NURS 998 - Nursing Advanced 'W'

This paper is a literature review of 5 or more articles. This scope and scale defines the size of a topic that will work. The topic should be specific and complex, but not so broad that the question cannot be answered with only 5-6 articles. 

Remember when choosing a topic and searching for articles that the focus is on a nursing problem or a nursing question. Avoid the temptation of settling on a medical topic that is not in the scope of a nurse's work.

When struggling to find articles, it may be an indication that this topic needs to be refined or tweaked. This is an excellent time to reach out to a faculty mentor or librarian for direction and clarity. For independent work, consider if the current topic is too broad or too narrow and how to move forward.

Questions to ask if a topic is too broad

• Is there a more specific patient population?
• Is there a specific therapy, treatment, or intervention?
• Is there a specific setting?
• How can this be more focused on nursing?

Questions to ask if it is too narrow

• Can another therapy or approach be compared?
• Is this part of a slightly bigger picture?
• Should a larger patient population be explored?
• Do the setting and patient population make sense?
• Is it appropriate to research the opposite (e.g. healthiest and least healthy diet for type 2 diabetes)

Try searching one of the following to see potential directions.

Cochrane Database--while these articles could only be used in the background section of your Advanced W paper, this is a good place to see the latest in nursing and health research. Try searching for a specialty, setting, or intervention to see what ideas are out there.

Google Scholar --this is a trickier place to search because Google Scholar is searching everything. Be sure to add nursing specifics to your search

nursing intervention AND pediatrics
nursing intervention AND pain
nurse-led education

This strategy involves choosing a nursing organization and paging through their most recent issue, blogs, or conference session list to find inspiration. Try some of the following or use Google to find a nursing organization relevant to your interests.

The following are topics that students have chosen in the past:

1. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses issues (QSEN)
2. AHRQ or Quality-safety issues (fall risk, medication errors)
3. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as it pertains to nursing
4. NINR objectives, National Insititue of Nursing Research, especially gerontology
5. Patient Safety Goals from The Joint Commission
6. The Joint Commission Core Measures
7. Professional nursing practice issues ANA Nursing World 
8. Major causes of morbidity and mortality as they pertain to nursing
9. Palliative care or end of life issues as they pertain to nursing
10. One of the "Objectives for the Nation" from the Nation from Healthy People 2020 as it pertains to nursing