed nursing sources;
• the topic should be unique and unexplored, or if it is explored, select a new perspective or approach;
• the topic should be relevant, fresh, explorative, engaging, meaningful, and original;
• the topic should be flexible so that you can research and form arguments;
• focus on topics with concepts, frameworks, or ideas from class;
• if stuck, ask for help selecting a topic from your instructor or peers;
• don't choose a topic that is too broad or too narrow; choose a manageable topic;
• Prioritize considering the latest, current events, or trending nursing research topics so that you can solve issues as they arise in practice.

These tips also apply to nursing research project topics.

List of Nursing Research Topics Organized by Nursing Category

If you find selecting a research topic for your nursing paper challenging, this list of different nursing topics will come in handy. Even the most proficient nursing writers face challenges with choosing topics. But that has never deterred them from writing research papers, essays, and other nursing papers. To get you ahead of everything, consider these top topics in nursing to help you brainstorm fresh nursing research topics ideas. You can also directly pick a topic of interest or slightly tweak any of them and write a good paper.

Adult Nursing Research Topics

• Impacts of engaging older adult patients through Facebook
• Gastric decompression in adult patients
• Role advanced practice nurse in geriatric oncology care
• Strategies for promoting healthy lifestyles among LGBT older adult patients
• Moral distress among adult nursing practitioners
• Impacts of aging on adult health
• Diagnosis and management of learning disabilities in nursing
• How nurses can support rehabilitation for home-dwelling adult patients
• Role of nurses in addressing sigma for adults living with HIV/AIDS
• Prevalence of hypertension among young adults
• Managing T2DM among young black American adults
• Impacts of malnutrition among elderly adults
• Role of nurses in addressing domestic violence
• Treatment and management of Asthma among adult patients
• Treatment of acute coronary syndrome among adult patients
• Strategies to prevent dehydration among elderly patients
• Impacts of age on the immune system and the skin of adults
• Strategies to address obesity among adults
• Oral care among elderly adults in the USA
• Treatment of anxiety and depression among adults
• Treatment and management of COPD
• Pain management strategies for adult patients
• Ethical issues facing nurses that handle adult patients
• Strategies to promote weight loss and management among adult patients
• Impacts of colon cancer screening among adults

Child Nursing Research Topics

• Diagnosis, treatment, and management of ADHD in children
• Causes and management of seizures among children
• Nutritional benefits of supplements for children
• Impacts of over-exposure of children to antibiotics
• Impacts of heavy metals on the neurological development of children
• Strategies to prompt physical activity among children
• Benefits of parental attachment to children's well-being
• Diagnosis and management of respiratory illnesses in children
• Treatment and management of cryptorchidism in children
• Management of urine incontinence in children
• Benefits of nutritional counseling for adolescent kids
• Psychological impacts of cancer on children and their families
• The ethical dilemma with consent when treating children
• Health education strategies to ensure children stick to medication
• Effects of the opioid epidemic on children and adolescents
• The impacts of parental opioid use and children's health
• Benefits of play therapy for children
• The link between vaccination and the well-being of children
• Should Covid-19 be part of the vaccination schedule for children?

Communications Nursing Research Topics

• Using social media to raise awareness among nurses
• Attitudes of nurses on using SBAR to improve communication
• Impacts of body language on nursing communication
• Benefits of training nurses on interprofessional communication
• Impacts of communication on collaboration within interprofessional healthcare teams
• Why nurses should check for non-verbal cues among patients
• The role of interpreters and translators in clinical settings
• Communicating with patients and their families on aspects related to cancer care
• Strategies to maintain good therapeutic relationships with patients in end-of-life care
• Role of interpersonal communication in transcultural nursing
• Patient perceptions and attitudes of nurse-patient communication
• Communication models oncology nurses can use when 'Breaking Bad News.'
• Strategies to resolve communication challenges in intensive care units
• Benefits of taking notes on proper communication among nurses
• Use of technology to facilitate communication among nurses and patients
• Factors affecting nursing error communication within ICUs
• Perceptions and lived experiences of pediatric oncology nurses during palliative and end of life care
• The link between communication and patient outcomes
• Benefits of patient-centered communication
• How can nurses address the needs of deaf patients
• Perceptions of nurses of prognosis-related communication
• The use of telehealth to facilitate fast communication
• Benefits of using the nursing dashboard to communicate evaluation of program outcomes
• Management of language barrier among nurses and patients
• Management of language discordance in clinical nursing practice
• Role of intercultural communication in nursing
• Multi-professional communication for older patients in transitional care
• Strategies nurses use to communicate with patients who are mechanically ventilated in the ICU
• Improving communication among nurses through resident nurse shadowing
• How to overcome elder speaking when communicating with older patients
• Benefits of nursing communication on patient care quality
• Barriers to communication between adult cancer patients and registered nurses in inpatient care settings
• Benefits of communicating skin changes by certified nursing assistants to reduce pressure injuries
• Strategies nurses can use to communicate contraceptive effectiveness
• Improving nurse-patient communication when caring for patients with dementia
• Using YouTube and simulation to prepare millennial nursing students to communicate well in clinical settings

Controversial Nursing Research Topics

• The placement of G-tube in nursing home patients with end-stage dementia
• Nurses' role in advising families against the provision of futile care or aggressive interventions
• The fear of giving opioids to end-of-life patients by nurses
• Dealing with patients who are non-compliant or aggressively decline treatment
• Longer shifts and poor pay among nurses
• Discrimination of new nurses by older nurses
• Exposure of nurses to job hazards
• Causes and consequences of nurse strikes
• Incivility in the workplace against nurses from the minority groups
• Longer education pathway for one to become a nurse

Controversies in nursing practice, training, and management can be good research topic ideas for a paper if your interest lies in a specific specialization of nursing.

Related Article: Interesting nursing debate topics for students .

Disease Management Nursing Topics

• Management of burn wounds in the ER settings
• Management of Diabetes Mellitus through nutritional and lifestyle changes
• Modern treatment and management of coeliac disease
• Importance of intermittent fasting in managing GERD
• Management of hypertensive cardiovascular disease
• Treatment and management of hemolytic disease of the newborn
• Management of neurovascular disease
• Management of neurodegenerative disease
• Treatment and management of lupus
• Management of endometriosis using modern means
• Management of strabismus
• Management of gynecomastia among adolescents and adults
• Osteopathic management of cancer
• Diagnosis and management of Buerger's disease
• Treatment and management of Crohn's disease
• Management of multiple sclerosis
• Management of pulmonary heart disease secondary to chronic lung disease
• Management of pruritus
• Management of anemia among pregnant women
• Disease management strategies for glaucoma
• Management of pilonidal disease without incision
• Management of alopecia in women
• Medical management of Meniere's disease
• Treatment and management of CUTIs
• Treatment and non-surgical management of bronchiectasis
• Management of hemorrhoidal disease
• Management of listeria
• Management of sepsis
• Management of peptic ulcer disease
• Diagnosis and management of peripheral vascular disease

Related: How to write a windshield survey report paper.

Emergency Room Nursing Topics

• Reasons for emergency room visits during the covid-19 pandemic period
• Improving postpartum visits in the gynecological emergency room
• Factors leading to overcrowding at the emergency departments
• Addressing inadequate visits to the emergency departments by pregnant women
• Strategies to reduce emergency room visits among elderly adults
• SNAP timing and emergency room visits
• Pediatric emergency room visits for neurological conditions
• Effects of community health centers on emergency room visits
• Predictors of frequent psychiatric emergency room visits
• Use of telehealth monitoring to reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations of patients with COPD
• Addressing the increased frequency of emergency room visits of asthmatic children
• The link between proper patient education and emergency room visits
• The connection between emergency room visits and healthcare promotion
• Emergency room visits for accident victims
• Impacts of air pollution on unscheduled emergency room visits
• Self-reported emergency room visits for dental problems
• Handling non-emergency requests presented in emergency departments
• Repeat emergency room visits for hand and wrist injuries
• Seasonal variations in emergency department visits
• Management of sepsis and septic shock in the emergency department
• Management of acute headache in the emergency department: A dilemma
• Emergency management of seizures and epilepsy
• Handling agitated and aggressive patients in the ED
• Management of patients with thermal burns in the ED
• Emergency management strategies to manage chronic pain in elderly adults
• Handling myasthenia gravis in the ED
• Management of priapism in the emergency department
• Evaluation and management of clostridioides defficile infection in the ED
• Management of hematogenous osteomyelitis in children in the ED
• Management of Thunderclap Headache in the ED
• Emergency department as an entry point to inpatient care
• The link between delays in patient admission from ED and mortality

Evidence-Based Practice Nursing Research Topics

• Importance of evidence-based nursing in addressing emerging nursing challenges
• Benefits of disseminating nursing knowledge
• Role of evidence-based nursing research in clarifying concepts necessary for nursing practice
• Use of evidence-based practice to address gaps in nursing knowledge
• The link between evidence-based practice and quality improvement
• The connection between nursing research and evidence-based practice
• Strategies for disseminating evidence-based strategy in nursing
• Benefits of honing evidence-based practice competencies in nursing students
• The Stetler Model of research utilization and EBP
• Role of nurse leaders in promoting EBP implementation at the points of care
• Evidence-based practice guidelines for perioperative nursing
• Planning, implementing and evaluating EBP
• Models of evaluating evidence-based practice strategies
• Contributions of qualitative and quantitative research to evidence-based practice in nursing
• Using action research to facilitate evidence-based practice in nursing
• Factors affecting the implementation of evidence-based strategies in nursing
• Attitudes, knowledge, and skills of nursing students on evidence-based practice
• Benefits of evidence-based clinical guidelines for diseases
• Benefits of integrating evidence-based approach to the nursing curriculum
• Value of evidence-based practice in military nursing

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Geriatric Nursing Research Topics

• Cognitive decline among the aging patients
• Polypharmacy management in elderly patients
• Depression among the elderly patients
• Causes of mobility issues among elderly patients
• The link between undernutrition and mortality in older persons
• Strategies for weight management among the elderly
• Abnormal eating behaviors among the elderly patients
• Functional impairment among the older persons
• Sarcopenia or frailty among elderly people
• Impacts of aging on the immune system
• Preventing cardiovascular disease among the elderly population
• Benefits of having a geriatric-friendly nurse in the ED
• Benefits of Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
• Utilization of Delirium Intensive Care units by the elderly patients
• Improving patient outcomes in Acute Care for the Elderly Units (ACE)
• How low vision impacts the driving capacity of the elderly
• Relationship between ethnicity and race and depression in older adults with low vision
• Impacts of loneliness among adults with visual impairment
• Effects of light therapy on osteoarthritis and its sequelae in aging and older adults
• Strategies to address plasticity in early Alzheimer's Disease
• Pathophysiology, treatment, and rehabilitation of atherosclerosis among the geriatric population
• Music therapy in geriatrics
• Bone aging and osteoporosis
• Degenerative gastric disorders of the musculoskeletal among geriatric populations
• Addressing inflammation among the elderly
• Impacts of lifestyle on vascular aging
• Pathophysiology and interventions to combat degenerative aortic stenosis in elderly populations
• Frailty and gait disorders in Parkinson's Disease
• Management of falls in older adults
• Pathogenesis and treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and pelvic floor dysfunction diseases in elderly adults
• End-of-life care in elderly people living with dementia
• Management of osteosarcopenia in elderly adults
• Strategies to promote healthy aging
• Benefits of aging-in-place for the elderly people
• Interventional strategies to improve the quality of life and health span of the older adults
• Assistive technologies and innovations to help improve the quality of life of the older people
• Diabetes management among elderly adults through life transitions
• The impactful interventions to extend the health span of aging adults
• Mechanisms, clinical significance, and management of age-related changes in body composition
• Strategies to maintain longevity in old age
• Redesign of homes and hospitals to accommodate the needs of elderly adults
• Calorie restriction among the elderly adults
• Management of elderly abuse
• Strategies to measure and manage elderly abuse
• Providing care for elderly patients with a frontotemporal disorder

You can check more research topic ideas from the NIH website .

Healthcare Promotion Nursing Topics

• Strategies to evaluate healthcare promotion and disease prevention program
• Application of the Logic Model to evaluate healthcare promotion programs
• Applying the health belief model in health promotion programs
• Using ecological models to formulate healthcare promotion programs
• The transtheoretical model and healthcare promotion
• Theory of planned behavior and healthcare promotion
• Application of social cognitive theory in disease prevention programs
• Holism in nursing and health promotion
• Benefits of community health promotion in nursing
• Health promotion role of family health nurses
• Integrating interpersonal skills in health promotion
• Contribution of health promotion to community children's nursing
• Benefits of focused health promotion assessment
• Process evaluation strategies for health promotion programs
• Formative evaluation of health promotion
• Outcome and impact evaluation of health promotion
• Role of school nurses in promoting healthy behaviors among teenagers

Hot Nursing Research Topics

• The social and economic effects of the opioid crisis
• Impacts of feminism on women's health
• The gender pay gap in nursing and its implications on the future of nursing
• Access to healthcare by immigrant women
• Strategies to improve diversity in nursing
• Best strategies to reduce vaccine hesitancy during pregnancy
• How nurses can use social media to promote health
• Importance of virtual nursing communities on healthcare
• Nurses as agents of change
• Can nurses be entrepreneurs?
• Benefits of evidence-based nursing practices
• Importance of continuing nursing education
• Role of government in providing nursing education
• Strategies to address nursing staff shortage
• Impacts of nurses on contraceptive uptake among women from minority races in the USA
• Impact of stress on the work behavior of nurses

Neonatal Nursing Research Topics

• Attitudes of neonatal nurses on hand hygiene practices in neonatal units
• Causes of child mortality
• Factors affecting neonatal care in rural areas
• Methods of identifying and addressing eating disorders in children
• Skin-to-skin contact between the newborns and their mothers
• Impacts of postpartum depression on newborns
• Causes of abnormal neurological development in children
• Application of hormones in regulating fetal lung development
• Diagnosis and management of diaphragmatic hernia in infants
• Strategies to establish and maintain therapeutic rapport with infants
• Impacts of the physical appearance of care settings on infants
• Use of nitric acid to treat premature babies
• Benefits of exposing newborns to sun rays
• Use of biomarkers to diagnose and manage neonatal sepsis
• Impacts of prenatal alcohol and substance use on the neurological development of a fetus
• Use of biomarkers in the diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries in infants
• How inflammatory processes affect the brain development of infants
• Impacts of slow music in the neonatal units on the mood of children
• Impacts of educating newborns on exclusive breastfeeding
• Nutritional plans for a neonatal care unit
• Strategies to prevent drug errors in neonatal units
• Methods of reducing mortality rates in neonatal care settings
• Ways to predict and address feeding problems
• Strategies to increase the uptake of neonatal services among aboriginal women
• Impacts of maternal obesity on infant development
• Benefits of allowing men into neonatal care units
• Methods of predicting diseases in newborn children
• The use of genetic profiling to identify genetic disorders in newborns
• Impacts of counseling by neonatal nurses before discharge from a neonatal facility
• Nursing ethics for newborn care
• Impacts of NICU nursing staff shortage on quality of care

Nurse Practitioner Research Topics

• Transitioning from a nurse to an advanced nurse practitioner
• Core competencies of a nurse practitioner
• Factors affecting advanced nurse practitioner autonomy
• Prescription privileges of nurse practitioners in the USA
• Strategies to mentor new graduate nurse practitioners
• Benefits of joining professional organizations as a nurse practitioner
• Lived experiences of registered nurses transitioning to a nurse practitioner role
• Role of psychiatric nurse practitioners
• Benefits of family nurse practitioners in the management of genetic diseases
• Role of nurse practitioners in congenital heart surgery
• Benefits of establishing nurse practitioner practicums
• Strategies to detraumatize nurse practitioner orientation
• Collaboration between nurse practitioners and physicians in long-term care facilities
• Role of a nurse practitioner in ambulatory women's health
• Impacts of religiosity and spirituality of nurse practitioners in family practice
• Strategies to recruit and retain nurse practitioners
• Role of acute care nurse practitioner
• The advanced nursing practice as a surgical assistant
• Job satisfaction among nurse practitioners
• Retention rates and burnout among nurse practitioners
• Crisis in nurse practitioner preparation in the USA
• Nurse Practitioner privileges in the UK vs. USA
• Roles of pediatric critical care nurse practitioner
• Factors influencing the decision by nurse practitioners to join nurse practitioner associations
• Disciplinary actions for nurse practitioners who err at work
• Struggle for recognition among nurse practitioners
• Challenges faced by new psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioners
• Does age matter in the nurse practitioner role?
• Novice nurse practitioner workforce transition
• Turnover intentions and its effect on nurse practitioners
• Are nurse practitioners considered nurses in all settings?
• Liability and authority of nurse practitioners
• Impacts of postgraduate education and training for nurse practitioners
• The racial disparity among nurse practitioners
• Racial disparity in neonatal practitioner training programs in the USA
• Impacts of recognizing achievements of nurse practitioners through honors and awards
• The education trajectory of occupational health nurse practitioners in the UK
• Nurse practitioner's role in endometriosis care
• Mid-Level Practitioners vs. Advanced Nurse Practitioners in the UK
• Role of nurse practitioners in supporting veteran patients
• Nurse practitioners as healthcare advocates
• Nurse practitioners as change advocates
• Gender gap and payment issues affecting advanced nurse practitioners

Nursing Student Research Topics

• Stress and coping strategies among nursing students
• Attitudes of nursing students on the use of simulation
• Attitudes of nursing students on blended learning of cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• The link between the mental health of nursing students and academic performance
• The perspective of nursing students on a caring relationship in clinical supervision
• Professional values of nursing students
• Nursing students as crucial players in the healthcare industry
• Perceptions of BSN students on being a nurse
• Benefits of maintaining proper sleep, diet, and quality of life among nursing students
• Funding challenges affecting education continuation among student nurses
• Causes and consequences of high dropout rates among nursing students
• Adaptive strategies to the difficulties pre-licensure nursing students face during their first clinical experience
• Strategies nursing students use to build resilience
• Homophobia among nursing students
• Smoking and alcohol abuse among nursing students
• Stress levels of nursing students during placements and practicum
• Impacts of shadowing on the experiences of student nurses
• Factors affecting the readiness of nursing students to enter the nursing workforce
• Performance, attitudes, and growth trajectory of foreign-born nursing students in the United States
• Benefits of mentoring for nursing students
• Perceptions and perspectives of minority nursing students on classroom diversity
• Entry rates among minority nursing students
• Causes of high dropout rates among black American nursing students
• Experiences and perceptions of accelerated nursing programs
• Factors affecting the retention of nursing knowledge among nursing students
• Strategies to boost clinical judgment among undergraduate nursing students
• Spiritual care perceptions of Baccalaureate nursing students
• Perceptions of nursing students on skills learning
• Strategies to promote collaboration and teamwork among undergraduate nursing students
• The knowledge of nurse students on the role of nurses in the management of dysphagia
• Ethical challenges nursing students face in clinical settings
• Perceptions of nursing students on participatory action research
• Role of nurse students in clinical research
• Attitudes of nurse students on participating in pedagogical research
• Moral distress among nursing students
• The impacts of spiritual orientation of nursing students on their attitudes towards principles of dying with dignity
• Experiences and attitudes of nurses who make mistakes in clinical
• Impacts of gender and perceived faculty support on the performance of nursing students
• Perception and attitudes of nursing students on the use of technology in education
• Altruism, religiosity, and honesty among nursing students
• Incivility experiences of student nurses in clinical settings
• Addressing smartphone addiction among nursing students
• The perception of undergraduate nursing students on clinical assessment at the transition to practice
• Benefits of teaching nursing students transcultural caring
• Causes and consequences of poor performance among nursing students
• Benefits of exposing nursing students to leadership concepts in nursing

Pain Management Nursing Topics

• The role of the anesthesiologist in the management of intractable pain
• The value of chlorpromazine in pain management
• Benefits of interdisciplinary pain management
• Using Neuromodulators for pain management
• Strategies to address acute pain among hospitalized children
• Using virtual reality for pain management in children
• Interdisciplinary approach to chronic pain management
• Tools and factors to improve postoperative pain management
• Using acupuncture for pain management
• Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of nurses on pain management
• Role of Cannabidiol (CBD) in chronic pain management
• Effectiveness of using clinical aromatherapy in pain management
• Assistive technologies for pain management in patients with amputations
• Benefits of training nurses on transcultural pain management
• Pain management interventions in PICU or NICU
• Rehabilitation therapy in perioperative pain management
• Pediatric pain management in the emergency departments
• Pain management among geriatric patients
• Interventional strategies for the management of oncological pain
• Interventions for post-craniotomy pain management
• Non-pharmacologic approaches to pain management among patients
• Importance of adherence to communication in pain management
• Self-management of cancer pain for oncology patients
• Pain assessment among deaf patients
• Pain assessment among pediatric patients
• The ethics of using epidural and spinal anesthesia
• Pain management in patients with heart failure
• Hypnosis for the management of chronic pain in children
• Spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain management
• Benefits of documenting postoperative pain

Pediatric Nursing Research Topics

• Causes and management of Tourette syndrome in children
• Diagnosis and management of asthma in children
• Strategies to address pediatric polypharmacy
• Management of pneumonia in children
• Addressing diarrhea among preschool children
• Strategies to prevent and manage tuberculosis in children
• Impacts of psychological support for children with cancer
• Effects of anorexia on the cognitive function of children
• Reducing risk in children receiving oxygen therapy
• Using molecular markers to diagnose childhood leukemia
• Strategies to address childhood obesity
• Diabetes among children
• Use of stem cell research in solving childhood diseases
• Implications of the passive smoke syndrome in children
• Impacts of alcohol intake among adolescents
• The administration of painkillers for children
• Strategies nurses can use to prevent teenage pregnancies
• Approach to counseling adolescents living with HIV/AIDS
• Impacts of air pollution on the brain development of children
• Diagnosis and management of ear infection among children
• Addressing UTIs in adolescents

Perioperative Nursing Research Topics

• Drugs to manage and prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting after general anesthesia
• Benefits of postoperative education for adult patients who've undergone elective surgery
• Effects of using music interventions in perioperative settings
• Strategies to enhance patient safety in an operating theater
• Strategies to reduce patient abuse in the operating theater
• Non-pharmacological interventions in perioperative settings to prevent anxiety in adolescents
• Ethical aspects of non-technical skills in operating room nursing
• Postoperative accelerated recovery protocols
• Benefits of pre-operative fasting
• Nursing interventions to enhance perioperative care for patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery
• Use of the IOWA model by perioperative nurse leaders to implement clinical practice guidelines (CPGs)
• Benefits of using perioperative data set in surgical nursing
• Perioperative considerations of patients with concussion

Primary Healthcare Nursing Topics

• Strategies to maintain infant oral health
• ED as an entry into the primary healthcare continuum
• Best practices for transgender health
• Benefits of offering primary oral healthcare
• Strategies to improve vaccination access and uptake in rural areas
• Community-based primary healthcare and child mortality rates
• Strategies to improve patient experiences with primary care
• Strategy for screening for poverty and poverty-related social determinants of health
• The identity crisis of preventive medicine
• Use of data-driven population health in primary care
• Benefits of sharing with adults of adolescents sexual health information in primary care
• Attitudes and perspectives of women on reproductive health services in primary care
• Challenges affecting adolescents from seeing sexual health services in primary care
• The link between primary care and population health
• Immigration as a social determinant of health
• Health promotion among older adults

Psychiatric Nursing Research Topics

• Safety in psychiatric inpatient care
• Impacts of risk management culture on mental health nursing practice
• Consequences of community-based psychiatric nurses in addressing healthcare access for people with mental disorders
• Technical competencies for postgraduate psychiatric nursing students
• Benefits of using focus group interviews for psychiatric nursing research
• Using reflexive methodology in psychiatric nursing research
• Attitudes of psychiatric nursing staff toward containment methods in psychiatric inpatient care settings
• Use of physical restraints for aggressive patients in psychiatric facilities
• Role of psychiatric liaison nursing
• Impacts of human patient and communication simulation on psychiatric nursing training
• The application of telehealth to address mental health issues among patients in rural areas
• Ethical issues in psychiatric care facilities

Related Article: Mental health nursing topics .

Qualitative Nursing Research Topics

In nursing, qualitative research deals with the lived experiences of patients and nurses. Some of the qualitative research methods include narrative inquiry, action research, grounded theory, ethnography, and phenomenology. Below are some of the qualitative topics for nursing research.

• Application of positivism in qualitative nursing research
• Impacts of language barriers on qualitative nursing research
• Use of qualitative research methods to investigate tobacco use and control
• Application of qualitative case study methodology in nursing research
• Lived experience of nurses who handle pediatric patients in oncology departments
• Attitudes of nurses taking care of end-of-life patients on compassion fatigue
• Benefits of qualitative research in clinical epidemiology
• Approaches to qualitative content analysis
• Qualitative research in rheumatology
• Thematic analysis in nursing research
• Descriptive phenomenological vs. qualitative description research
• Challenges and benefits of conducting qualitative research online
• Methodological challenges in qualitative content analysis
• Using lived experiences of pregnant black American mothers to assess the impacts of eclampsia
• Benefits of longitudinal qualitative research in nursing
• Use of action research in nursing education
• Using action research to evaluate the orientation program for nurses in a multicultural healthcare setting
• Effectiveness of clinical simulations for new graduate nurses
• Effectiveness of cognitive therapy and family psychoeducation on the self-esteem of adolescents in orphanages
• Influence of music therapy on the well-being of postoperative patients of total knee arthroplasty
• Investigating the quality of life of elderly adults after spinal cord surgery
• Using focus groups with women with severe psychiatric disabilities
• Using virtual, synchronous focus groups among black sexual minority men
• Using focus groups with children who have undergone sexual abuse prevention program training
• Application of focus groups to understand the perceptions and attitudes of nurses on patient-centered care
• Exploring job satisfaction and workplace engagement among millennial nurses
• Barriers and facilitators of intersectoral cooperation to promote positive health behavior
• Ethical issues in qualitative research
• Examining the effects of the witnessed experiences of patient death during clinical practice on new student nurses
• Qualitative methodological considerations when conducting focus groups in neurodegenerative disease populations
• Understanding the role of gender differences within the barriers to smoking cessation and preferences for interventions in primary care
• Investigation of the impacts of social media bullying on mental health
• Evaluating the effects of medical tabards in reducing medical errors
• Strategies for empowering nurses to prescribe medications
• Role of technology in improving quality of care in nursing
• Impacts of discrimination and racism on nursing student admission
• The knowledge and understanding of the role of emergency nurses in recognizing and responding to patients with sepsis
• Lived experiences of women seeking a diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus
• Using poverty screening questions to predict social determinants of healthcare
• Management of antidepressant therapy induced sexual dysfunction in women

Quantitative Nursing Research Topics

• The link between the knowledge level of nurses and the quality of care
• Role of nurses in clinical research
• Association between nosocomial infections and adherence to hand hygiene protocols
• Role of nurses in caring for patients in ICU settings
• Role of nurses in increasing adherence to medication among elderly patients
• Using interviews to assess the level of awareness of stress coping mechanisms among nurses
• Importance of nurses' communication technique in clinical settings
• The impacts of clinical decisions support systems in clinical decision-making
• Role of nurses in providing healthcare to patients in rural areas
• Role of family practitioners in promoting family-centered care
• Causes of high nursing staff attrition rates
• Impacts of mindfulness meditation on stress and burnout in nurses

Trauma Nursing Research Topics

• Risk of vicarious trauma in nursing research
• Impacts of trauma-informed care on the holistic well-being of patients
• Risk factors for postoperative delirium
• Risk factors of perineal trauma during labor
• Impacts of virtual trauma-focused therapy for military veterans with PTSD
• Recognizing and managing poststroke depression
• Prevention of fracture-related infections using a multidisciplinary approach
• Best strategies for offering nursing care to children after a traumatic accident
• Role of trauma nurses in providing support to families of neurotrauma patients
• Management of injuries to the cervix in sexual trauma
• Benefits of fluid resuscitation of the adult trauma patients
• The involvement of nurses in improving compliance with tight blood glucose control in trauma ICU
• Caring for older people with dementia struggling to relieve past trauma
• Impacts of pediatric trauma on the health outcomes of children
• Causes and consequences of geriatric trauma
• Causes of under-detection of trauma in elderly adults involved in motor vehicle accidents
• Impacts of simulated multidisciplinary trauma team training on team performance
• Glucose interventions and outcomes in critically injured trauma patients
• Best education strategies for multi-trauma patients on discharge from the ED
• Strategies for managing hypovolemic shock
• Investigating the experience of patients of trauma resuscitation
• Role of family support on youths experiencing posttraumatic stress

Leadership Nursing Research Topics

• Best leadership styles for nurse educators
• Ethical leadership in nursing
• Role of nursing leadership in ensuring a healthy workforce in clinical settings
• Principles of strengths-based nursing leadership for strength-based nursing care
• Role of nursing leadership in the management of the mental health of nurses
• Benefits of collaborative leadership in nursing
• Application of charismatic and transformational leadership in clinical settings
• Benefits of trauma-informed nursing leadership
• Impacts of nursing leadership on patient outcomes
• Role of nurse leaders in maintaining cultural competency of nurses
• Benefits of nurses having personal leadership development plans
• Nurse leaders as managers in clinical settings
• Nursing leadership styles to help handle crises
• Application of situational leadership theory in clinical settings
• Role of nurse leaders in developing a shared vision
• Role of leaders in promoting cross-generational retention
• Strategies nurse leaders can use to enable staff engagement
• Role of nurse leaders in reducing incivility in the workplace
• Role of nurse leaders in enhancing patient safety
• The competence of black nurse leaders in clinical settings
• Role of nurse leaders in promoting workplace diversity
• Leadership styles and strategies to facilitate the implementation of clinical practice guidelines
• An integrated approach to change leadership in nursing
• Nurses ad leaders, and change advocates
• Impacts of nurse leadership on attrition rates of new nurses

Women's Health Nursing Topics

• Sleep disorders in women
• Prevalence of diabetes and obesity in women
• Infertility issues among obese women
• Binge eating disorder among women
• Stress and coping strategies for lonely older women after the death of a spouse
• Management of carpal tunnel syndrome in women
• The prevalence, diagnosis, and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis
• Effects of date rape drugs on the memory of women
• Emergency contraception in women
• Benefits of HPV vaccination in women
• Management and treatment of COPD in women
• Impacts of menopause on the physical and emotional well-being of women
• Benefits of educating women about Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
• Treatment and management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in women
• Prevalence and incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease in women
• Diagnosis, Causes and consequences, and Treatment and Management of Pelvic organ prolapse in women
• Impacts of sickle cell disease on women
• Causes and management of urine incontinence in women
• Offering primary healthcare services to lesbian women
• Management of vaginal yeast infections: A nursing care plan
• Prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of Trichomoniasis in women
• Diagnosis and treatment of Syphilis in women
• Management of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Management of postpartum depression in women
• Benefits of physical activity for women's health
• Benefits of mammograms in screening for breast cancer
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in women
• Causes and management of bladder pain syndrome or interstitial cystitis in women
• Diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women
• Causes and management of anxiety and insomnia in women
• Purpose, benefits, and risks of hypersectomy
• The time it takes to recover from laparoscopic hypersectomy
• Treatment of genital warts in women
• Treatment and management of Grave's diseases in women
• Impacts of caregiver stress syndrome on women
• Attitudes of black women on using contraceptives
• Factors and barriers to accessing insurance by black and minority women
• Healthcare challenges that women immigrants face
• Impacts of domestic violence on women's mental health
• Impacts of noncommunicable diseases on women
• Impacts of stigmatization and isolation of women with HIV/AIDS

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