nursing research topics on mental health

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35+ research topics on mental health nursing: fostering wellbeing in psychiatric care, carla johnson.

• August 24, 2023
• Essay Topics and Ideas

Mental health nursing is a critical pillar in nurturing the overall wellness of individuals grappling with psychiatric conditions. Aspiring nursing students, comprehending the nuances of mental health nursing is not only pivotal for your academic voyage but also your future professional practice. In this comprehensive guide, we delve profoundly into mental health nursing. We will explore a range of PICOT questions, propose ideas for evidence-based practice (EBP) projects, furnish you with capstone project ideas, offer a spectrum of research paper topics, present a compilation of research questions, and provide several essay topic concepts. All these facets are intended to equip you holistically for this indispensable domain.

What You'll Learn

Understanding the Essence of Mental Health Nursing

Mental health nursing entails the compassionate care and unwavering support extended to individuals traversing the challenges of mental health issues. The role of a mental health nurse transcends the confines of conventional medical care , encompassing therapeutic communication, emotional bolstering, and fostering an environment conducive to healing. Mental health nurses operate in a myriad of settings including hospitals, community health centers, and outpatient clinics, playing an instrumental role in shaping the lives of their patients.

PICOT Questions on Mental Health Nursing

• Population (P): Adults under psychiatric care ; Intervention (I): Integration of daily RS questionnaire; Comparison (C): Units without daily survey; Outcome (O): Decreased employment of restraint and seclusion; Time (T): 6 months. How does the incorporation of a daily RS (Restraint and Seclusion) questionnaire for adults in psychiatric care, compared to units lacking this daily survey, impact the reduction in the utilization of restraint and seclusion for 6 months?
• P: Adolescents with depressive disorders ; I: Implementation of mindfulness-based intervention; C: Standard therapeutic approach; O: Mitigation of depressive symptoms; T: 8 weeks. Among adolescents diagnosed with depressive disorders, what is the effect of incorporating a mindfulness-based intervention, compared to standard therapy, on alleviating depressive symptoms over an 8-week period?
• P: Elderly residents in long-term care facilities; I: Deployment of pet therapy ; C: Absence of pet therapy; O: Enhancement of mood and social interaction; T: 3 months. In elderly individuals residing within long-term care facilities, does the introduction of pet therapy, as opposed to its absence, result in a noticeable improvement in mood and social interaction over a course of 3 months?
• P: Individuals grappling with schizophrenia ; I: Integration of family psychoeducation; C: Standard care regimen; O: Diminished recurrence rate of episodes; T: 1 year. For individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, does the inclusion of family psychoeducation within their treatment plan, when compared to standard care, lead to a reduction in the frequency of relapses over a 1-year period?
• P: Veterans afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); I: Employment of virtual reality exposure therapy; C: Conventional therapeutic methods; O: Reduction in symptoms of PTSD; T: 10 sessions. In veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), does the utilization of virtual reality exposure therapy result in a more pronounced reduction in PTSD symptoms, when contrasted with conventional therapy, across a span of 10 sessions?
• P: Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); I: Incorporation of equine-assisted therapy; C: Standard interventions; O: Amplification of social skills; T: 12 weeks. Among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), does participation in equine-assisted therapy yield an advancement in social skills, in comparison to standard interventions, over a duration of 12 weeks?
• P: Inpatient populace with bipolar disorder ; I: Introduction of a mood tracking application; C: Conventional mood charting techniques; O: Attainment of superior mood stability; T: 6 months. Within inpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder, does the utilization of a mood tracking application for monitoring moods contribute to enhanced mood stability in comparison to conventional mood charting over a span of 6 months?
• P: Individuals contending with eating disorders; I: Application of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT); C: Provision of supportive counseling; O: Reduction in maladaptive eating behaviors; T: 16 sessions. For individuals grappling with eating disorders, does the implementation of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) yield a more substantial reduction in maladaptive eating behaviors, when contrasted with supportive counseling, over 16 sessions?
• P: Patients undergoing substance abuse treatment; I: Integration of music therapy; C: Absence of music therapy; O: Mitigation of anxiety and cravings; T: 8 weeks. Among patients undergoing substance abuse treatment, does engagement in music therapy contribute to a reduction in anxiety and cravings, in comparison to those without exposure to music therapy, over a duration of 8 weeks?
• P: Senior residents of assisted living facilities; I: Implementation of reminiscence therapy; C: Participation in routine activities; O: Elevation in cognitive functioning; T: 3 months.

In senior individuals residing in assisted living facilities, does involvement in reminiscence therapy lead to an improvement in cognitive functioning when juxtaposed with engagement in routine activities across a span of 3 months?

5 EBP Projects on Mental Health Nursing

• Appraising the Efficacy of Art Therapy in Alleviating Anxiety Among Schizophrenia Patients.
• Probing the Influence of Exercise Interventions on Bipolar Disorder Patients’ Depressive Symptoms.
• Unpacking Aromatherapy’s Role in Managing Agitation Among Dementia Patients.
• Evaluating Peer Support Groups’ Contribution to Borderline Personality Disorder Recovery.
• Analyzing Virtual Support Networks’ Role in Mitigating Adolescent Social Anxiety Isolation.

Engaging Capstone Projects on Mental Health Nursing

• Forging a Mental Health Awareness Campaign to Combat Stigma Surrounding Help-Seeking in High Schools.
• Devising an Inclusive Training Module for Nurses Enhancing Communication with Psychosis Patients.
• Crafting a Manual to Empower Families in Supporting Loved Ones with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
• Establishing a Mindfulness Program for Psychiatric Hospital Personnel to Counter Burnout.
• Designing a Transitional Care Blueprint for Smooth Community Reintegration of Severe Mental Illness Patients Post-Hospitalization.

Research Paper Topics on Mental Health Nursing

• Examining the Role of Trauma-Informed Care in Enhancing Recovery for Domestic Violence Survivors with PTSD.
• Delving into the Nexus Between Childhood Trauma and the Emergence of Dissociative Identity Disorder.
• Surveying the Impact of Sleep Quality on College Students’ Mental Health : A Systematic Review.
• Assessing Telepsychiatry’s Efficacy in Extending Mental Health Services to Rural Regions.
• Navigating Cultural Competency in the Assessment and Treatment of Diverse Depression Patients.

Mental Health Nursing Research Questions

• How Does Early Intervention in Childhood Emotional Dysregulation Shape Mood Disorder Onset in Adulthood?
• What Are the Challenges to Adherence to Medication Among Schizophrenia Patients, and How Can Nursing Strategies Address Them?
• What Is the Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Initiatives on Psychiatric Nurses’ Stress Levels?
• What Factors Contribute to the Overrepresentation of Marginalized Individuals with Coexisting Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System?
• What Are the Long-Term Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) on Memory and Cognitive Function in Severe Depression Patients?

Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

• Ethical Conundrums in Administering Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
• Exploring the Nexus Between Trauma and Substance Abuse in Individuals with Dual Diagnoses.
• Nurses’ Role in Preventing Suicides: Assessing Risk and Providing Support.
• Cultural Proficiency in Mental Health Nursing: Catering to Multifaceted Patient Requirements.
• COVID-19’s Ripples on Healthcare Providers’ Mental Health: Coping Strategies Amid Challenges.

As you immerse yourself in the tapestry of mental health nursing, myriad opportunities unfold for your contributions to research, evidence-based practices, and compassionate patient care. These PICOT questions, EBP project suggestions, capstone project proposals, research paper topics, research questions, and essay themes constitute the foundation of your journey. Each endeavor you undertake to deepen your comprehension and skills in mental health nursing brings you closer to making a profound difference in the lives entrusted to your care. Should you need additional guidance when crafting essays, research papers, or any scholastic composition related to nursing and mental health, do not hesitate to seek professional aid. Our writing services are tailored to support your academic growth and triumph, ensuring your valuable contributions to mental health nursing are eloquently conveyed and impactful.

• What are the 4 principles of mental health nursing?

The four principles of mental health nursing are: therapeutic relationships, holistic care, patient-centeredness, and evidence-based practice. These principles guide nurses in providing comprehensive and effective care to individuals with mental health conditions.

• What is the role of a nurse in mental health treatment?

Nurses in mental health treatment play a pivotal role in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care for patients with mental health issues. They provide therapeutic support, administer medications, conduct psychoeducation, and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to promote recovery.

• What are the different types of mental health nurses?

Different types of mental health nurses include psychiatric-mental health nurses, advanced practice psychiatric nurses, child and adolescent mental health nurses, and geriatric mental health nurses. These specialized nurses cater to diverse patient populations and address specific mental health challenges.

• What are the 6 C’s in mental health nursing?

The 6 C’s in mental health nursing stand for Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, and Commitment. These core values guide mental health nurses in delivering compassionate and effective care to individuals facing mental health issues.

Mental health nursing stands as a critical pillar in nurturing the overall wellness of individuals grappling with psychiatric conditions. Aspiring nursing students, comprehending the nuances of mental health nursing is not only pivotal for your academic voyage but also for your future professional practice. In this comprehensive guide, we delve profoundly into the realm of mental health nursing. We will explore a range of PICOT questions, propose ideas for evidence-based practice (EBP) projects, furnish you with capstone project ideas, offer a spectrum of research paper topics, present a compilation of research questions, and provide a plethora of essay topic concepts. All these facets are intended to equip you holistically for this indispensable domain.

Mental health nursing entails the compassionate care and unwavering support extended to individuals traversing the challenges of mental health issues. The role of a mental health nurse transcends the confines of conventional medical care, encompassing therapeutic communication, emotional bolstering, and fostering an environment conducive to healing. Mental health nurses operate in a myriad of settings including hospitals, community health centers, and outpatient clinics, playing an instrumental role in shaping the lives of their patients.

• Population (P): Adults under psychiatric care; Intervention (I): Integration of daily RS questionnaire; Comparison (C): Units without daily survey; Outcome (O): Decreased employment of restraint and seclusion; Time (T): 6 months. How does the incorporation of a daily RS (Restraint and Seclusion) questionnaire for adults in psychiatric care, compared to units lacking this daily survey, impact the reduction in the utilization of restraint and seclusion over a span of 6 months?
• P: Adolescents with depressive disorders; I: Implementation of mindfulness-based intervention; C: Standard therapeutic approach; O: Mitigation of depressive symptoms; T: 8 weeks. Among adolescents diagnosed with depressive disorders, what is the effect of incorporating a mindfulness-based intervention, in comparison to standard therapy, on the alleviation of depressive symptoms over an 8-week period?
• P: Elderly residents in long-term care facilities; I: Deployment of pet therapy; C: Absence of pet therapy; O: Enhancement of mood and social interaction; T: 3 months. In elderly individuals residing within long-term care facilities, does the introduction of pet therapy, as opposed to its absence, result in a noticeable improvement in mood and social interaction over a course of 3 months?
• P: Individuals grappling with schizophrenia; I: Integration of family psychoeducation; C: Standard care regimen; O: Diminished recurrence rate of episodes; T: 1 year. For individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, does the inclusion of family psychoeducation within their treatment plan, when compared to standard care, lead to a reduction in the frequency of relapses over a 1-year period?
• P: Inpatient populace with bipolar disorder; I: Introduction of a mood tracking application; C: Conventional mood charting techniques; O: Attainment of superior mood stability; T: 6 months. Within inpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder, does the utilization of a mood tracking application for monitoring moods contribute to enhanced mood stability in comparison to conventional mood charting over a span of 6 months?
• Surveying the Impact of Sleep Quality on College Students’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review.

As you immerse yourself in the tapestry of mental health nursing, myriad opportunities unfold for your contributions to research, evidence-based practices, and compassionate patient care. These PICOT questions, EBP project suggestions, capstone project proposals, research paper topics, research questions, and essay themes constitute the foundation of your journey. Each endeavor you undertake to deepen your comprehension and skills in mental health nursing brings you closer to making a profound difference in the lives entrusted to your care. Should you find yourself in need of additional guidance when crafting essays, research papers, or any scholastic composition related to nursing and mental health, do not hesitate to seek professional aid. Our writing services are tailored to support your academic growth and triumph, ensuring your valuable contributions to the realm of mental health nursing are eloquently conveyed and impactful.

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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.

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Research Topics & Ideas: Nursing

50+ Nursing Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a nursing-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of nursing-related research ideas and topic thought-starters, including general nursing, medical-surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, obstetrics and gynaecological nursing, ICU and mental health nursing.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the nursing domain. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. In it, we cover the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from start to end. Be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic. 

Overview: Nursing Research Topics

• General nursing-related topics
• Medical-surgical nursing
• Pediatric nursing
• Obstetrics and gynaecological nursing
• ICU nursing
• Mental health nursing

General Nursing Research Topics & Ideas

• The impact of cultural competence on patient care in the UK
• The importance of evidence-based practice in nursing for patients with HIV/AIDS
• The effects of workplace stress on nurse well-being and performance
• The role of nurse-patient communication for patients transitioning from adolescent to adult care
• The impact of technology on nursing practice and patient outcomes
• The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare for the rehabilitation of patients post-surgery
• The effects of fatigue on nurse performance in the emergency room
• The impact of nurse staffing levels on patient outcomes in rural areas
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in managing chronic conditions: a case study of diabetes
• The impact of patient-centred care on health outcomes for the elderly
• The importance of patient safety in nursing: bedside nurse vigilance
• The effects of empathy and compassion in critical care nursing
• The role of nursing in disaster preparedness and response: a case study of the Haiti earthquake of 2021
• The impact of the level of nursing education on patient outcomes
• The importance of ethical considerations in frail care nursing practice

Topics & Ideas: Medical-Surgical Nursing

• The impact of bedside care on patient outcomes in medical-surgical units
• The role of the nurse in managing post-operative patient pain
• The effects of nurse-patient ratios on patient outcomes in medical-surgical units
• A systematic review of different approaches to patient education in medical-surgical units
• The relationship between nurse-patient communication and patient satisfaction in medical-surgical units: perspectives and recommendations to improving patient satisfaction

Topics & Ideas: Pediatrics Nursing

• The impact of family-centered care on pediatric patient outcomes with sickle cell anemia
• The role of nursing interventions in promoting developmental and behavioral health in pediatric patients
• The effects of play therapy on anxiety and pain in pediatric patients during hospitilisation
• A systematic review of different approaches to pain management in pediatric cancer patients
• The relationship between parent involvement and post-operative patient outcomes in pediatric units

Ideas: Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing

• The impact of nurse-led prenatal care on maternal and fetal outcomes in African American communities
• The role of the nurse in promoting sexual and reproductive health for women in the UK
• The effects of midwifery care on maternal satisfaction of primiparous women and birth outcomes
• A comparative study of different approaches to childbirth education for expectant mothers and partners: perceptions of control
• The relationship between lactation support and breastfeeding success of primiparous women

Topics & Ideas: ICU Nursing

• The impact of nursing interventions on patient outcomes in intensive care units in a developing country
• The role of the nurse in managing palliative and end-of-life care in the ICU
• The effects of family presence on patient outcomes and satisfaction in the ICU: A systematic review of the literature
• A comparative study of different approaches to pain management for trauma patients in the ICU
• The relationship between nurse-patient communication and geriatric patient outcomes in ICU

Topics & Ideas: Mental Health Nursing

• The impact of nurse-led therapy on adolescent patient outcomes in mental health settings
• The role of the nurse in promoting recovery and resiliency in mental health patients through group interventions
• The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on stress and anxiety in mental health patients: A systematic literature review
• A comparative study of the role of nurses in applying different approaches to patient education in mental health settings
• The association between nurse-patient therapeutic alliance and patient outcomes in mental health settings

Nursing Dissertation & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a nursing-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various nursing-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Nursing Workload and Interventions of Licensed Nurses in Nursing Homes: An Observational Time and Motion Study (Kang, 2021)
• Missed Nursing Care: Accounting for Education, Experience, and Job Satisfaction in Registered Nurses (Bechard, 2021)
• Examining Predictors of Attitudes and Knowledge of Registered Nurses and Nursing Students in Tennessee toward Pregnant and Perinatal Women with a Substance Use Disorder (Patrylo, 2021)
• A Program Evaluation of the Organizational Readiness for Pathway to Excellence at Two Community Hospitals  (Behling, 2021)
• The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic Policy Decisions on the Wellbeing of Nursing Home Residents in Missouri (White, 2022)
• Battling A Parallel Pandemic: An Evaluation of Sustainable System-Level Nursing Support in Response To COVID-19 (Gifford, 2022)
• Holistic Nursing Process Maps: a Tool for Student Nurses to Operationalize the Nursing Process to Increase Clinical Reasoning (Reyes, 2022)
• Satisfaction and Work-Life Balance in Undergraduate Nursing Faculty: A Mixed-Methods Study (Crawford, 2021)
• The Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on the Stress, Anxiety, Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion Levels of Nursing Students (Heinrich, 2022)
• Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Case Studies in Undergraduate Nursing Students (Becnel, 2022)
• A Telehealth Simulation Experiment: Exploring Prebriefing (Owen, 2022)
• Perceptions of Lateral Violence Among Vocational Nursing Students, Associate Degree Nursing Students, and Bachelor’s Degree Nursing Students (Martha, 2022)
• Nurse Educators’ Description of Ethics from a Disciplinary Perspective: A Qualitative Descriptive Research Study (Cuchetti, 2022)
• A Literature Review of the Relationship Between Oral Health and Pneumonia Risk in the Geriatric Nursing Home Population (Swift, 2021)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

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If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your nursing dissertation, thesis or research project, check out our private coaching services below.

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Mental Health Nursing Dissertation Topics

Published by Owen Ingram at January 3rd, 2023 , Revised On August 16, 2023

Are you passionate about helping others, especially those facing mental health challenges? If this is the case for you, then mental health nursing is a career choice you may want to pursue.

It can be challenging to work in the field of mental health nursing. The final year of the nursing undergraduate programme can be especially stressful because it involves completing a dissertation paper on a unique and interesting topic . Get a better understanding of mental health nursing, how it works, and how it can improve healthcare!

Similarly, Masters and PhD students of nursing and medicine must complete a research proposal and a thesis paper on a topic that really adds value to the research areas.

What Is Mental Health Nursing?

Nursing in mental health focuses on preventing, treating, and rehabilitating behavioural, emotional, and mental disorders. Nursing professionals work with patients to improve their emotional well-being by overcoming mental stress. Patients with mental illness or disorders are also guided throughout their recovery.

There are many different types of mental health nurses who work in hospitals, clinics, private practices, and residential facilities. As part of their responsibilities, they assess symptoms, administer medications, provide supportive care, collaborate with family members, and educate others about mental illness. Their treatment plans also involve psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other professionals.

Taking care of your patient’s mental health and making a difference in their lives is your responsibility as a mental health nurse.

Related Links

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• Critical Care Nursing Dissertation Topics
• Dementia Nursing Dissertation Topics
• Midwifery Dissertation Topics
• Palliative Care Nursing Dissertation Topics
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• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Nursing Dissertation Topics

Topic-1: Cognitive and emotional well-being

Research Aim: Finding out different ways to improve the cognitive and emotional well-being of people to solve the common mental health problems in the surrounding.

Topic-2: Eliminating mental illnesses

Research Aim: Encouraging better mental health by diagnosing the symptoms of mental health issues in the early stage to prevent severe circumstances later.

Topic-3: Providing specialized treatments

Research Aim: From anxiety, depression, and disorders to other mental health complexities, providing solutions to all types of mental health disorders, including pre-traumatic and post-traumatic issues.

Topic-4: Bipolar disorder

Research Aim: Explaining the symptoms, treatments, and procedures to soothe the common and impulsive mental health issues with solid behavior modification treatments.

Topic-5: Borderline personality disorder

Research Aim: Understanding the common borderline personality disorders and their effects on the mental health condition of different patients. Also, studying the unstable relationships with friends, family, and other associations and ways to improve it.

Topic-6: Dissociative disorders

Research Aim: Reviewing all the common causes of dissociative disorders and the primary care management to assess and intervene in different causes of the problem.

Topic-7: Disruptive and impulse-control disorders

Research Aim: Studying all the disruptive and impulsive-control disorders and their impact on the intermittent explosive condition and anti-social behavior of a person.

Topic-8: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Research Aim: A brief overview of ADHD to control the attention span of a person through different effective techniques and procedures.

Topic-9: Psychosocial mental health nursing

Research Aim: Studying theories to understand human nature better and the process of normal development based on their physical and mental health.

Topic-10: Mental health and psychiatric nursing

Research Aim: Exploring different types of mental illnesses and their treatments used to soothe the hyperactive condition of the patient.

Topic-11: Mental health educating

Research Aim: Educating everyone about the basic mental health problems and preventive measures to administer the condition of patients and to meet their varying mental health needs.

Topic-12: Providing different levels and quality of care to every patient

Research Aim: Studying the needs of every patient and providing care to solve different mental illnesses in a variety of ways helps tackle the problem calmly.

Topic-13: National and local mental health programs

Research Aim: Introducing different national and local mental health programs. Explaining their role in spreading awareness on the importance of mental health for individuals from different backgrounds.

Topic-14: Mental health checkups

Research Aim: Conveying the need for mental health checkups for individuals of all ages suffering from anxiety, stress, frustration, and other mental health issues.

Topic-15: Schizophrenia

Research Aim: Understanding the feelings of a patient suffering from schizophrenia and identifying its symptoms to curate the best and proper treatment for the stress cause.

Topic-16: Suicide prevention

Research Aim: Spreading awareness on suicide prevention, especially for young and adults with the help of telephone and physical counselling. Finding the causes of suicide in professional spaces to get rid of the suicidal thoughts as early as possible.

I/O Example

The number of people encountering poor mental health and related issues in their day-to-day lives is increasing, making mental health nursing a growing field in the healthcare industry. Those who are willing to work hard, be creative, and take risks in handling such patients can find many opportunities in this field.

Nurses in mental health are required to hold a bachelor’s degree, preferably a master’s degree. They also obtain additional training on dealing with people suffering from depression and different anxiety disorders.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mental health nurses’ demand will grow by 15% between 2014 and 2024. The need for nurses who specialize in this field will increase because of this growth rate.

Like other nursing jobs, mental health nursing pay depends on experience and education. The average salary for this career is $91,298 per year. According to a survey, salaries for mental health nurses can range from $71,485 to $129,837 per year, depending on their experience and education level.

There are still many challenges and rewards associated with a career in mental health nursing. Bringing peace to the lives of diverse people is a major part of the job. A flood of opportunities is always flowing your way as the field is constantly evolving. Take some time to research all of the nursing degree programs available before you make a decision.

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• Int J Community Based Nurs Midwifery
• v.8(1); 2020 Jan

Nursing Students’ Perceptions of Effective Factors on Mental Health: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Roghieh sodeify, phd.

1 Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran

Fatemah Moghaddam Tabrizi, PhD

2 Reproductive Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

Background:

Mental health is a fundamental and widespread concept with individual meanings. The purpose of this study is to perceive and clarify the factors influencing mental health from the perspectives of nursing students

The present qualitative study was conducted in Khoy, Iran from July-December 2018. Twenty nursing students were selected as the research participants through purposeful sampling method and interviewed using semi-structured in-depth interviews. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed with Graneheim and Lundman’s approach of conventional content analysis. The Trail version of the MAXQDA 10 software was applied to conduct the coding process

Data analysis revealed four themes and 12 sub-themes. The themes included feeling of self-worth, religious beliefs, socio-economic factors, and behavioral factors.

Conclusion:

The results showed that mental health in nursing students is a multidimensional phenomenon and is influenced by various factors. The current results could help the nurse educators to intervene and provide suitable, effective, practicable, and culture based mental health services and also help the nursing students achieve mental stability. Therefore, it is suggested that further qualitative and interventional studies should be conducted in this area

I NTRODUCTION

Mental health is one of the most important requirements of man and an important aspect of health. As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), health means full physical, mental and social well-being, and it doesn’t refer to the lack of illness or infirmity. 1 The central part of health is mental health because all health-related interactions are carried out mentally. 2 Health is a perceptual concept based on learning, values and beliefs of each individual who is influenced by the environment, family, and community. If the concept of health is understood abstractly, its effects in life will not be clear. 3

Several definitions of mental health have been made: lack of mental illness, emotional balance, social harmony, feeling of comfort, integrity of personality, self and environmental awareness, ability to play a social, physical and emotional role, ability to co-ordinate with others, modification and improvement of the individual and social environment, resolution of conflicts and personal preferences logically, fairly and appropriately, the ability to adapt to the normal stresses of life, and finally self management. The concept of mental health, according to the WHO, refers to a status beyond the absence of mental disorders and it includes mental well-being, self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, social relations, social communication, prosperity, and intellectual and emotional potentialities. 4 , 5

Many factors affect mental health. Researchers consider reasons such as personality structures and cognitive and attitudinal components such as hope, optimism, empathy, affiliation, forgiveness, religion and spirituality in the stability of a sense of well-being and health. 6 , 7 Studies have shown that those with a high psychological well-being also have a better physical health. These people are generally happy, optimistic, and positive, and have emotional stability, self-esteem, and high self-efficacy. High mental health is positively associated with the logical perception of others and negatively associated with suicidal ideation, unprofessional behavior and burnout. 8

The results of many studies in and out the country (IRAN) show that nursing students have lower general and mental health than other health related disciplines and non-medical students. 9 , 10 In fact, nursing education does not create a suitable environment for nursing students. According to the nursing education curriculum, nursing students, in addition to learning theoretical courses, are placed in various clinical settings to acquire knowledge, skills and clinical judgment to achieve professional competence. 9 During this period, they experience stressful events that affect their personal and professionals life. 11 Some previous researches in this area also revealed that stressors which affected the students’ mental health were related to academic training. The most common stressors included ‘stress experience in the educational environment’, ‘relationships at work’, ‘issues of death and suffering, ‘inadequate knowledge and training’, ‘insufficient hospital resources’, and ‘communication and procedural aspects of client care’. 12

The consequences of a meta-analysis study in Iran during a 23-year period between 1991 and 2015 showed that the prevalence of mental disorders among students in Iran using random models was 33%. Unfortunately, the prevalence rate showed an increasing rate over time while in other countries this rate was below 20%. 13 Previous studies conducted in United States, Iran, Singapour, India, and Malaysia showed that mental health issues are a growing concern among college student 14 , 15 and depression, alcohol use, stress, low sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and anxiety are major mental health problems among nursing students. 8 , 16 The results of another study which assessed the general health of nursing and other health related disciplines students indicated that mental disorders were observed 19.5%. 17 Findings of some studies showed that a very small percentage of nursing students had a good status of happiness as an indicator of the mental health. Happiness was claimed to be essential in developing nursing students as future nurses since happy nurses are more energetic, creative, successful, sociable, and more interested in caring. 18 , 19 In general, the results of most empirical research indicate that nursing students are at a relatively poor level of mental health which could have undesirable personal and professional consequences. 4 , 8 , 9 In fact, major changes in the social, family, and personal life of the nursing students and experience of traumatic events in various clinical setting can lead to some psychological problems. Considering the fact that young people and university students include more than one third of the whole population of Iran, it is important to be aware of their perceptions of the factors affecting mental health. Nursing educators are always concerned about the knowledge and skills of nursing students. One of the obstacles in this regard is mental health problems. Therefore, the researchers tried to get deeper understanding about the factors affecting nursing students’ mental health. Regarding the fact that mental health is formed in the socio-cultural context and due to low knowledge about the mental health of nursing students, the researchers decided to use nursing students’ own experiences to discover and deeply understand this phenomenon. Thus, they chose the qualitative content analysis method to perceive and clarify the factors influencing mental health from the perspectives of nursing students.

M ATERIAL AND M ETHODS

The present qualitative study using content analysis approach was conducted in Khoy, Iran during July-December 2018. In accordance with qualitative research, sampling was started with purposeful method and done with theoretical sampling with maximum variation. In the purposeful sampling, the researcher is looking for those who have a rich experience of the phenomena under the study and have the ability and desire to express it. 20

The participants in this study were 20 nursing students who were studying at Khoy Medical Science University, Iran. The inclusion criteria for the study were having at least one semester of university experience and willingness to express their own experiences. Exclusion criteria for the study were having a mental or physical illness during the previous year based on the participants’ own self report.

Data collection was done through in-depth semi-structured interviews. The time and place of the interviews were agreed upon by the parties and they were conducted in a private class at the university by the first author. In the first instance, the researcher initially referred to the participants and presented the purpose of the research and if they were willing to participate in the research, an interview was scheduled. The open questions were designed as an interview guide to provide an open and interpretative response and follow-up questions were asked after the interviewees’ responses. The general question in all interviews was: When do you feel you have mental health and when not? Which factors increase or decrease your mental health? As the interview went on, more detailed questions were asked about the influential factors (inhibitors or facilitators) expressed by the participants. The duration of interviews varied from 30-50 minutes. The guiding principle in the sampling of qualitative research is the saturation of the data to the extent that no new data is obtained. 20 In general, 20 interviews were conducted with 20 students to achieve theoretical saturation. No new data or concept was obtained after analyzing the last (18th) interviews. However, two more interviews were conducted to ensure data saturation. Data analysis process was carried out continuously and concurrently with data collection.

Interviews were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s (2004) conventional content analysis guidelines. 21 (i) The recorded interviews were transcribed (ii) The researchers listened to the recordings and reviewed the transcripts several times to find the meaning units. (iii) The meaning units from the statements of the participants were extracted in the form of initial codes. (iv) Codes were categorized according to the conceptual similarities to be minimized. (v) This trend continued across all the analysis units until themes and subthemes emerged. Each interview was recorded and typed in MAXQDA software, version 10.

Guba and Lincoln’s criteria were used to assure the trustworthiness and rigor of the data. Credibility was achieved by reviewing the transcripts by participants themselves and using their complementary ideas as well as the prolonged engagement of the researchers with the data. For conformability, peer examination was done on the process of the work and research findings. For transferability, an extensive description of details regarding the methodology and context was included and sampling was done purposively. And finally for dependability, all accomplished activities were recorded precisely from the first step of the study. 22

This study was approved by the research ethic committee of Khoy Medical University (IR.KHOY.REC.1398.005). Written informed consent was signed by all participants. They were made aware of ethical, confidentiality (anonymity in publishing) and voluntary participation principles and recording of their interviews.

The participants in the study were in the age range of 20-24 years. They were 12 female and 8 male undergraduate nursing students from different semesters ( Table 1 ). The analysis of the findings from the interview resulted in the extraction of four themes. They were classified as: feeling of self-worth, religious beliefs, socio-economic factors, and behavioral factors. ( Table 2 ).

Demographic characteristics of the participants

Themes and sub-themes extracted from the interviews

Theme 1: Feeling of Self-Worth

Throughout the interviews, nursing students with various statements tried to express this important theme that their mental health is influenced by factors affecting their feeling of self- worth, and as long as students have a positive perception of themselves, their mental well-being will increase. The components of the feeling of self-worth in this study include: ‘confirmation’, ‘success’, ‘autonomy’, ‘self-acceptance’, and ‘hope’ that are discussed in detail below. In fact, students described in a variety of ways how to gain feeling of self-worth for mental health.

1.a. Confirmation

Participants believed that when they received positive feedback from others and were confirmed, they were both satisfied and mentally health.

“People around you have a lot of influence. For example, when your parents accept, care about, and listen to you well, you feel quite well off, but when they say come on, forget it, and she’s really young, you feel worthless and upset” .(p.4)

1.b. Success

Most participants say that they feel relaxed when they feel successful or have a successful experience of overcoming problems.

“I think mental health is a sense of success. When your work is done successfully, it has a good effect on your minds. Imagine you are in charge of a task and you are just cutting the mustard” .(p.18)

“When you fulfill your colleagues’ expectations and reach the required standard, you feel relaxed” .(p.10)

1.c. Autonomy

Participants said that they had psychologically good feelings when parents or relatives did not create a constraint for them, or when they felt independent and were able to manage their own affairs a and make decisions or once others respected their decisions, they were emotionally well-off. But when faced with resistance, they did not experience a good psychological feeling.

“I feel psychologically healthy when I am independent in my own work and decide for myself. We youth need to be free, we need to think independently” .(p.10)

“When my friends and acquaintance give me power and freedom and respect my decision, I feel psychologically healthy” .(p.5)

1.d. Self-acceptance

Participants thought someone as a healthy person if s/he values himself and accepts him/herself with all the weaknesses and abilities.

“To have mental health, first of all, one needs to accept herself/himself, I value my own self. I accept myself as I am” . (p.15)

Participants believed that having hope for the future was also the key to health. They expressed hope as a driving force behind the development of mental health.

“When you have the hope of life, you are healthy; that is, there is something that pushes you forward” .(p.8)

Theme 2: Religious Beliefs

Another extracted theme of the study was religious beliefs. This theme consisted of ‘participating in religious ceremonies’ and ‘reciting the holy Quran and other religious books’.

2. A. Participating in religious ceremonies

Students asserted that participating in religious ceremonies, praying and asking God to provide help to meet their needs, help them overcome the problems and make them feel calm and relaxed.

“When I attend religious ceremonies, I feel well at the time” . (p. 3)

2.b. Reciting the holy Quran and other religious books

Students stated that they were turning to religious books when they felt lonely, depressed and troubled, and thus became mentally relaxed.

“Whenever I feel depressed or bored, either physically or mentally, I prefer to recite the holy Quran or pray. It helps me feel calm” .(p.5)

“I don’t feel lonely by reciting the holy Quran and thinking about God” .(p.7)

Theme 3: Socio-Economic Factors

Socio-economic factors were one of the most important and influential experiences in the mental health. This theme consisted of ‘social support’ and ‘economical support’.

3. a. Social Support

Students expressed that when they had a sense of family support and had suitable social relationships, such as the ability to communicate with parents, family, friends or university teachers, they felt mentally relaxed, and vice versa. This information empowered them.

“When your family understands you, you feel happy, but sometimes they cause you feel disappointed and depressed. Sometimes, they don’t live up to your expectations” .(p.6)

“My parents always remind me to inform them if any problem occurs, and I always do it. When I keep them posted on how my works go on, I feel mentally relaxed” .(p.17)

“When I’m getting along with my friends well, I feel mentally relaxed but when it is hard to get along with them or dispute a problem with them, I feel bored and tired” .(p.5)

“When I don’t behave like my friends, they often reject me or taunt me. They are the reasons to drive me up the wall” .(p.15)

“When you are in an environment where you feel you have a supporter, for example, a professor who can help you solve your problems, you can tolerate everything and you feel mentally sound” .(p.10)

3. b. Economical support

Students expressed that having at least the financial resources and having fun with their friends made them feel happy and ultimately mentally healthy. But they did not feel happy when they themselves had to work to meet their own education costs and when there was no possibility of having fun because of financial problems.

“Nowadays, being well off can calm you down mentally. When you have some money to have fun with, then you’re happy” .(p.13)

“It makes you upset when the prospects for the job are unclear or when you’re not sure what the future holds” .(p.18)

“When you have to work hard to help fund your studies, when you cannot go out and have fun with your friends, when you cannot dip into your own pocket, it is then that you feel small and humiliated” .(p.20)

Theme 4: Behavioral Factors

This theme includes the following sub-themes of disengagement, exercise, and balanced use of social networks. During the interviews, students often pointed to the role of these factors in mental health. According to the expressed experiences, nursing students described some behavioral factors in maintaining mental health and reducing their stress. They struggled to gain psychological stability by refraining from encounter with problems, physical and sports activities, which were often irregular, and also having self-control over the use of cyberspace.

4.a. Disengagement

Most participants stated that they were not involved in problems to maintain mental peace. They used ineffective mechanisms to solve problems such as avoidance and escape from problems.

“There are so many problems to which I do not want to think about. I try to avoid problems myself” .(p.15)

4.b. Physical exercise

Participants expressed that by exercising; they reduced their mental conflicts and experienced a sense of mental relaxation.

“The days I exercise myself or go to the gym, I feel happier. It makes me get rid of some intrusive thoughts. It helps you forget your daily problems for a few hours” .(p.13)

4. c. Balanced use of social networks

Another factor that participants felt to be effective in the sense of mental health was the balanced use of social networks and believed that excessive use of it caused anger and nervousness.

“I have a roommate who is always head over heels for social media. When you talk to her, she starts shouting and fighting. It has made her very nervous” .(p.7)

D ISCUSSION

The results of this study showed that there are many factors influencing the students’ perceptions of mental health. Data analysis revealed four themes and twelve sub-themes. The four themes were classified as: Feeling of self-worth, religious beliefs, socio-economic factors, and behavioral factors.

The feeling of self-worth theme included the five sub-themes of ‘confirmation’, ‘success’, ‘autonomy’, ‘self-acceptance’, and ‘hope’. Participants believed that when they received positive feedback from others and were confirmed, or when they were trying to succeed, or when they felt more autonomous, highly self-confident, ‘self-acceptance’, and hopeful, they found a positive perception of themselves, and this contributed to their mental well-being. Findings of some studies showed that there was a significant reverse correlation between self-reported stress and self-acceptance. This finding emphasized the importance of creating a sense of positive self-perception and self-confidence among nursing students to improve their mental health. Indeed, self-confidence in nursing students was considered as a buffer and protective shield in the face of stress and prevented mental disorder. Thus, the nursing students who have a sense of self-esteem have a high ability to communicate and can play an effective role in the development of the profession, handle fatigue and pressure, and positively impact the interpersonal relationships, quality of care, and job satisfaction. 23 , 24

The participants in the present study considered autonomy as an effective factor in creating positive sense of self-worth and in achieving mental well-being. The findings of this study are in line with those of a research done in Iranian context in which the researchers studied the concept of health in adolescents’ point of views. They expressed that autonomy and sense of independence is another key factor affecting health. They also continued that preventing adolescents and young people’s access to independence and posing unfair and undeserved restrictions for them can lead to some unsatisfactory consequences such as depression, hiding, urging, recklessness and immorality (night party, runaway, cigarette smoking, and addiction) and double dealing. 25

Another key sub-theme of the study was ‘hope’. The findings of the present study showed that those nursing students who had hope for the future had a better psychological feeling. Findings of a study conducted in Turkey reveled that university students have some negative mental states such as hopelessness and suicidal behavior. Their findings suggest that there are significant correlations among life satisfaction, hope, and mental health. 26 In fact, having self acceptance and positive self-image can act as a social protection factor against stress and anxiety. Those who feel good about themselves and are more confident also have a good sense of life and can successfully face problems and are able to handle them easily. Hope also makes life meaningful. It prevents us from mental breakdown and protects us from harmful situations. 6 In sum, it is argued that self-acceptance has been inversely associated with depressive symptoms, anxious symptomatology, and disruptive behaviors.

Another important theme of the research was religious beliefs. Participants stated that they felt mentally healthy when they participated in religious ceremonies. We know different religions have different beliefs. Several studies have shown a reciprocal relationship between different religious beliefs and mental health. The findings of research in Hindu system of beliefs showed that there was a significant negative correlation between the components of religious commitment, beliefs, and emotions, and components of general health (physical complaints, anxiety, depression and social dysfunction). They also proved that religion had a protective and supportive role for teenagers. 27 Another study conducted in Iranian context revealed that religiosity attitude was considered as a main factor affecting self-esteem and psychological hardiness and could promote psychological well-being. 28 Hence, institutionalizing of this religious teaching, trust in God, by health service developers and planners seems to be necessary in confronting the disruptive factors in mental health.

Another theme was socio-economic factors Participants in the present study described their mental health with various statements. Receiving emotional and spiritual support from family, friends, and university professors and their proper relationships, their empathy and verbal attention helped the students’ mental health. Indeed social support gives students a perception of being loved, cared, respected, and belonging to communication network. The results of the present study are in line with those reported in other studies. 29 , 30 In the present study, poor economic conditions had negative effects on the students’ perception of mental health. Economic deprivation, lack of a bright futures, and unemployment were regarded as mental and annoying concern which was affecting the mental health of the majority of participants. Generally, poor mental health is related to poor economic conditions. WHO states that mental health is determined by socio-economic and environmental factors, and economic crisis is likely to negatively affect the mental health. 31 Another study also mentioned that economic crisis can be associated with a higher use of prescription medications and an increase in hospitalization for mental disorders. 32

The last theme extracted from the study was behavioral factors. Participants stated that they do some behaviors such as disengagement, physical exercise, and use of social networks to relive stress.

Disengagement from problems is an avoiding and ineffective strategy to deal with stress. Therefore, it is necessary to provide students with the necessary training on effective coping strategies. Some studies have reported adverse coping strategies such as drinking alcohol, smoking, and waterpipe. 33 , 34 Participants in this study did not state the use of these materials perhaps because of the embarrassment and unfavorable views toward those who consume these materials in Iranian Islamic culture. In a qualitative study conducted in Malaysia, students showed that they used effective adaptive strategies and did not use undesirable behaviors. 35

In this study, nursing students expressed exercise and physical activities as another type of solution or strategy to achieve mental health. Although these activities were carried out irregularly and restrictively, they were described as useful in reducing daily stress. The results of a study in this area showed that increased physical activity which has been associated with life satisfaction, happiness, and positive attitude toward life can lead to the promotion of physical and mental health. 36

The balanced use of social networks was another subtheme of the study. Students argued that the high use of cyberspace or social networks has harmful effects on the nerves .Internet addiction and its association with mental distress can impact their academic achievement and long term career goals among medical students. Internet addiction would also indirectly impact the community of health care professionals and the society. There was a significant relationship between the student internet addiction and anxiety symptoms. 37 The results of another study showed that severe prevalence of internet addiction among nursing students was associated with poor mental health and depression without any impact on academic performance. 38

The strength of this study is that it increases our knowledge of the factors affecting the mental health of nursing students as a qualitative study conducted for the first time in Iran. However, as it is common for all qualitative studies, the results of the study cannot be generalized to other contexts and disciplines. Future qualitative and interventional studies are also suggested to be carried out in other contexts and on the students of other disciplines.

C ONCLUSION

The results showed that mental health in nursing students is a multidimensional phenomenon and is influenced by various factors. The current results could help the nurse educators to intervene and provide suitable, effective, practical, and culture based mental health services and help the nursing students achieve mental stability. Promoting physical activities among nursing students, training problem-solving skills and activating the student counseling centers at universities are suggested. Nurse educators and clinical psychologist can provide opportunities for nursing students to express their own concerns and learn the strategies to cope with crises. Finally, deep religious and moral beliefs can be effective in providing mental health to students.

A CKNOWLEDGEMENT

First, the researchers express thanks to the University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran, for its support in carrying out this study. (Grant no. 1018). Our special thanks go to the nursing students who were voluntarily interviewed. Without them, this study would not have been possible. Their honesty and commitment were essential in carrying out this study.

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Research Paper Topics

This page provides a comprehensive list of psychiatric-mental health nursing research paper topics , which serves as a crucial resource for nursing students assigned to write research papers. The field of psychiatric-mental health nursing is vast, encompassing a wide variety of topics related to mental health care. This extensive list has been carefully curated to include a diverse range of topics divided into ten distinct categories, making it easier for students to find a subject of interest and relevance to their studies. In addition to the list of topics, the page also includes a detailed article discussing the significance of psychiatric-mental health nursing and the various aspects it covers. Additionally, the page offers information on iResearchNet’s writing services, providing an opportunity for students to order custom-written research papers if needed. Ultimately, this page serves as a one-stop resource for students, aiding them in selecting a topic, understanding the importance of psychiatric-mental health nursing, and, if necessary, ordering a custom research paper.

100 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Research Paper Topics

The field of psychiatric-mental health nursing is incredibly diverse, providing a wide range of research opportunities. Understanding the various aspects of psychiatric-mental health nursing is crucial for providing comprehensive care to patients with mental health issues. This section provides a comprehensive list of psychiatric-mental health nursing research paper topics, categorized into ten different areas of focus. These topics are carefully selected to cover the most pertinent issues and trends in the field, encouraging students to explore and contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

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Understanding Mental Health Disorders

• The role of genetic factors in the development of schizophrenia.
• The impact of childhood trauma on adult mental health.
• The relationship between anxiety disorders and cardiovascular diseases.
• The link between depression and chronic pain.
• The effect of sleep disorders on mental health.
• The role of nutrition in managing mental health disorders.
• The impact of substance abuse on mental health.
• The relationship between personality disorders and criminal behavior.
• The role of social support in managing bipolar disorder.
• The impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on quality of life.

Psychopharmacology in Mental Health Nursing

• The effectiveness of antidepressants in managing major depressive disorder.
• The side effects of antipsychotic medications.
• The role of mood stabilizers in managing bipolar disorder.
• The impact of benzodiazepines on cognitive function.
• The effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in managing anxiety disorders.
• The role of psychostimulants in managing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• The impact of medication adherence on treatment outcomes in schizophrenia.
• The role of pharmacogenomics in personalized treatment of mental health disorders.
• The effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy in treatment-resistant depression.
• The impact of polypharmacy on treatment outcomes in elderly patients with mental health disorders.

Therapeutic Communication in Mental Health Nursing

• The impact of therapeutic communication on patient outcomes in mental health care.
• The role of non-verbal communication in building therapeutic relationships with patients.
• The effectiveness of motivational interviewing in substance abuse treatment.
• The impact of active listening on patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment.
• The role of empathy in mental health nursing.
• The effectiveness of group therapy in managing social anxiety disorder.
• The impact of family therapy on the mental health of adolescents.
• The role of cognitive-behavioral therapy in managing depression.
• The effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy in managing borderline personality disorder.
• The impact of psychoeducation on the management of schizophrenia.

Mental Health Promotion and Prevention

• The role of school-based mental health programs in preventing adolescent depression.
• The effectiveness of community-based mental health promotion programs.
• The impact of workplace mental health promotion programs on employee well-being.
• The role of physical activity in preventing mental health disorders.
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction in preventing anxiety and depression.
• The impact of social support on the prevention of mental health disorders.
• The role of early intervention programs in preventing the development of psychosis.
• The effectiveness of suicide prevention programs in reducing suicide rates.
• The impact of anti-stigma campaigns on public attitudes towards mental health.
• The role of primary care providers in mental health promotion and prevention.

Legal and Ethical Issues in Mental Health Nursing

• The impact of involuntary hospitalization on the mental health of patients.
• The role of advanced directives in mental health care.
• The effectiveness of mental health courts in reducing recidivism rates.
• The impact of confidentiality breaches on the therapeutic relationship.
• The role of informed consent in mental health care.
• The effectiveness of restraint and seclusion in managing aggressive behavior.
• The impact of medication refusal on treatment outcomes.
• The role of ethics committees in resolving ethical dilemmas in mental health care.
• The effectiveness of de-escalation techniques in managing aggressive behavior.
• The impact of legal and ethical issues on the role of the mental health nurse.

Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan

• The impact of developmental stages on the mental health of individuals.
• The role of mental health nursing in the care of children and adolescents.
• The effectiveness of mental health interventions for older adults.
• The impact of life transitions on mental health.
• The role of mental health nursing in the care of pregnant and postpartum women.
• The effectiveness of mental health interventions for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• The impact of aging on mental health.
• The role of mental health nursing in the care of individuals with dementia.
• The effectiveness of mental health interventions for adolescents with eating disorders.
• The impact of end-of-life care on the mental health of patients and their families.

Cultural Competence in Mental Health Nursing

• The impact of cultural competence on patient satisfaction and outcomes in mental health care.
• The role of cultural competence in building therapeutic relationships with patients from diverse backgrounds.
• The effectiveness of culturally tailored interventions in managing mental health disorders.
• The impact of language barriers on access to mental health care.
• The role of cultural competence in the assessment and diagnosis of mental health disorders.
• The effectiveness of cultural competence training for mental health professionals.
• The impact of cultural beliefs and practices on mental health.
• The role of cultural competence in the prevention of mental health disorders.
• The effectiveness of culturally adapted cognitive-behavioral therapy in managing depression.
• The impact of cultural competence on the delivery of mental health services to immigrant and refugee populations.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing in Various Settings

• The role of mental health nursing in primary care settings.
• The effectiveness of mental health nursing interventions in acute care settings.
• The impact of mental health nursing on patient outcomes in long-term care settings.
• The role of mental health nursing in community mental health services.
• The effectiveness of mental health nursing interventions in correctional facilities.
• The impact of mental health nursing on patient outcomes in home health care.
• The role of mental health nursing in school-based mental health services.
• The effectiveness of mental health nursing interventions in emergency departments.
• The impact of mental health nursing on patient outcomes in psychiatric hospitals.
• The role of mental health nursing in substance abuse treatment centers.

Technological Advances in Mental Health Nursing

• The impact of telepsychiatry on access to mental health care in rural areas.
• The role of electronic health records in improving the quality of mental health care.
• The effectiveness of online support groups in managing mental health disorders.
• The impact of mobile applications on medication adherence in patients with mental health disorders.
• The role of virtual reality in the treatment of phobias.
• The effectiveness of online cognitive-behavioral therapy in managing anxiety disorders.
• The impact of teletherapy on patient satisfaction and outcomes in mental health care.
• The role of technology in enhancing communication between mental health professionals and patients.
• The effectiveness of online psychoeducation in the management of bipolar disorder.
• The impact of technology on the role of the mental health nurse.

Emerging Trends in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers.
• The role of psychiatric-mental health nurses in addressing the opioid crisis.
• The effectiveness of trauma-informed care in managing post-traumatic stress disorder.
• The impact of the integration of mental health and primary care services on patient outcomes.
• The role of psychiatric-mental health nurses in addressing the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ populations.
• The effectiveness of peer support in the management of mental health disorders.
• The impact of climate change on mental health.
• The role of psychiatric-mental health nurses in addressing the mental health needs of immigrant and refugee populations.
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in managing stress and burnout among mental health professionals.
• The impact of social media on mental health.

The psychiatric-mental health nursing field offers a vast array of research opportunities, as evident from the extensive list of topics provided above. These topics encompass various aspects of mental health care, from understanding mental health disorders to exploring the ethical and legal considerations in psychiatric-mental health nursing. It is crucial for students and professionals in the field to engage in research to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and improvement of mental health care. This list of psychiatric-mental health nursing research paper topics serves as a starting point for students to explore and contribute to this vital field of nursing.

The Range of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Research Paper Topics

Psychiatric-mental health nursing is a specialized field of nursing that is dedicated to promoting mental health through the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders and conditions. This field of nursing is incredibly important, as mental health disorders are prevalent and can have a significant impact on individuals’ overall health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. This staggering statistic underscores the critical need for skilled psychiatric-mental health nurses who can provide comprehensive and compassionate care to individuals with mental health needs.

The significance of psychiatric-mental health nursing is multifaceted. First and foremost, psychiatric-mental health nurses play a crucial role in providing care and support to individuals with mental health disorders. They are often the first point of contact for individuals seeking help for mental health issues and play a key role in the assessment and diagnosis of mental health disorders. Psychiatric-mental health nurses also develop and implement treatment plans, provide psychoeducation to patients and their families, and offer support and counseling. Additionally, they play a vital role in crisis intervention and the management of acute mental health episodes.

Furthermore, psychiatric-mental health nurses also play a critical role in promoting mental health and preventing mental health disorders. They work in a variety of settings, including community mental health centers, schools, and primary care clinics, where they provide mental health education and promote strategies for maintaining good mental health. Additionally, psychiatric-mental health nurses often work in interdisciplinary teams, collaborating with other healthcare professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers, to provide comprehensive care to individuals with mental health needs.

Various aspects of psychiatric-mental health nursing offer a wide range of psychiatric-mental health nursing research paper topics. One critical area of focus is mental health assessment. This involves the evaluation of an individual’s mental health status through the use of various assessment tools and techniques. Research in this area might explore the validity and reliability of different mental health assessment tools, the impact of cultural differences on mental health assessment, or the development of new assessment tools and techniques.

Another important aspect of psychiatric-mental health nursing is treatment and intervention strategies. This encompasses a wide range of approaches, from psychopharmacology to psychotherapy to lifestyle interventions. Psychiatric-mental health nursing research paper topics in this area might include the effectiveness of different treatment approaches for specific mental health disorders, the impact of treatment adherence on treatment outcomes, or the development of new intervention strategies.

The role of the psychiatric-mental health nurse is another crucial aspect of this field. Psychiatric-mental health nurses have a unique set of skills and competencies that enable them to provide comprehensive care to individuals with mental health needs. Research topics in this area might explore the impact of nurse-patient relationships on treatment outcomes, the role of psychiatric-mental health nurses in interdisciplinary teams, or the development of new competencies and skills for psychiatric-mental health nurses.

In addition to these areas, there are many other aspects of psychiatric-mental health nursing that offer a wealth of research opportunities. For example, legal and ethical issues in psychiatric-mental health nursing, the role of technology in mental health care, and the mental health needs of specific populations, such as the elderly, children, or individuals with co-occurring disorders, are all important areas of focus.

Overall, the field of psychiatric-mental health nursing offers a wide range of research opportunities. From mental health assessment to treatment and intervention strategies to the role of the psychiatric-mental health nurse, there are numerous psychiatric-mental health nursing research paper topics to explore. Engaging in research in this field is crucial for the advancement of knowledge and the improvement of mental health care for individuals around the world.

In conclusion, psychiatric-mental health nursing is a vital field that plays a crucial role in promoting mental health and providing care and support to individuals with mental health needs. The various aspects of psychiatric-mental health nursing offer a wide range of psychiatric-mental health nursing research paper topics, from mental health assessment to treatment and intervention strategies to the role of the psychiatric-mental health nurse. Engaging in research in this field is essential for advancing knowledge and improving mental health care worldwide.

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‘Marathon of crisis’: Nurses’ mental health in forefront of new study

By Tim Brouk, [email protected]

A new Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences study reveals the stress, psychological trauma and, at times, system failures, that occurred in healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic as reported by the frontline critical-care nurses themselves.

The research project, “Nurses’ Psychological Trauma and Cognitive Control in the COVID-19 Pandemic,” surveyed more than 100 nurses around the United States and Canada, including several Purdue School of Nursing alumni. The questionnaire covered vital mental health topics such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and drug and alcohol use during the height of the pandemic.

“Nurses have gone through incredible psychological distress and trauma,” said Karen Foli, associate professor of nursing and co-principal investigator on the project with Department of Psychological Sciences assistant professor Yu-Chin Chiu. “They’re not soldiers; they are professional nurses who were put in extraordinary situations that sometimes overwhelmed them on a chronic basis.”

Yu-Chin Chiu

Funded by the College of Health and Human Sciences’ Rapid Response Grant program , the research results were published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing . A second paper from this study will concentrate on nurses’ ability to complete cognitive control tasks after experiencing COVID-19-related trauma. This study is still ongoing. Lingsong Zhang, associate professor in the Department of Statistics and Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, is also a co-investigator on this research.

Foli paid particular attention to the responses to a pair of open-ended questions in the survey. Not all nurses responded but more than 70 participants filled out at least one, which allowed them to pour out their experiences during their shifts and at home.

“They talked about this tsunami of death, just this wave upon wave,” Foli said. “Often the patients would die alone or only with the nurse at the bedside, and that was a major contributor to secondary traumatic stress on the nurse.”

The qualitative data “puts muscle on the bones” of the quantitative data collected by Foli and Chiu. The narratives and themes reveal what can be done to improve the mental health of these vital nurses as well as the care of patients during the next pandemic. One nurse’s long response inspired Foli to call nurses’ experiences during the pandemic a “marathon of crisis.”

Foli shared some of this unidentified nurse’s response: “The hospital did not have enough critical care-trained nurses to care for the amount of patients we were seeing. I agreed to help, despite the fact that I had a 6-month-old baby at home. My very first shift at the sister hospital, I had three intubated, sedated, paralyzed, prone, unstable patients.”

“The nurses were concerned about getting their family sick,” Foli said. “They would isolate themselves, which would compound what they were experiencing. Their peers also began to provide less support, further exacerbating the trauma they were experiencing.”

One recurring problem reported by the nurses was the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the beginning of the pandemic. This unfortunate phenomenon made headlines , but Foli said it was an issue before the first COVID-19 cases began rolling in. She coined the phrase “insufficient resource trauma” in a paper published pre-pandemic in the Archives of Psychiatric Nursing (Foli, Reddick, Zhang, & Krcelich, 2020).

The nurses in the study reported another grave issue surrounding insufficient resources: lack of staffing. Foli said due to many hospitals losing money during the pandemic — a decrease in elective surgeries, for example — nursing corps are being short-staffed. Anecdotal reports in daily professional newsletters describe open positions not being filled or departments in need of more nurses being denied.

“That’s the worst thing they could do,” Foli said. “If true, it’s a very uninformed, bad call in my opinion. … Nurses are seen as a cost instead of an income generator. I think if they are going to be short-sighted about nurse-staffing, they need to realize that nurses aren’t going to be able to render the quality care patients need.”

Nurses weren’t the only health workers to experience trauma during the pandemic. Doctors, EMTs and other staff all experienced the brunt of the historic event, but Foli said nurses had especially trying times because they were at the bedside 24/7.

“Those folks who think the pandemic is over, they have to understand what nurses went through,” Foli said. “We need to give them resources in the form of mental health support, not just in the short term, and we need make sure it’s accessible and trauma-informed.”

With Foli and Chiu’s research, other research, and the American Nurses Association Enterprise COVID-19 Well-Being Initiative , there is growing awareness of the mental health and well-being of nurses. The work could help bolster the ranks of the nursing corps, too. According to a May 2021 McKinsey Global Institute study , 22% of nurses polled said they are thinking of leaving their current position. These initiatives could encourage nurses to stay in their profession.

Hannah McKinney’s (NUR ‘20) career has been parallel with the pandemic. At Eskenazi Hospital in downtown Indianapolis, she was a student tech in March 2020 when the first COVID-19 patients began trickling in. She was hired immediately after her May graduation as a nurse in the ER trauma unit. By then, the COVID-19 patients far exceeded the patients who needed lifesaving treatments from crashes, shootings or stabbings.

Hannah McKinney (NUR ’20) has treated COVID-19 patients for her entire young career so far. Photo provided

McKinney said she still suffers from the trauma she experienced during her first few months at Eskenazi. The patient deaths, the unknown variables of the new coronavirus and the often-changing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weighed heavily on the young nurse and her colleagues. A near breaking point occurred when PPE namely N95 masks, became scarce for her and her fellow nurses. They had to make their lone N95 mask last for a month at least.

“That’s when it stated to feel almost apocalyptic. Are we being led to our deaths basically?” McKinney remembered. “It got to the point where I stopped going to the grocery store because I would have a really hard time whenever I saw a person wearing an N95, thinking I’m not allowed. I’m going into situations where I could get sick because I wasn’t allowed access to a new N95. It just felt very isolating and lonely.”

McKinney reports that conditions are better now than they were the first few months of the pandemic. Much more is now known as she has started to assist in intubating patients again during the delta variant surge. However, reading about experiences from fellow nurses across the country on social media has helped her mental well-being. She knows she is not alone and there is help out there for her and her colleagues.

Kaley Butler credits her colleagues for helping her persevere as an ICU COVID-19 nurse in Mishawaka, Indiana. Photo provided

“COVID is still so defeating,” McKinney said. “But every time I would see a post on Facebook or something from another nurse’s perspective, to see my experiences expressed by someone else so that others can hear it, I think that’s so impactful and so helpful.”

Kaley Butler (NUR ’20) was hired at an ICU in Mishawaka, just a few months before COVID-19 terrorized northeast Indiana. Like McKinney, she suffered mentally and physically in 2020 due to the overwhelming number of patients, lack of PPE, understaffing and emotions of family members not being able to see their sick loved ones. She credits her colleagues as the reason she returns to work every shift. Support from fellow nurses helps Butler to soldier through as they now battle the COVID-19 delta variant.

“My mindset during the delta variant is to just keep pushing to get through it. I try to look at the positives — like how we know more about how to treat the virus,” Butler said. “Keeping that in mind along with knowing that my coworkers have my back is what keeps me going back to work.”

Top Nursing Research Topics for Students and Professionals

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

Nursing research is an essential component of the nursing profession. Its primary purpose is to enhance patient outcomes, elevate the quality of care, and advance nursing as a whole. For nursing students and practitioners, selecting an appropriate research topic is crucial for academic and professional success. This article highlights some current and interesting topics in nursing research that students and professionals can explore.

Nursing Workforce

One of the major topics in nursing research is the challenges that nurses face in their workplace, and how to address them. This is particularly relevant in light of the current shortage of nurses and the healthcare industry’s growing demands.

List of Nursing Research Topics: Nursing Workforce

• The impact of nurse staffing levels on patient outcomes in acute care settings
• The effectiveness of nurse retention strategies on improving nurse job satisfaction
• The role of nursing leadership in creating a positive work environment
• The relationship between nurse staffing ratios and nurse burnout
• The impact of nurse-to-patient ratios on nursing care quality in long-term care settings
• The effectiveness of nurse residency programs in improving new nurse retention rates
• The impact of nursing unit culture on nurse job satisfaction and retention
• The impact of nurse-patient ratios on patient outcomes
• Strategies for retaining experienced nurses in the workforce
• Analyzing the role of advanced practice nurses in healthcare teams
• The challenges and benefits of international nursing recruitment
• Addressing generational differences in the nursing workforce
• The relationship between nurse work schedules and nurse burnout
• The impact of nurse staffing levels on medication errors in hospital settings
• The role of interprofessional collaboration in reducing nursing workload and improving patient outcomes
• The impact of nursing education level on nursing practice and patient outcomes
• The relationship between nurse staffing levels and patient falls in acute care settings
• The impact of nurse workload on patient satisfaction with nursing care
• The role of nursing leadership in promoting staff well-being and reducing burnout
• The relationship between nurse staffing levels and patient mortality rates in critical care settings
• The effectiveness of nurse-led care models in improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs
• The impact of nurse staffing levels on patient readmission rates in acute care settings
• The role of nursing autonomy in improving nursing practice and patient outcomes
• The relationship between nurse job satisfaction and patient outcomes in long-term care settings
• The impact of nursing staff turnover on patient safety and quality of care
• Healthcare management: career paths and requirements
• The role of technology in improving nursing efficiency and reducing workload
• The relationship between nurse staffing levels and patient satisfaction with nursing care
• The impact of nurse staffing levels on nurse job stress and burnout in pediatric settings
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in improving patient outcomes for chronic conditions
• The role of nursing leadership in promoting a culture of safety and reducing patient harm
• The relationship between nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes in psychiatric settings
• The impact of nurse staffing levels on nurse job satisfaction and burnout in emergency departments
• The effectiveness of nursing education programs in improving nurse practice and patient outcomes
• The role of nurse practitioners in improving access to healthcare in underserved communities
• The relationship between nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes in rehabilitation settings
• The impact of nurse staffing levels on nurse retention rates in rural healthcare facilities
• The effectiveness of nurse-led discharge planning in reducing hospital readmissions
• The role of nursing leadership in promoting interprofessional collaboration and teamwork
• The relationship between nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes in outpatient care settings
• The impact of nursing workloads on patient safety in intensive care units
• The role of nursing research in improving nursing practice and patient outcomes
• The relationship between nurse staffing levels and nurse job satisfaction in surgical settings
• The impact of nurse staffing levels on patient satisfaction with pain management in acute care settings
• The effectiveness of nursing education programs in improving nursing knowledge and skills
• The role of nursing advocacy in promoting patient-centered care and improving healthcare outcomes

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Patient Safety

Another crucial area of nursing research is patient safety. Studying ways to enhance patient safety, reduce adverse events, and improve the quality of care in hospitals and other healthcare settings can help prevent patient harm and improve patient outcomes.

List of Nursing Research Topics: Patient Safety

• Exploring the impact of workplace stress on nurses’ job satisfaction and performance
• Investigating the factors that influence nurse turnover and retention rates
• Assessing the role of nurse staffing levels in patient outcomes and quality of care
• Examining the relationship between nurse burnout and patient safety incidents
• Investigating the effectiveness of nursing leadership in creating a positive work environment
• The influence of nursing handovers on patient safety
• Strategies to reduce medication errors in hospital settings
• The role of electronic health records in enhancing patient safety
• Impact of nurse-to-patient ratios on patient safety outcomes
• Evaluating the effectiveness of patient safety training programs for nurses
• Exploring the experiences of nurses from diverse backgrounds in the workplace
• Assessing the impact of shift work on nurses’ physical and mental health
• Investigating the relationship between nurse-patient ratios and patient outcomes
• Examining the role of interprofessional collaboration in improving the nursing work environment
• Exploring the use of technology to improve nursing workflow and productivity
• Mitigating the economic and social costs of heart diseases among the aging population in the US
• Investigating the effectiveness of nursing mentorship programs in retaining new nurses
• Assessing the role of organizational culture in promoting nurse well-being and job satisfaction
• Examining the impact of nursing education on nursing workforce preparedness
• Exploring the factors that contribute to job satisfaction among nurses
• Combating health care-associated infections: a community-based approach
• Investigating the impact of nurse-led care on patient outcomes and satisfaction
• Assessing the effectiveness of nursing support programs for nurses with mental health issues
• Examining the role of nursing unions in advocating for the nursing workforce
• Exploring the experiences of male nurses in the nursing workforce
• Investigating the effectiveness of nurse-led clinics in reducing emergency department visits
• Assessing the impact of nursing teamwork on patient outcomes and quality of care
• Examining the role of nursing informatics in improving nursing workflow and patient care
• Exploring the impact of nursing shortages on patient outcomes and quality of care
• Investigating the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions for reducing hospital readmissions
• Assessing the impact of nursing certification on nursing workforce competence and confidence
• Examining the role of nursing education in promoting cultural competence in the nursing workforce
• Exploring the experiences of nurses working in rural healthcare settings
• Investigating the effectiveness of nursing delegation in improving patient outcomes and quality of care
• Assessing the impact of nursing shortages on nurse job satisfaction and burnout
• Examining the role of nursing research in informing nursing workforce policies and practices
• Exploring the impact of nurse-led quality improvement initiatives on patient outcomes and satisfaction
• Investigating the role of nursing leaders in promoting nursing workforce diversity and inclusion
• Assessing the impact of nursing autonomy on nurse job satisfaction and performance
• Examining the effectiveness of nursing residency programs in preparing new nurses for the workforce
• Exploring the experiences of nurses working in correctional healthcare settings
• Investigating the impact of nurse staffing levels on patient falls and injuries
• Assessing the role of nursing education in promoting evidence-based practice in the nursing workforce
• Examining the effectiveness of nursing preceptorship programs in improving nurse job satisfaction and retention
• Exploring the role of nursing education in preparing nurses for leadership roles in the nursing workforce
• Investigating the effectiveness of nursing empowerment interventions in improving nursing job satisfaction and performance
• Assessing the impact of nursing shortages on the quality of nursing care provided to older adults in long-term care facilities.

Chronic Illness Management

Managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, is a significant challenge for healthcare providers. Exploring different strategies for chronic disease management can help improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of care.

List of Nursing Research Topics: Chronic Illness Management

• The Role of Nurses in Managing Chronic Heart Disease
• Impact of Nurse-led Interventions in Managing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• The Effectiveness of Self-management Education in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
• Nursing Strategies for Chronic Pain Management
• Chronic Kidney Disease Management: A Nursing Perspective
• Palliative Care in Chronic Illness Management
• Community Nursing and Chronic Illness: A Study on Patient Outcomes
• The Role of Nurses in Managing Chronic Pediatric Asthma
• Telehealth and Chronic Disease Management: The Future of Nursing Practice?
• Evaluating the role of nursing in diabetes self-management
• Strategies for improving patient adherence to chronic illness treatment plans
• The impact of nurse-led interventions on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management
• Exploring the role of telehealth in chronic illness follow-up and monitoring
• The effectiveness of nurse-led educational programs for patients with cardiovascular diseases
• The Importance of Nurse-led Clinics in Chronic Illness Management
• The Role of Nursing in Depression Management among Chronically Ill Patients
• Empowering the vulnerable: enhancing health and social care for individuals with specific needs
• Advanced Practice Nurses and Chronic Illness Management: A Systematic Review
• The Impact of Holistic Nursing Care on Chronic Disease Management
• The Effect of Nurse-led Health Education on Compliance in Chronic Disease Patients
• The Role of Family Nurses in the Management of Chronic Illness in Home Settings
• Nursing and the Management of Chronic Illness in Geriatric Populations
• The Influence of Nursing Interventions on Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Illness
• Challenges Faced by Nurses in Managing Chronic Illness in Low-resource Settings
• Cancer Pain: Assessment, Management, and Patient Empowerment
• Evaluating the Role of School Nurses in Managing Chronic Illnesses in Children
• Developing a Chronic Disease Management Model: The Crucial Role of Nursing
• Nursing Intervention in Lifestyle Modification for Chronic Illness Patients
• The Impact of Patient-Nurse Communication in Chronic Illness Management
• The Role of Nursing in Medication Management for Chronic Illness Patients
• The Effects of Nursing Care Coordination on Chronic Illness Outcomes
• Mental Health and Chronic Illness: The Importance of Psychiatric Nursing
• The Role of Nursing in the Self-Management of Chronic Illness: A Meta-Analysis
• Nursing Interventions for Chronic Illness Management in Rural Areas
• Nurses’ Role in Reducing Hospital Readmissions for Chronic Illness Patients
• Digital healthcare and organizational learning: enhancing patient care through technology and knowledge management
• The Impact of Nursing on Patient Empowerment in Chronic Illness Management
• Cultural Competence in Nursing and Its Effect on Chronic Disease Management
• The Role of Nursing Informatics in Chronic Illness Management
• Evaluating the Role of Community Health Nurses in Chronic Illness Prevention
• The Impact of Home Nursing on Chronic Illness Management in Aging Populations
• The ongoing risk of HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men
• The Role of Oncology Nurses in the Management of Chronic Cancer Pain
• The Effects of Nursing-led Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Chronic Illness Management
• The Impact of Advanced Nursing Practice on Health Outcomes in Chronic Disease Management
• The Use of Digital Health Technologies in Chronic Disease Management: A Nursing Perspective

Mental Health

Promoting mental health and well-being in vulnerable patient populations is another important area of nursing research. Nurses can investigate various interventions and programs that can help prevent mental health problems and improve patients’ overall well-being.

List of Nursing Research Topics: Mental Health

• The impact of COVID-19 on mental health in healthcare workers
• The effectiveness of telehealth for delivering mental health services
• The role of social support in promoting mental health and wellbeing
• Investigating the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for mental health
• Examining the use of virtual reality in treating mental health disorders
• The impact of sleep on mental health outcomes
• The role of exercise in promoting mental health and wellbeing
• The effectiveness of psychotherapy in treating depression
• Exploring the relationship between mental health and chronic pain
• Investigating the impact of workplace stress on mental health in nurses
• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions for patients with depression
• Exploring the impact of nurse-patient relationships on mental health outcomes
• Strategies for improving mental health literacy among nursing professionals
• Evaluating the role of nurses in suicide prevention and intervention
• The challenges and strategies in nursing care for patients with dual diagnoses (co-existing mental health and substance use disorders)
• Examining the use of music therapy for mental health promotion
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders
• The relationship between mental health and nutrition
• The impact of trauma on mental health outcomes
• Investigating the use of art therapy in promoting mental health and wellbeing
• The role of spirituality in mental health and coping
• The effectiveness of group therapy for mental health disorders
• The impact of stigma on mental health outcomes
• Examining the effectiveness of psychopharmacology in treating mental health disorders
• The role of family support in promoting mental health and wellbeing
• Investigating the relationship between mental health and substance abuse
• The effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy in promoting mental health and wellbeing
• The impact of social media on mental health outcomes
• Examining the use of humor in promoting mental health and wellbeing
• The effectiveness of cognitive training for improving mental health outcomes
• Investigating the impact of gender and cultural factors on mental health outcomes
• The role of occupational therapy in promoting mental health and wellbeing
• Examining the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for mental health disorders
• The relationship between mental health and physical activity
• Investigating the use of peer support for mental health promotion
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction for mental health
• The impact of technology on mental health outcomes
• The role of nutrition in treating mental health disorders
• Examining the use of hypnotherapy in promoting mental health and wellbeing
• The effectiveness of psychotherapy for PTSD
• Investigating the relationship between mental health and social determinants of health
• The impact of social isolation on mental health outcomes
• Examining the use of dance therapy in promoting mental health and wellbeing
• The effectiveness of cognitive processing therapy for mental health disorders
• The role of self-care in promoting mental health and wellbeing in nurses

Health Promotion

Research into health promotion strategies using technology, social media, and other digital tools is a rapidly growing area of nursing research. Such research can help identify innovative and effective ways to promote health and well-being in communities and patient populations.

List of Nursing Research Topics: Health Promotion

• The effectiveness of community-based interventions in promoting physical activity and healthy eating habits
• Investigating the impact of social media on health behavior and lifestyle changes
• The role of nursing in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing chronic diseases
• Identifying effective strategies for improving health literacy among underserved populations
• Exploring the use of wearable technology in promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles
• Evaluating the effectiveness of nurse-led health promotion campaigns on community health outcomes
• The role of nurses in promoting vaccinations in various populations
• Strategies for nurses to address health literacy and its impact on patient outcomes
• The influence of cultural competence in health promotion and disease prevention
• Assessing the role of nurses in promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles in at-risk populations
• Investigating the role of family support in promoting healthy behaviors among children and adolescents
• Examining the effectiveness of peer-led interventions in promoting healthy lifestyles
• Investigating the impact of workplace wellness programs on employee health and productivity
• The impact of milk consumption on children’s growth
• The role of nursing in promoting smoking cessation and reducing tobacco use
• Exploring the use of motivational interviewing in promoting behavior change and improving health outcomes
• Investigating the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in promoting mental and physical health
• The role of social support in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing chronic diseases
• Examining the effectiveness of school-based interventions in promoting healthy behaviors among children and adolescents
• Exploring the use of technology in promoting health education and behavior change
• Investigating the role of culture and ethnicity in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing chronic diseases
• Nursing: a beautiful blend of art and science
• Examining the effectiveness of community health worker programs in promoting healthy lifestyles
• The role of nursing in promoting healthy aging and preventing age-related diseases
• Investigating the impact of environmental factors on health behavior and lifestyle changes
• Exploring the use of incentives in promoting behavior change and improving health outcomes
• Investigating the effectiveness of group-based interventions in promoting healthy lifestyles
• Examining the impact of policy interventions on health behavior and lifestyle changes
• The effects of sleep deprivation on students’ cognitive functions and emotional state
• The role of nursing in promoting healthy sleep habits and reducing sleep disorders
• Investigating the effectiveness of mobile health interventions in promoting behavior change and improving health outcomes
• Exploring the use of positive psychology interventions in promoting mental and physical health
• Investigating the role of healthcare providers in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing chronic diseases
• Examining the effectiveness of workplace policies in promoting healthy lifestyles
• The role of nursing in promoting healthy sexual behaviors and preventing sexually transmitted infections
• Investigating the impact of stress on health behavior and lifestyle changes
• Exploring the use of community-based participatory research in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing chronic diseases
• The delicate dance: balancing art and science in the nursing profession
• Investigating the role of nutrition in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing chronic diseases
• Examining the effectiveness of self-management interventions in promoting healthy lifestyles
• The role of nursing in promoting healthy pregnancy and preventing maternal and child health problems
• Investigating the impact of socioeconomic status on health behavior and lifestyle changes
• Exploring the use of health coaching in promoting behavior change and improving health outcomes
• Investigating the role of spirituality in promoting mental and physical health
• Examining the effectiveness of school-based policies in promoting healthy lifestyles
• The role of nursing in promoting healthy relationships and preventing intimate partner violence
• Investigating the impact of social determinants of health on health behavior and lifestyle changes
• Exploring the use of mobile applications in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing chronic diseases
• Investigating the role of health literacy in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing chronic diseases

Palliative Care

Improving the quality of life of seriously ill patients and their families during end-of-life care is another critical area of nursing research. Nurses can explore different interventions and support programs that can enhance the palliative care experience.

List of Nursing Research Topics: Palliative Care

• The effectiveness of palliative care on improving quality of life for cancer patients
• Understanding the needs and experiences of family caregivers in palliative care
• Palliative care and end-of-life decision-making: exploring patient and family preferences
• Optimizing the clarifying diagnosis of stomach cancer
• Improving access to palliative care for patients in rural areas
• The role of spirituality in palliative care for terminally ill patients
• Investigating the impact of music therapy on patients receiving palliative care
• Developing effective communication strategies for discussing end-of-life care with patients and families
• Exploring the experiences and needs of patients with non-cancer diagnoses in palliative care
• The impact of nurse-led interventions in improving the quality of life for patients in palliative care
• Evaluating the training needs of nurses in delivering end-of-life care
• The role of nursing in managing symptoms and side effects in palliative care patients
• Strategies for improving communication between nurses and families during end-of-life care
• Assessing the ethical considerations and challenges faced by nurses in palliative care settings
• Evaluating the effectiveness of home-based palliative care programs
• Palliative care for pediatric patients: understanding unique challenges and opportunities
• The impact of cultural and ethnic differences on palliative care provision
• Investigating the role of social support in palliative care for older adults
• The effectiveness of advance care planning in improving end-of-life care
• Understanding the experiences and needs of patients with neurological diseases in palliative care
• Exploring the impact of palliative care on reducing healthcare costs
• Investigating the role of complementary therapies in palliative care
• Improving symptom management in palliative care through medication optimization
• Palliative care and spiritual care: exploring the intersection of these two domains
• The impact of palliative care on reducing hospital readmissions
• Investigating the role of occupational therapy in palliative care
• Developing effective pain management strategies for patients receiving palliative care
• Understanding the experiences and needs of patients with heart failure in palliative care
• The role of pet therapy in improving quality of life for patients in palliative care
• Investigating the impact of palliative care on reducing caregiver burden
• Understanding the experiences and needs of patients with lung disease in palliative care
• Exploring the impact of palliative care on reducing healthcare utilization
• Investigating the role of nutrition in palliative care for patients with cancer
• Understanding the experiences and needs of patients with kidney disease in palliative care
• Improving palliative care for patients with dementia: exploring unique challenges and opportunities
• The role of art therapy in improving quality of life for patients in palliative care
• Investigating the impact of palliative care on reducing emergency department visits
• Developing effective communication strategies for discussing end-of-life care with patients with cognitive impairment
• Understanding the experiences and needs of patients with liver disease in palliative care
• Palliative care for patients with substance use disorders: unique challenges and opportunities
• Investigating the role of physiotherapy in palliative care
• The effectiveness of psychotherapy in improving mental health outcomes for patients in palliative care
• Understanding the experiences and needs of patients with multiple chronic conditions in palliative care
• Improving symptom management in palliative care through non-pharmacological interventions
• Investigating the impact of palliative care on reducing healthcare disparities
• Palliative care and medical aid in dying: exploring ethical and legal considerations

Healthcare Disparities

Studying the factors that contribute to healthcare disparities between different populations and identifying strategies to address these disparities is an important area of nursing research. Nurses can examine the role of social determinants of health in healthcare disparities and propose solutions to improve access and equity in healthcare.

List of Nursing Research Topics: Healthcare Disparities

• Examining the relationship between socioeconomic status and healthcare disparities
• Investigating the impact of implicit bias on healthcare disparities
• Analyzing the impact of racial and ethnic disparities on health outcomes
• Identifying disparities in access to preventative care among different populations
• Exploring the impact of language barriers on healthcare disparities
• Investigating the impact of discrimination on healthcare outcomes
• Identifying disparities in health insurance coverage and access to healthcare services
• Exploring the importance of national health insurance for socioeconomic growth
• Analyzing the impact of geographic location on healthcare disparities
• Evaluating the role of nursing in addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities
• The impact of socioeconomic factors on patient outcomes and nursing interventions
• Strategies for nurses to promote health equity in diverse patient populations
• Assessing the influence of cultural competence on reducing healthcare disparities
• The role of nursing advocacy in shaping policies to reduce health inequities
• Examining disparities in mental health care access and utilization
• Investigating disparities in maternal and child health outcomes
• Exploring the relationship between healthcare disparities and chronic disease outcomes
• Identifying disparities in end-of-life care and hospice utilization
• Analyzing the impact of cultural differences on healthcare outcomes
• Investigating disparities in healthcare provider communication and patient engagement
• Examining the impact of healthcare policy on healthcare disparities
• Global health learning in nursing and health care disparities
• Identifying disparities in healthcare access and utilization among the LGBTQ+ community
• Exploring the impact of environmental factors on healthcare disparities
• Analyzing the impact of social determinants of health on healthcare disparities
• Investigating disparities in healthcare access and utilization among rural populations
• Examining disparities in healthcare access and utilization among urban populations
• Identifying disparities in healthcare access and utilization among immigrants and refugees
• Analyzing the impact of education level on healthcare disparities
• Investigating disparities in healthcare access and utilization among older adults
• Examining disparities in dental health access and utilization
• Identifying disparities in mental health treatment and access to services
• Analyzing the impact of stigma on healthcare outcomes for marginalized populations
• Investigating disparities in healthcare access and utilization among incarcerated populations
• Exploring disparities in healthcare access and utilization among individuals with disabilities
• Analyzing the impact of institutional racism on healthcare disparities
• Investigating disparities in healthcare access and utilization among low-income populations
• Examining disparities in cancer screening and early detection
• Identifying disparities in access to clinical trials and experimental treatments
• Analyzing the impact of the digital divide on healthcare disparities
• Investigating disparities in healthcare access and utilization among veterans
• Exploring the impact of healthcare worker bias on healthcare disparities
• Examining the relationship between healthcare disparities and infant mortality rates
• Identifying disparities in healthcare access and utilization among people with limited English proficiency
• Analyzing the impact of gender on healthcare disparities
• Investigating disparities in healthcare access and utilization among individuals experiencing homelessness
• Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare disparities among different populations

Patient-Centered Care

Enhancing patient-centered care, including patient feedback, patient-centered communication, and patient education, is another vital area of nursing research. Nurses can investigate the impact of patient-centered care on patient outcomes and identify ways to incorporate patient preferences and values in the care process.

List of Nursing Research Topics: Patient-Centered Care

• The importance of patient-centered care in improving health outcomes
• Exploring the effectiveness of patient-centered communication in clinical practice
• Assessing patient satisfaction with patient-centered care
• The impact of nursing staffing on patient-centered care
• The role of family and caregiver involvement in patient-centered care
• The use of technology to enhance patient-centered care
• Patient education and empowerment in promoting patient-centered care
• The role of nurses in facilitating shared decision-making in patient care
• Evaluating the impact of personalized care plans on patient outcomes and satisfaction
• Strategies for nurses to engage patients in their care across diverse cultural backgrounds
• The influence of effective communication strategies on the delivery of patient-centered care
• Assessing the barriers and facilitators to implementing patient-centered care in various healthcare settings
• The impact of culture on patient-centered care
• Measuring the quality of patient-centered care in healthcare settings
• The benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration in patient-centered care
• Understanding home dialysis: benefits, barriers, and impacts on elderly patients and the healthcare system
• Addressing language barriers in patient-centered care
• Exploring the challenges of implementing patient-centered care in healthcare organizations
• The role of patient-centered care in reducing healthcare costs
• The impact of patient-centered care on patient safety
• The importance of patient-centered care for vulnerable populations
• The role of leadership in promoting patient-centered care
• Evaluating the impact of patient-centered care on healthcare outcomes
• Examining the effectiveness of patient-centered care in chronic disease management
• The impact of patient-centered care on patient adherence to treatment
• The importance of patient-centered care in pediatric healthcare settings
• The use of patient feedback to improve patient-centered care
• Pediatric oncology: working towards better treatment through evidence-based research
• The role of patient-centered care in addressing health disparities
• Patient-centered care in end-of-life and palliative care settings
• The role of healthcare professionals in promoting patient-centered care
• The impact of patient-centered care on healthcare provider job satisfaction
• The importance of patient-centered care in emergency and critical care settings
• The use of simulation-based training to enhance patient-centered care
• The impact of patient-centered care on patient experience and engagement
• The role of healthcare policy in promoting patient-centered care
• Addressing the needs of patients with complex medical needs in patient-centered care
• The role of the nursing profession in promoting patient-centered care
• Patient-centered care in mental health and psychiatric settings
• The impact of patient-centered care on healthcare provider burnout
• The role of patient-centered care in promoting shared decision-making
• Examining the effectiveness of patient-centered care in rural healthcare settings
• The impact of patient-centered care on patient quality of life
• The use of patient-centered care in managing acute and chronic pain
• Addressing the needs of elderly patients in patient-centered care
• The impact of patient-centered care on healthcare system performance
• Promoting patient-centered care through the use of standardized patient education materials

Nursing Education

Exploring innovative approaches to nursing education and training, such as simulation-based learning and online learning, is a growing area of nursing research. Such research can help identify effective ways to prepare nursing students for their future roles in the healthcare system.

List of Nursing Research Topics: Nursing Education

• The impact of simulation-based training on nursing education outcomes
• The effectiveness of online learning in nursing education
• Innovative approaches to clinical teaching in nursing education
• The role of technology in nursing education
• Student perceptions of nursing education and their impact on learning outcomes
• The impact of cultural competence training on nursing students’ attitudes and behaviors
• The effectiveness of peer-led teaching in nursing education
• Best practices for incorporating interprofessional education into nursing curricula
• The role of reflective practice in nursing education
• The effectiveness of flipped classroom models in nursing education
• The impact of virtual reality and augmented reality tools in nursing education
• Evaluating the effectiveness of online vs. traditional classroom nursing education
• Strategies for enhancing interprofessional education in nursing curricula
• The role of continuous professional development in enhancing nursing competencies
• Assessing the influence of mentorship programs on nursing student success and retention
• Transforming advanced nursing practice: embracing IOM recommendations and higher education
• The impact of mentorship on nursing students’ learning and professional development
• The use of team-based learning in nursing education
• The effectiveness of hands-on skills training in nursing education
• Student perceptions of clinical experiences in nursing education
• The impact of service learning on nursing students’ attitudes and behaviors
• The role of cultural humility in nursing education
• The effectiveness of blended learning in nursing education
• Best practices for incorporating patient-centered care into nursing curricula
• The impact of standardized patient encounters on nursing education outcomes
• Importance and application of patient education technology in healthcare
• The use of case-based learning in nursing education
• The role of faculty development in improving nursing education outcomes
• The effectiveness of clinical reasoning strategies in nursing education
• The impact of nursing education on patient outcomes
• The role of simulation in teaching critical thinking in nursing education
• Best practices for incorporating evidence-based practice into nursing curricula
• The use of gamification in nursing education
• The effectiveness of problem-based learning in nursing education
• The impact of nursing education on student stress and burnout
• The role of intercultural competence in nursing education
• The effectiveness of collaborative learning in nursing education
• The impact of teaching communication skills in nursing education
• Best practices for incorporating patient safety into nursing curricula
• The role of interprofessional collaboration in nursing education
• The effectiveness of clinical coaching in nursing education
• The impact of teaching teamwork skills in nursing education
• The use of high-fidelity simulation in nursing education
• The role of experiential learning in nursing education
• Best practices for incorporating leadership development into nursing curricula
• The impact of nursing education on student retention and graduation rates
• The effectiveness of self-directed learning in nursing education

Healthcare Policy

Studying the impact of healthcare policy on the nursing profession and patient outcomes, including the role of nursing in healthcare reform efforts, is a crucial area of nursing research. Nurses can examine the policy’s effect on healthcare access, quality, and affordability and propose solutions to address policy gaps and challenges.

List of Nursing Research Topics: Healthcare Policy

• The impact of the affordable care act on the nursing profession
• Exploring healthcare informatics: evolution, challenges, and solutions
• The role of nursing in healthcare reform efforts
• The impact of medicare and Medicaid on nursing practice
• The impact of private insurance on nursing practice
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing workforce development
• Combating workplace violence in nursing: the impact of policies, legislation, and organizational culture
• The role of nursing in healthcare policy decision-making
• The impact of healthcare policies on patient outcomes
• The role of nurses in implementing healthcare policies
• The implications of universal healthcare policies on nursing roles and responsibilities
• Evaluating the impact of health insurance reforms on nursing care delivery
• Strategies for nurses to influence healthcare policy decisions at the national and state levels
• The role of nursing in shaping policies related to patient rights and autonomy
• Assessing the influence of healthcare policy on nursing education and licensure requirements
• Evaluating the impact of nurse advocacy on shaping health policies at local and national levels
• Strategies for nurses to stay updated on changing healthcare policies and their implications
• The role of nursing in shaping policies related to electronic health records and patient privacy
• Assessing the implications of global health policies on nursing practices and education
• The influence of healthcare policies on the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing education and training
• The impact of healthcare policies on nurse staffing ratios
• The impact of healthcare policies on patient satisfaction
• Understanding the impact of the American Healthcare System Regulatory Acts
• The impact of healthcare policies on healthcare costs
• The impact of healthcare policies on healthcare disparities
• The role of nursing in advocating for healthcare policy changes
• The impact of healthcare policies on patient safety
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing job satisfaction
• Understanding the US. Health Care Reform: necessity, challenges, and implementation
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing burnout
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing retention rates
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing leadership
• The role of nursing in shaping healthcare policies
• The impact of healthcare policies on healthcare quality
• Workplace violence in healthcare: causes, regulations, and prevention strategies
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing productivity
• The impact of healthcare policies on healthcare access
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing workload
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing autonomy
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing scope of practice
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing professional development
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing research
• The role of nursing in developing healthcare policies
• Massachusetts Health Reform Act: striving for universal coverage and controlled costs
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing career advancement
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing licensure and certification
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing accreditation
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing ethics
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing professionalism
• The role of nursing in healthcare policy implementation and evaluation
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing informatics
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing diversity and inclusion
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing practice in rural areas
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing practice in underserved communities
• The impact of healthcare policies on international nursing practice

The Importance of Research in Nursing

Research is the bedrock of nursing practice. It provides evidence-based knowledge that informs clinical decision-making, enhances patient outcomes, and advances the nursing profession. For nursing students, engaging in research activities offers several benefits:

• Enhanced Clinical Practice

Evidence-based research provides nurses with the latest knowledge and techniques to deliver optimal patient care. It bridges the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, ensuring that patients receive the most current and effective treatments.

• Professional Development

Engaging in research sharpens critical thinking and analytical skills. It fosters a culture of continuous learning, allowing nurses to stay updated with the ever-evolving medical field.

• Contribution to the Field

By conducting research, nurses contribute to the larger body of knowledge in healthcare. Their findings can lead to improvements in patient care, the development of new interventions, or changes in healthcare policies.

• Enhanced Patient Outcomes

Research equips nurses with the knowledge to educate patients, advocate for their needs, and make informed decisions. This ensures better health outcomes and improved patient satisfaction.

• Career Advancement

For those looking to advance in their careers, research can open doors to academic positions, leadership roles, or specialized fields within nursing.

Tips for Selecting a Suitable Research Topic

• Align with Interests

Choose a topic that genuinely interests you. This will keep you motivated throughout the research process.

• Relevance to Current Trends

Consider current trends and challenges in healthcare. Addressing contemporary issues can make your research more impactful.

• Feasibility

Ensure that you have access to the necessary resources and tools to conduct your research. This includes access to participants, equipment, and relevant literature.

It’s essential to choose a topic that’s neither too broad nor too narrow. A well-defined research question will guide your study and ensure it’s manageable.

• Seek Guidance

Don’t hesitate to seek advice from mentors, professors, or professionals in the field. Their insights can help refine your topic and provide valuable direction.

In conclusion, research is a vital component of the nursing profession, driving innovation and ensuring the best patient outcomes. For nursing students and professionals, engaging in research is not only a pathway to academic and career success but also a means to contribute meaningfully to the betterment of patient care.

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Table of content

Crafted with Care:

Nursing Essays!

Precision, Passion, & Professionalism in Every Page.

• Open access
• Published: 16 May 2024

Factors associated with clinical nurse’s mental health: a qualitative study applying the social ecological model

• Qiang Yu 1   na1 ,
• Chongmei Huang 2 , 3   na1 ,
• Yusheng Tian 1 ,
• Jiaxin Yang 1 ,
• Xuting Li 1 ,
• Meng Ning 4 ,
• Zengyu Chen 4 ,
• Jiaqing He 1 &
• Yamin Li 1  

BMC Nursing volume  23 , Article number:  330 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

The prevalence of burnout, depression, and anxiety among Chinese nurses was 34%, 55.5%, and 41.8% respectively. Mental health problems have significant impacts on their personal well-being, work performance, patient care quality, and the overall healthcare system. Mental health is influenced by factors at multiple levels and their interactions.

This was a descriptive qualitative study using phenomenological approach. We recruited a total of 48 nurses from a tertiary hospital in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. Data were collected through focus group interviews. Audio-recorded data were transcribed and inductively analysed.

Four major themes with 13 subthemes were identified according to the social ecological model: (1) individual-level factors, including personality traits, sleep quality, workplace adaptability, and years of work experience; (2) interpersonal-level factors, encompassing interpersonal support and role conflict; (3) organization-level factors, such as organizational climate, organizational support, career plateau, and job control; and (4) social-level factors, which included compensation packages, social status, and legislative provision and policy.

Conclusions

Our study provides a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing nurses’ mental health. Recognizing the interconnectedness of individual, interpersonal, organizational, and social elements is essential for developing targeted interventions and comprehensive strategies to promote and safeguard the mental well-being of nurses in clinical settings.

Trial and protocol registration

The larger study was registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2300072142 (05/06/2023) https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=192676 .

Reporting method

This study is reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).

Peer Review reports

The prevalence of mental health problem among clinical nurses is high. As the largest group of health systems, clinical nurses play a crucial role in promoting health and preventing disease [ 1 ]. Although they are trained to provide care for their patients, they rarely cared about themselves [ 1 ]. Clinical nurses are suffering from mental health problems, including stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. A meta-analysis involving 45,539 nurses from 49 countries revealed that a global prevalence of burnout symptoms was 11.23% across various specialties [ 2 ]. In Australia, the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among nurses was 32.4%, 41.2% and 41.2%, respectively [ 1 ]. In Italy, the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among nurses is 50% [ 3 ].In Spain, 68% of nurses had depression, anxiety, insomnia and distress to some degree, and 38% of them had moderate or severe symptoms [ 4 ]. A survey of clinical nurses from 30 Chinese provinces indicated that the rates of burnout, depression, and anxiety was 34%, 55.5%, and 41.8%, respectively [ 5 ]. Mental health problems may compromise physical, mental, and social health and even increase suicide risk [ 6 ].

The mental health problems among clinical nurses affects their personal well-being, work performance, patient care quality, and the healthcare system. Remarkably, their mental health problems not only heighten the risk of physical conditions such as heart disease, chronic pain, gastrointestinal distress, and even mortality [ 7 ], but also correlate with absenteeism, intention to leave, and elevated turnover rates [ 8 , 9 ]. These increased turnover rates exacerbate the financial challenges faced by healthcare institutions [ 10 ]. The presence of one or more of these mental health problems can contribute to occupational mishaps, including medical errors [ 1 , 11 ], compromised work performance, and a pessimistic workplace demeanor [ 12 ]. Nurses with mental health problems are at 26–71% more likely to make medical errors [ 13 ]. Furthermore, their mental health may imperil the well-being of patients and the quality of health services [ 14 ]. Moreover, these challenges can contribute to reputation harm, diminished productivity, and decreased clinical efficacy of the hospital [ 15 ]. Therefore, it is necessary to identify factors associated with their mental health for developing and implementing targeted intervention.

Previous studies have identified several factors associated with clinical nurses’ mental health, with some limitations [ 16 ]. According to the social ecological model, mental health is affected by factors at multiple levels and interaction between factors. However, most studies explored factors at a single level or a single type of factors. For instance, studies focused on factors either at individual (psychological characteristics) [ 17 , 18 ], or interpersonal (e.g., social support) [ 19 , 20 , 21 ], organizational (e.g., workplace violence) [ 22 ], or societal level (e.g., social status) [ 23 , 24 ]. Therefore, these studies fail to offer a complete picture of factors at multiple levels and examine interactions between factors. Additionally, the majority of extant studies adopt quantitative design with standardized measurements, which may neglect the intricacies of personal experiences and the significance of context.

To fill aforementioned gap, our study is aimed to explore associated factors for mental health at all four socio-ecological levels and to understand the interactions between factors from the perspective of clinical nurses.

Study design

This study adopted a qualitative descriptive design with focus group interviews. Qualitative description design is widely used to gather insight from key informants about poorly understood healthcare questions [ 25 , 26 ]. The design was considered appropriate because this study aimed to obtain a detailed description of participants’ perceived influencing factors of mental health. Focus group interviews were used for data collection to encourage the free exchange of information and to yield richer data and deeper insights into the topic.

This study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. The hospital has 3000 nurses and 137 head nurses.

Participants

This study included clinical nurses and head nurses who were employed by the hospital for one year or over. They were recruited, using both convenience and purposive sampling between April to May 2023. The study was advertised through the existing network of the authors. Potential participants were approached by the authors via WeChat with an explanatory statement. The explanatory statement included a brief introduction of the study and invited potential participants to contact the first author directly to arrange the interview time and venue. Purposive sampling was used to obtain maximum variation, within participants’ characteristics including gender, years of work experience, clinical work area, and having an administrative position or not.

Data collection

We conducted seven focus groups (seven- eight participants in each group) in the meeting room of the hospital between April to May 2023. We introduced the purpose of the research and topics before conducting the group interview. The interview guide were developed based on the literature review, including following questions: (1) How about your mental health in daily work? (2) What are the factors influencing your mental health? (3) How does mental health affect your daily life? (4) When you felt down, what kind of coping strategies do you adopted? (5) What external factors (e.g., individual, interpersonal and environmental factors) are conducive to promoting your mental health? The interviews were conducted in Mandarin. The second author acted as a facilitator for focus groups, and she participated workshop in qualitative research as part of master course. The fourth author acted as a note taker who took field notes and observed the interaction within the groups. The duration of the focus group interviews ranged from 65 to 94 min (mean 81.5 min).

Data analysis

Preliminary data collection and data analysis were conducted simultaneously, which enabled collection to cease on reaching data saturation. All audio recordings were transcribed in Mandarin using Xunfei software, and the accuracy was verified by the first, third, and fifth authors. Then, all the data were input entered into excel for analysis. Three authors (the second, eighth, and ninth authors) independently coded the transcripts line by line and then deliberated to form a preliminary coding framework. Constant comparative analysis ensured consistent coding across transcripts. They developed a preliminary coding framework after coding the first three transcripts, refining it iteratively with subsequent transcripts. This was repeated with further transcripts, and the subthemes were refined and reduced in number by grouping codes together. Following the development of the final coding framework, the remaining transcripts remained open to new additions if needed.

Final themes were constructed using an inductive process. The social ecological model was used to group themes. This model was used to connect the findings with the literature and conceptual framework. The social ecological model [ 27 ] is used to describe multiple factors affecting mental health and explore healthcare behaviors [ 28 , 29 ], these factors grouped into four levels: intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational and societal level. This model includes four levels: individual, interpersonal, organizational and societal. Individual level identifies biological, character traits and psychological factors. Interpersonal level examines communication and interaction with individuals in social networks. Organizational level contains resources obtained from organizations and through social interactions. Societal level focuses on factors that help create an atmosphere conducive to maintaining mental health.

The study’s rigor was established through meticulous attention to credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability [ 30 ]. Credibility was achieved by rigorously analyzing the data by the research team. Transferability was ensured by providing a comprehensive description of the study setting and detailed narratives of participant experiences. Additionally, dependability and confirmability were upheld through a meticulous audit of methodological decisions made by the research team throughout the study process.

Participant’s characteristics

Fifty nurses were invited to participate in this study, and two declined the invitation; the remaining 48 nurses completed the interview. More female nurse participated in the study ( n  = 37) rather than male ( n  = 5). The participants’ social demographic characteristics are presented in Table  1 .

Main findings

As shown shown in Fig. 1, factors associated with clinical nurses’ mental health were categorized four themes and 13 subthemes: (1) individual-level factors, (2) interpersonal-level factors, (3) organization-level factors, and (4) social-level factors.

Factors associated with clinical nurse’s mental health

Individual-level factors

Participants reported that their mental health could be impacted by personality traits (i.e., optimistic/negative life outlook), quality of sleep, workplace adaptability, and years of work experience. Some participants mentioned that adaptability was important for them to manage emotional and practical daily challenges in the face of rapidly changing and unpredictable circumstances.

When novice nurses take care of patients by themselves, they may experience increased stress, especially when patients’ condition changes suddenly during the night shift (F1P4).

Interpersonal-level factors

Participants perceived that interpersonal support and role conflict were associated with their mental health.

Interpersonal support

Our participants identified that interpersonal support was playing an important role in maintaining their mental health. They explained that talking to their families, friends, colleagues and supervisor were an effective way to relieve work stress.

I sought to the person I trust the most (my family) and talked all the unpleasant things with them when I felt very stressed (F3P3).

Role conflict

Participants mentioned that it was inevitable for them to experience role conflict (i.e., work-family conflict and work-school conflict) because of the demanding and challenging conditions of the job. They felt guilty when work pressures interfered with family responsibilities. Some participants identified that their emotional stress increased when their work interfered with their ability to meet the demands of their kids’ school. The demands of long study hours and early clinical hours caused stress among them and kept them from household responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, and spending time with children. Participants also felt that family support of their career choices helped their job performance.

. my father was diagnosed with lung cancer two years ago. He was resuscitated many times during his treatment. However, I was always busy working at the fever outpatient department and couldn’t spend much time with him. I still feel sad…(F7P4) .

Organization-level factors

Participants perceived that their mental health was influenced by the following four organizational-level factors, including (1) organization climate, (2) organization support, (3) career plateau, and (4) job control.

Organization climate

In this study, organization climate included emotional climate and workplace incivility. Participants perceived the importance of the emotional climate due to the transmissive nature of emotional states. It was easy to be infected by the negative emotions of colleagues, so that the entire department can generate or maintain a negative emotional climate, vice versa.

Some colleagues are always complaining, which affects others’ the mood (F3P4).

Most participates identified it was common for them to experience workplace incivility which came from their nurses, physicians, supervisors and patients. They felt disrespected, threatened reprimanded, and emotionally abused, which evoke negative emotions, such as anxiety, depression, exhaustion.

Organization support

Participants perceived that organization support (i.e., instrumental and emotional support) were related to job satisfaction and mental health. Participants identified various forms of instrumental support, including physical environment, sufficient human resource, task assistance, training opportunities and flexibility in work schedule. The support helped them to perform job roles, which also carried emotional meanings. Emotional support included listening to work concerns, allowing to vent emotions, and providing words of encouragement. The support provided socioemotional resources, involving affection, sympathy, understanding, acceptance, and recognition.

. we definitely don’t want our supervisor to scold us without getting the full picture (of the whole thing), and we really hope that supervisor investigate what really happened…(F7P2) .

Career plateau

Our participants, especially seniors frequently mentioned the challenge of double career plateau which includes hierarchical plateau and content plateau. They felt frustrated and even hopeless when they were experiencing a permanent end in career advancement. Some participants perceived little opportunity for vertical improvement because of the flattened pyramid shape within the hospital. Some participants expressed the concern about future professional recession because they have limited opportunities to master new skills.

Everyone think that our nurses don’t seem to have a future, especially the male nurses… only one or two nurses can really be head nurses (F2P1).

Job control

Many participates complained that they lack of control over work time and tasks. They had to extend their work time without compensation, leading to work-family conflicts. They felt exhausted and disgusted when they were asked to attend training and meetings immediately after night shifts. Additionally, some participants got annoyed by research tasks because they were not interested in it, and some participants felt incompetent at it because they did not receive relevant training.

we were asked to attend meetings and participate training and other activities after we finish our night shift. It’s really annoying (F7P5).

Social-level factors

Participants identified three social-level factors associated with the mental health, including (1) compensation package, (2) social status, and (3) legislative provision and policy.

Compensation package

Many participants were not satisfied with their compensation package. They indicated feelings of inadequate reward for their efforts and the level of responsibility, and unfairness of salary compared with doctors. Some participants felt unsafe because the institute did not buy pension insurance for them.

I did not have pension insurance, I feel stressed (laughing)… I reckon that as long as our profession enjoys good welfare and incentives…People will regard nursing as a valuable profession…(F2P8) .

Social status

Some participants perceived their social status as low, and it is common for them to receive discrimination from patients, relatives and doctors. Participants shared their experience of being viewed as servants by patients in the ward, which made them feel humiliated. They frankly voiced that their low social status, low salary and unsatisfactory professional image made them reluctant to recommend this career to others.

…In the eyes of most people, our status, ,are indeed low, they (patients) look down on us as if we were just waiters (F7P7)… .

Legislative provision and policy

Participants believe that legislative provision and supportive policy was an effective approach to improve social status and professional image.

How do you advocate for the rights of nurses? I believe the legal aspect is more important…(F5P4) .

To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study which explored factors associated with mental health of clinical nurses by using socio-ecological model. The study advances the literature by emphasizing (1) the mental health is influenced by multi-level factors which include intrapersonal - (i.e., personality traits, quality of sleep, workplace adaptability, and years of work experience), interpersonal (i.e., interpersonal support and role conflict), organizational (i.e., organization climate, organization support, career plateau, and job control), and social-level factors (i.e., including compensation package, social status, and legislative provision and policy), (2) the interaction between factors, and (3) the reciprocal relationship between individuals’ mental health and their environments.

Consistent with the findings of previous research [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ], our study found that nurses experience more work-to-family conflict than family-to-work conflict, leading to a feeling of stress and guilt. This may be because work and family life are mutually incompatible to some extent. Nurses experience high levels of physical, cognitive, and emotional demands due to the nature of the nursing profession. Meanwhile, most nurses are women, indicating a substantial number of dual-career or single-woman-headed households. They always are expected to take the primary responsibility for childcare and housework by themselves and society [ 36 ]. Therefore, they feel guilty when their work interferes with household duties and family responsibilities, or work detracts from quality time with their families. Notably, our study also found that organizational support (i.e., supportive working environment and flexibility in work schedule) and family support systems could help to mitigate work-family conflict. Consistently, organizational support has been identified as a valuable resource for fostering positive work attitudes and alleviating depressive symptoms [ 37 , 38 ].

Our study recognized the occurrence of double career plateau in nursing. This is because hierarchical and content plateau are closely connected. For example, the hierarchical plateau could lead to the content plateau. Nurse staff are more like to decrease their effort and consciously avoid holding more responsibilities due to the absence of promotion opportunities. Vice versa, nurse staff who are unable to expand their job expertise have limited opportunity for promotion. Notable, our study found that some nursing staff have initiated strategies to manage career plateau by improving academic qualifications. This finding was supported by previous evidence showing that more and more nurses are pursuing master’s and doctorates degrees [ 39 ]. Therefore, those nurses are more likely to experience role conflict and have compromised mental health [ 40 ]. Because they must navigate the added role of a student in addition to their professional career and family responsibilities within limited time and energy [ 41 ]. The career plateau not only leads to mental health problems (e.g.,depression, psychological stress, and burnout) but also exerts adverse effects on physical health. These effects manifest as irritability, outbursts, deteriorating service attitudes, confrontations with managers [ 42 ]. Nursing organizations and managers can address career plateau by providing more opportunities for advancement in nursing positions and titles and by establishing multi-dimensional career advancement pathways. For instance, implementing hierarchical management for nurses [ 43 ] can diversify career opportunities, motivate them, and ease the sense of professional stagnation, thereby alleviating mental health issues linked to career plateaus.

Our study found that nurses experience workplace uncivil acts from various sources, involving other nurses, physicians, supervisors, patients, and visitors. Consistently, evidence indicated that 65.7 − 90.4% of nurses were exposed to some degree of incivility. Previous studies have examined how this destructive behaviour affects organizational and individual outcomes, and which factors influence it [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Workplace incivility could cause emotional distress and productivity losses in nurses. This situation may be detrimental to patient safety and satisfaction. These negative outcomes could leads to financial strain on healthcare organizations [ 49 ]. Uncivil interactions within the healthcare team could be triggered by organizational and interpersonal factors, such as lack of support, heavy workload, inadequate personnel, and long working shifts. Particularly, these interactions negatively affect nurses who are the backbone of the team. Similarly, these factors were identified as risk factors of mental health of nurses in our study. We also found that support from other supervisors and coworkers could create healthy work environment, which is associated with improved mental health of nurses.

Strengths and limitations

A strength of this study was the use of the social ecological model as a theoretical framework. Contributory factors identified within each level of the framework were discussed by participants. This highlights that interventions developed around these contributory factors have the potential to improve clinical nurses’ mental health.

This study only recruited clinical nurses in one tertiary hospital, which may limits its generalizability. Our participants were recruited through the existing network of the author team, which may lead to selection bias.

This groundbreaking study has utilized the socio-ecological model to illuminate the intricate web of factors influencing the mental health of clinical nurses. The findings underscore the need for holistic interventions that address not only intrapersonal and interpersonal factors but also organizational and social-level factors to promote nurses’ well-being. By acknowledging the complexities of the nursing profession, healthcare organizations, managers, and policymakers can take proactive steps to create supportive environments, foster career development, and mitigate the adverse effects of workplace incivility. Ultimately, these efforts hold the promise of enhancing the mental health and overall job satisfaction of clinical nurses, which in turn contributes to improved patient care and healthcare system performance.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their sincere thanks to the research participants.

This study was supported by the grant of the 2023 Scientific Research Projects of the Chinese Nursing Association (Nurses’ mental health study, ID: ZHKY202306).

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Qiang Yu and Chongmei Huang should be considered the joint first authors. Qiang Yu and Chongmei Huang made equal contributions to this manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

Qiang Yu, Yusheng Tian, Jiaxin Yang, Xuting Li, Jie Du, Jiaqing He & Yamin Li

School of Nursing, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China

Chongmei Huang

School of Nursing, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, China

Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, China

Meng Ning & Zengyu Chen

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Contributions

YQ, HCM, TYS, YJX and LYM designed the study. HCM and YJX performed the interview. YQ, HCM, TYS, LXT, CZY, DJ and HJQ analyzed data. YQ, HCM, TYS, LXT, NM, CZY, DJ and HJQ did background researches, helped data transcriptions using software. YQ have drafted the manuscript. LYM supervised the research and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yamin Li .

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Ethics approval and consent to participate.

The Ethics Committee of National Clinical Medical Research Center, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University approved this study (No.2023 − 0267). Formal written informed consent was obtained from each participant. Apart from the aim and pro-cedure of this study, nurses were also told that the participation wouldn’t affect them or their career, the whole interview would be audio-recorded and the anonymous records would only be used for this study. Besides, they were told about their rights to refuse to answer any question or withdraw at any time as well. With agreement to participant, they would sign an informed consent, after which they would be officially included in the study and interviewed. All methods were performed in accordance with the guidelines and regulations of the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Yu, Q., Huang, C., Tian, Y. et al. Factors associated with clinical nurse’s mental health: a qualitative study applying the social ecological model. BMC Nurs 23 , 330 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02005-9

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Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing for Mental Health Nurses

March 8, 2023

View all blog posts under Articles | View all blog posts under Doctor of Nursing Practice | View all blog posts under Master of Science in Nursing

The nursing profession has long taken the lead in practicing evidence-based care. Evidence-based care relies on nurses’ clinical expertise, critical thinking, and research knowledge. Nurses use this skill set to support patient care decisions and as a lens through which to view patient outcomes.

Evidence-based practice in nursing may be even more crucial for mental health nurse practitioners . Mental and behavioral health disorders are complex, as patients may suffer from two or more diagnoses. Additionally, patients may be homeless or incarcerated, making treatment even more difficult.

An advanced degree program that supplies a rigorous background in evidence-based practice is essential for any nurse planning a career in mental and behavioral health.

What Are Evidence-Based Mental Health Services?

Evidence-based mental health services recognize that patients don’t just need therapeutic care; they may also suffer from loss of housing and income, among other basic needs. They may live in high-crime areas and are more likely to be incarcerated. Evidence-based mental health services often combine psychiatric and therapeutic treatment with services that include helping patients find housing, employment, and other support.

The following are some examples of evidence-based practices and treatments supported by SAMHSA. Mental health nurses engaged in evidence-based nursing practice may employ these treatments to support individuals dealing with mental and behavioral health issues.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

Assertive community treatment seeks to provide behavioral health services in the community setting. The framework serves conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. ACT services seek to maintain outpatient treatments and ensure regular, ongoing therapies.

Using the framework, various health care practitioners provide services such as assistance with activities of daily living (ADL), help managing family responsibilities, and support in securing important needs such as food and housing.

Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders

Integrated treatment delivers dual treatments for patients diagnosed with behavioral health and substance abuse disorders. By combining the two services, patients usually have a better chance of making a full, long-term recovery.

Practitioners provide patients with services and resources such as case management, outreach, housing, and employment assistance. The framework aids the high-risk dual diagnoses population, who are more likely to relapse and resume substance use, suffer from poor health, or face homelessness.

 Illness Management and Recovery (IMR)

Illness management and recovery is an evidence-based psychiatric treatment framework for patients with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia. It’s designed to allow patients to participate actively in their own recoveries. During ongoing weekly sessions, behavioral health practitioners help patients develop treatment plans and identify goals. This may encompass teaching recovery methodologies, behavioral health facts, and stress management techniques.

Practitioners also teach patients how to build and maintain social support networks, reduce the chances of resuming drug use, and use prescribed medications effectively. The teaching techniques of this framework might also include cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational sessions.

Permanent Supportive Housing

Homelessness is a complex challenge in treating people with mental health and substance use disorders. Not only can homelessness worsen a patient’s mental health condition, but it also makes them physically vulnerable to violence, disease, and incarceration. According to SAMHSA, the longer a person experiences homelessness, the harder it is to get them the treatment they need. The agency recommends moving people to permanent housing, with additional support services including therapy, treatment, financial support, and training services, without requiring transitional steps such as getting sober first.

Screening for Postpartum Depression

A study in BMC Psychiatry found nearly 20% of mothers experience postpartum depression, which can impact the health of the mother and the child. Screening and treating pregnant mothers for perinatal depression (depression during pregnancy) can help reduce instances of postpartum depression and in some cases improve the physical and mental health of babies.

Additional Treatments for Mental and Behavioral Health

Many mental health treatment practices are evidence-based and numerous studies have reinforced their effectiveness. Some of the most common evidence-based techniques for treating mental health, behavioral health, and substance use include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) , helps patients change patterns of behavior.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) , is based on CBT practices, while also focusing on emotion regulation and mindfulness, among other techniques. It is shown to be effective in treating various mental health disorders.
• Motivational interviewing , uses open questions, affirmations, reflection, and summarizing to help people overcome substance use disorders.

Some therapies are not considered evidence-based, even though they may be popular and effective, such as:

• 12-step programs : Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) pioneered the 12-step process. Some aspects of 12-step programs can be very effective in helping individuals deal with substance use.
• Talk therapy : A traditional form of therapy, talk therapy is widely used on its own and in conjunction with other treatments.

The Role of Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNPs) in Evidence-Based Practice

In the United States, more Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs are emerging to fill the anticipated shortage of health care talent. The nation needs these professionals to fill the service gaps faced by underserved populations in settings such as rural communities, schools, prisons, and urgent care facilities.

DNP-educated nurses are well-positioned to bring the evidence-based nursing practice to the communities they serve. With their background in research and clinical practice, they can lead the establishment of evidence-based plans and criteria at hospitals, clinics, and government agencies.

Become a Leader in Evidence-Based Nursing

Are you eager to become a leader in the field of mental health nursing? The Regis College online MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice program offers an excellent foundation in evidence-based nursing practice, equipping you with the tools to embrace the exciting challenges of delivering best-in-class mental and behavioral health services. The curriculum includes classes in advanced research, informatics and statistics, cultural perspectives in health care, and more. Explore your options and take your first steps to make a difference in nursing.

Recommended Reading

What Is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?

How Nurse Practitioners Can Become Community Advocates

10 Best Practices to Promote Cultural Awareness in the Nursing Profession

Behavioral Health Resources, “PACT: Program for Assertive Community Treatment”

BMC Psychiatry , “Screening Programs for Common Maternal Mental Health Disorders Among Perinatal Women: Report of the Systematic Review of Evidence”

Frontiers in Psychiatry, “Effects of Illness Management and Recovery: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial”

Psychology Today , “From Evidence-Based Practice to Practice-Based Evidence”

THERAPlatform, “ Evidence-Based Practices for Mental Health”

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “ About the Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center”

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “The Case for Screening and Treatment of Co-Occurring Disorders”

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Homelessness Resources: Housing and Shelter”

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, “Mental Health Myths and Facts”

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Research Topics

Five research topics exploring the science of mental health.

Mental wellbeing is increasingly recognized as an essential aspect of our overall health. It supports our ability to handle challenges, build strong relationships, and live more fulfilling lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of mental health by acknowledging it as a fundamental human right.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we highlight the remarkable work of scientists driving open research that helps everyone achieve better mental health.

Here are five Research Topics that study themes including how we adapt to a changing world, the impact of loneliness on our wellbeing, and the connection between our diet and mental health.

All articles are openly available to view and download.

1 | Community Series in Mental Health Promotion and Protection, volume II

40.300 views | 16 articles

There is no health without mental health. Thus, this Research Topic collects ideas and research related to strategies that promote mental health across all disciplines. The goal is to raise awareness about mental health promotion and protection to ensure its incorporation in national mental health policies.

This topic is of relevance given the mental health crisis being experienced across the world right now. A reality that has prompted the WHO to declare that health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing.

View Research Topic

2 | Dietary and Metabolic Approaches for Mental Health Conditions

176.800 views | 11 articles

There is increased recognition that mental health disorders are, at least in part, a form of diet-related disease. For this reason, we focus attention on a Research Topic that examines the mechanistic interplay between dietary patterns and mental health conditions.

There is a clear consensus that the quality, quantity, and even timing of our human feeding patterns directly impact how brains function. But despite the epidemiological and mechanistic links between mental health and diet-related diseases, these two are often perceived as separate medical issues.

Even more urgent, public health messaging and clinical treatments for mental health conditions place relatively little emphasis on formulating nutrition to ease the underlying drivers of mental health conditions.

3 | Comparing Mental Health Cross-Culturally

94.000 views | 15 articles

Although mental health has been widely discussed in later years, how mental health is perceived across different cultures remains to be examined. This Research Topic addresses this gap and deepens our knowledge of mental health by comparing positive and negative psychological constructs cross-culturally.

The definition and understanding of mental health remain to be refined, partially because of a lack of cross-cultural perspectives on mental health. Also, due to the rapid internationalization taking place in the world today, a culturally aware understanding of, and interventions for mental health problems are essential.

4 | Adaption to Change and Coping Strategies: New Resources for Mental Health

85.000 views | 29 articles

In this Research Topic, scientists study a wider range of variables involved in change and adaptation. They examine changes of any type or magnitude whenever the lack of adaptive response diminishes our development and well-being.

Today’s society is characterized by change, and sometimes, the constant changes are difficult to assimilate. This may be why feelings of frustration and defenselessness appear in the face of the impossibility of responding adequately to the requirements of a changing society.

Therefore, society must develop an updated notion of the processes inherent to changing developmental environments, personal skills, resources, and strategies. This know-how is crucial for achieving and maintaining balanced mental health.

5 | Mental Health Equity

29.900 views | 10 articles

The goal of this Research Topic is to move beyond a synthesis of what is already known about mental health in the context of health equity. Rather, the focus here is on transformative solutions, recommendations, and applied research that have real world implications on policy, practice, and future scholarship.

Attention in the field to upstream factors and the role of social and structural determinants of health in influencing health outcomes, combined with an influx of innovation –particularly the digitalization of healthcare—presents a unique opportunity to solve pressing issues in mental health through a health equity lens.

The topic is opportune because factors such as structural racism and climate change have disproportionately negatively impacted marginalized communities across the world, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and transition-age youth and young adults. As a result, existing disparities in mental health have exacerbated.

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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 set-up
• 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

Academic Writing Service: Work Directly With the Experts

The are list of best nursing research paper topics ends here. However, we still have something helpful for you. Writing a dissertation or a nursing paper is time consuming – needless to mention the mental exertion. That explains why the majority of students prefer seeking research writing help.

Take, for example, apessay.com , a place where you can get in touch with registered experts who have successfully passed their competency examinations to provide academic writing service at an affordable rate. The three USPs include plagiarism free content, complete privacy and security standards to protect your personal info, and money-back guarantee.

What makes apessay.com academic writing service unique is you can work in direct cooperation with your preferred writer and consult them for everything – from choosing a relevant topic to revisions for final submission.

Feel free to get professional help from nursing research paper writing service which will take care of your nursing papers online.

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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Research demand signalling: mental health nursing

Version 1, May 2024

The role of the mental health nurse is pivotal to delivering high-quality and holistic care to people experiencing mental ill health. It is also central to progress on some of the key challenges facing our healthcare system, including reducing health inequalities, promoting population health, developing our workforce and improving the quality and efficiency of the services we offer to the public.

And yet, despite its critical importance, we don’t have enough research on mental health nursing – or enough targeted funding to support it.

This report identifies the central questions we need researchers to help us answer in this area. It’s aimed at research funders and the academic research community, as well as the people delivering and using mental health services.

We owe it to those facing, or at risk of, mental ill health to do everything we can to achieve genuinely person-centred, recovery-focused and ethically sound mental health treatment and care – and we hope this report will help the research community engage in this vital effort.

Dr Emma Wadey , Deputy Director for Mental Health Nursing, NHS England. Professor Alison Richardson , Head of Nursing Research – Academic Leadership and Strategy, NHS England.

The NHS Long Term Plan sets out the priorities and goals of the NHS the until the end of the decade, with details for mental health delivery identified in the NHS Mental Health Long Term Implementation Plan 2019/20 – 2023/24 .

The NHS England Horizon Scanning, Demand Signalling and Innovation Business Development team (referred to below as the ‘Demand Signalling Team’) have developed the research demand signal process to identify, prioritise and articulate the research priorities NHS services need answers to in order to facilitate delivery against the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan.

Late in 2021, the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for England published the Strategic Plan for Research , setting out a policy framework for developing and investing in research. It called for nurse-led research aligned to public need and processes to identify and prioritise the most pressing areas for research and those most pertinent to the practice of nursing.

In 2022, NHS England published a research demand signal for the national mental health programme and, in response to the Strategic Plan’s recommendations. The CNO for England’s research team, along with the Deputy Director for Mental Health Nursing and the Demand Signalling Team, brought together clinicians, academics, policy experts, patient and public representatives and people with lived experience to identify high-level priority areas for research in the field of mental health nursing.

1. Health equity, prevention and population health:

• how can we develop and implement nurse-led interventions to improve the physical health of people with mental illness and those approaching the end of life?
• how can we understand and address pervasive inequalities in the application of restrictive practices

2. Person-centred practice :

• what are the most effective approaches to safety planning and risk management?
• what are the best ways to generate personalised, recovery focused care plans, including how to tailor the process of collaborative care planning to the needs and preferences of people from marginalised groups?

3. Workforce, people and culture:

• what outcomes, organisational factors and nursing workforce characteristics should we measure when studying relationships between the mental health nursing workforce and patient outcomes?
• how should we staff and organise mental health nursing services (including those in advanced roles) to achieve the best experience and outcomes for patients?
• what types of nurse interventions are most likely to impact on population health, patient outcomes, access to care and experience of care in different contexts and with different populations?

This report presents the research questions we have identified using our demand signalling process and the key evidence gaps in these areas.  These will be used to influence research activity and funding calls and are consistent with several of the Department of Health and Social Care’s areas of research interest (ARIs) , the mental health research goals 2020-2030 , and the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan .

Introduction

The previous Demand signal for mental health (2022) identified 5 key areas for research. 

This report does not seek to replicate those areas. It focuses on research priorities in the field of mental health nursing specifically, and draws on Baroness Watkins of Tavistock’s Review of mental health nursing in England (2022) , as well as the Mental health implementation plan and the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan .

Key themes emerging from these publications that are relevant to mental health nursing include:

• decreasing health inequities across the lifespan
• collaborative working with patients, families, and carers
• supporting the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 to prevent the inappropriate use of force
• ensuring accountability and transparency about the use of force in mental health

The NHS Long Term Plan’s commitment to personalised care involves giving people the same choice and control over their mental and physical health that they have come to expect in every other aspect of their lives. 

There has been progress in fulfilling these in addressing the evidence gaps set out in the demand signal for mental health (2022) , but significant evidence gaps in our understanding specific to mental health nursing practice remain. This research demand signalling process has focused on those areas.

To determine evidence gaps and detailed research questions aligned with the scope of practice of mental health nursing in England (children, young people and adults) for people in their own homes, residential homes and facilities or in hospital.

Our approach

Demand signalling is the process of identifying, prioritising, and articulating the most important research questions and innovation challenges that need addressing to deliver against the ambitions set out in the NHS Long Term Plan (and other subsequent policies of relevance since publication of the plan) and making researchers and funders aware of them.

Having sight of these specific research questions means that future research can address gaps in the landscape and support the NHS to lead in the planning and delivery of research-informed health care. The methods previously developed and utilised by the NHS England Demand Signalling Team (see Annex 1 ) for a schematic overview of the overall approach) were, with some adaptation, used for this work. 

A series of workshops and evidence gathering activities were used to iteratively refine areas of unmet research need. The CNO for England’s research team co-led the process with the Deputy Director for Mental Health Nursing at NHS England, supported by colleagues in the Demand Signalling Team.

An oversight group was established to oversee and co-deliver the demand signal process.  This group had representation from the policy and strategy unit in the Nursing Directorate at NHS England, the mental health nursing profession, public voice partners, relevant policy leads and clinical directors at NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), topic expert academic advisors and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Key policy documents, along with the recently published Research Demand Signal for the National Mental Health programme, the CNO’s Strategic Plan for Research and the NHS Long Term Plan, formed the 3 overarching themes on which to focus the priority areas of research need in the field of mental health nursing:

• health equity, prevention and population health
• person-centred practice
• workforce, people and culture

The oversight group convened a series of workshops inviting nurses from a range of professional backgrounds, nursing academics, policy experts and people with lived experience from the mental health community (see Annex 2 ).  Workshop participants were asked to identify and prioritise high-level areas of research need aligned with the 3 overarching themes.

Gaps in evidence were then scoped, followed by further stakeholder engagement using electronic surveys. People were asked to submit suggestions for research questions aligned with the areas of need using a participant, intervention, comparison and outcome (PICO) framework where appropriate.

This resulted in a list of 112 questions that were then sifted, de-duplicated, merged (where they were similar) and scored ( Annex 3 ).

We ended up with 19 questions aligned with 8 specific topic areas ( Annex 4 outlines the PICO evaluation’s prioritising criteria). At a final workshop, participants were asked to rank the 19 questions, to identify the top priority question relating to the original and overarching 3 high-level priority areas.

Detailed considerations from the stakeholder workshops are also included below.

1. Health equity, prevention and population health

We identified 7 priority research questions across 3 topic areas in health equity, prevention and population health.

1.1 Policy ambition: health equity

The NHS Long Term Plan and the Long Term Mental Health Implementation Plan demonstrate commitment to health inequities across the lifespan and support the advancing mental health equalities strategy (2020) to bridge the gaps for communities fairing worse than others in mental health services.

The Advancing Mental Health Equalities Strategy underlines the importance of collecting and using data to inform intelligent insights and decision-making in advancing mental health inequalities.

1.1.1 Detailed research question

What mental health nurse-delivered health promotion interventions can best improve the long-term physical health conditions of people with mental illness?

Key evidence gaps:

• There is a lack of evidence as to what nurse-delivered interventions might work, with whom and in what circumstances in a variety of settings, to improve long-term physical health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and lung conditions for people with mental illness.
• There is a gap in knowledge across the life span and in different care contexts, including but not limited to community, inpatient, secure units, to support physical health and improve health inequities.

1.1.2 Detailed research question

How can people with mental illness be best supported to access, engage, and sustain involvement with interventions to improve physical health?

• There is a lack of evidence about what enables people with mental illness to access, and subsequently sustain engagement with, interventions directed at improving physical health conditions such as screening for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, obesity checks and cancer screening.

1.2 Policy ambition: palliative and end-of-life care

The Ambitions framework for palliative and end-of-life care sets out NHS England’s vision to improve end-of-life care through partnership and collaborative action. It builds upon the NHS Long Term Plan commitments for palliative and end-of-life care.  Each person is to be seen as an individual and receive fair access to care.

1.2.1 Detailed research question:

What are the specific needs of people (and their families) with severe mental illness who are receiving palliative or end of life care?

Key evidence gap:

• There is a gap in knowledge about the needs of people with severe mental illness who are in the last year of life and how best to meet these needs. People who are the most vulnerable report a poorer quality of end-of-life care.

1.2.2 Detailed research question:

What approaches to palliative and end-of-life care are most effective for and acceptable to people with severe mental illness?

• There is a lack of evidence about how to best tailor and personalise end-of-life care for patients with mental illness. We need to understand how to address inequalities, including inequalities in access, to palliative and end-of-life care and variations in aspects of palliative care.

1.3 Policy ambition: understanding the use of force

The Acute Inpatient Mental Health Care for Adults and Older Adults guidance sets out NHS England’s aim to prevent the inappropriate use of force and ensure accountability and transparency through a person-centred approach about the use of force. The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 provides statutory guidance and supports this ambition.

1.3.1 Detailed research question:

What are the factors that influence unwarranted variation in the use of restrictive practices in relation to gender and ethnicity and how might these be addressed?

• There is a need to understand what factors influence variation in restrictive practices especially ethnicity and gender, and across different clinical settings and geographies.

1.3.2 Detailed research question:

What interventions can mental health nurses implement to address unwarranted variations in restrictive practices and reduce inequities across diverse populations ( gender, ethnicity, language, learning difficulties, substance use ) ?

• There is a lack of evidence about the unwarranted variation in restrictive practices including, but not limited to, chemical, environmental, mechanical, physical restrictions, and seclusion.

1.3.3 Detailed research question:

What impact does the application of restrictive practices have on patients, families and staff and how might these be addressed?

• There is a lack of evidence about the practice of restrictive interventions, particularly in relation to ethnicity and gender, and their impact on patients, families and staff.

1.4 Detailed considerations

• there are significant evidence gaps in our understanding of how health inequalities are experienced by people with a mental illness with a variety of characteristics, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds (for example, individuals from Black or Asian backgrounds), those for whom English is a second language, those with disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, children and young people, and people with learning difficulties and autism
• there is a need to understand why and how these groups access mental health services at a later stage in their illness and have poorer health outcomes
• there is an overlap with the 2020-2030 mental health research goal to improve understanding of the links between physical and mental health and eliminate the mortality gap. There is limited evidence about the effectiveness of health promotion strategies delivered by mental health nurses for people with mental ill health (including for those with severe mental illness (SMI)). This includes screening for common long-term physical conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, oral health and smoking cessation programmes. There is a need to develop tailored interventions and integrated models of care to support the maintenance of physical health by people with mental health problems, particularly for those who have a co-occurring long-term physical health condition
• there is limited evidence about whether peer support can influence uptake of health checks
• there is a need to understand whether unconscious bias amongst the mental health nursing workforce influences decision making during the selection and application of restrictive practices and the impact these practices have on individuals, teams and organisations

2. Person-centred practice

We identified 6 priority research questions across 3 topic areas in person-centred practice.

2.1 Policy ambition: understanding the risks of harm to patients

The Long Term Mental Health Implementation Plan committed to working to ensure people feel safe and well-cared for.

2.1.1 Detailed research question

What are the most appropriate approaches for mental health nurses to effectively manage the risks of harm to patients in different healthcare settings (for example, inpatient, community, and secure mental health services)?

• lack of understanding around the best ways to mitigate the risks of harm for people with mental illness in different care environments

2.2 Policy ambition: preventing suicide and improving support for patients and families

Prevention and early detection are a key element of the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England: 2023 to 2028 . The common priorities are: reducing the suicide rate over the next 5 years, improving support for people who have self-harmed, and improving support for people bereaved by suicide.

2.2.1 Detailed research question

What are the best approaches to safety planning and risk management by mental health nurses, for the prevention of suicide and self-harm that meet the needs and preferences of individuals and families?

• there is a gap in knowledge around the best models and approaches to clinical safety planning in different contexts and populations
• we need to understand what approaches to use for suicide and self-harm safety planning best meet the needs and preferences of individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and across the lifespan

2.3 Policy ambition: improving risk management and safety planning

NHS England has convened a safety-planning working group to identify opportunities to improve the quality and culture of risk management and safety planning within mental health services.

2.3.1 Detailed research question

How can we enable service users, families and caregivers to co-design safety plans and do these sorts of plans reduce incidents and aid recovery?

• We need to understand how best to involve families and caregivers from diverse backgrounds in the development and implementation of suicide safety plans and prevention programmes.

2.4 Policy ambition: personalised care

The NHS Long Term Plan commitment to personalised care involves giving people the same choice and control over their mental and physical health that they have come to expect in every other aspect of their lives. Personalised care focuses on what matters to individuals and their particular strengths and needs.

2.4.1 Detailed research question

What are the determinants of effective care planning by mental health nurses in different groups of service users, including those from marginalised groups?

• there is a gap in knowledge around the factors that promote and inhibit effective collaborative care planning practices, with little evidence on approaches to personalising collaborative care planning in response to diverse needs and preferences
• we have limited understanding of how mental health nurses can empower and involve patients as equal partners in collaborative care planning processes

2.4.2 Detailed research question

What works in enabling mental health nurses to co-produce personalised recovery-focused collaborative care planning?

• research is needed into what approaches work best in enabling mental health nurses to develop competence in, and implement and sustain, effective collaborative care planning practices

2.4.3 Detailed research question

How do mental health nurses develop, implement and evaluate family-focused approaches to collaborative care planning?

• There is a need to develop approaches to family involvement in collaborative care planning and increase our understanding of how to introduce these approaches in practice.

2.5 Detailed considerations

• the quality of nurse-patient therapeutic relationships is fundamental to effective collaborative care planning. The importance of paying attention to how person-centred therapeutic alliances are established, strengthened, and sustained was a frequently raised topic during workshops and in the evidence reviewed devoted to this theme
• understanding what works for who, when, where and in what circumstances in relation to collaborative care planning is a key evidence gap that requires filling if patients from culturally diverse communities and marginalised groups are to be effectively involved and engaged in this process
• determining the most effective approaches to collaborative care planning raises workforce considerations. The implementation of effective collaborative care planning is contingent on the development and maintenance of competence amongst the mental health nursing workforce
• collaborative care planning occurs within the context of multi-professional teams, and further exploration of the effectiveness, equity and efficiency of technology-enabled approaches to collaborative care planning and how patients and organisations benefit is needed
• prevention and early intervention are key elements of the cross-sector suicide prevention strategy. We need new and better evidence to identify and manage those at risk of suicide and self-harm and to help us understand the specific contribution mental health nurses can make to reducing the number of lives lost to suicide

3. Workforce, people and culture

We identified 6 priority research questions across 2 topic areas in workforce, people and culture.

3.1 Policy ambition: measuring nurse staffing inputs

Cross cutting areas addressed in NHS Long Term Plan and the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan include the ambition to promote a more inclusive workplace ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion is a core tenet of the profession. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan maps out how we can expand number of advanced clinical practitioners to meet the needs of the population and system and develop appropriate professional career pathways.

3.1.1 Detailed research question

How do we measure nurse staffing inputs in mental health nursing services in a meaningful way?

• there is a need to understand how to most effectively staff and organise mental health nursing services to achieve safe, sustainable, productive and high-quality nursing care

3.2 Policy ambition: understanding what nurse staffing works best

National Quality Board safer staffing guidance recommends further research into safe and sustainable staffing in mental health settings linked to outcomes.

3.2.1 Detailed research question

What numbers and mix of nursing staff achieve best outcomes for patients in mental health services (across a range of settings and contexts)?

3.2.2 Detailed research question

What are the costs and benefits associated with deploying nurses in advanced practice roles in mental health?

• there is broad consensus on the value of advanced practice roles in nursing, but we need to understand where and how to most effectively deploy nurses working in these roles in mental health services as members of multi-professional teams. What interventions are they best placed to offer?

3.2.3 Detailed research question

How do different nursing service delivery models (including skill mix, specialism and interventions offered) affect the experience and outcomes of patients with mental illness?  

• there is a need to understand the relative contribution of different approaches to mental health nurse staffing, so we understand how to achieve safe, sustainable and productive staffing that improves health outcomes. We need the right nursing staff, with the right skills, in the right place at the right time

3.2.4 Detailed research question

• what types of interventions offered by mental health nurses (including those in advanced practice roles) are associated with improved clinical outcomes, patient-reported outcomes and experiences and service outcomes?
• there is a need to develop evidence-based, needs-led nursing services and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions offered by mental health nurses, including those working in advanced practice roles

3.2.5 Detailed research question

What are meaningful measures of effectiveness in mental health nursing services, including clinical outcomes, patient reported outcomes, and service outcomes (for example, length of stay, readmission rates)?

• there is a need to understand what to measure to accurately gauge the effect of interventions offered by mental health nurses – and how measure it. This will help us broader questions, including how we assess whether the care and interventions led by mental health nursing services work.

3.3 Detailed considerations

• around half of all professionals employed by the NHS to work with people with mental health problems are mental health nurses. As a result, much of the contact patients and service users have with professionals in mental health is with nurses. The skills, training, education, activities, and organisation of the mental health nursing workforce has implications for population health, patient experience and outcomes
• whilst examining relationships between nursing staff inputs and patient outcomes, the impact of context in research design needs to be acknowledged. Aspects like organisational culture, leadership, and the physical environment, as well as patient-related characteristics like acuity, case mix and dependency require consideration
• workforce considerations will typically follow on from the development, evaluation and implementation of new approaches to nursing care and treatment. Working closely with people with mental illness, their families and their nurses while developing new approaches will improve adoption and support implementation
• the value of advanced nursing clinical practice roles in the delivery of mental healthcare is recognised, but we need to continue to evaluate effectiveness and identify what contexts best suit this type of nursing role (including consultant roles)
• there is an overlap related to this topic with the mental health research goals 2020-2023, specifically the goal directed at developing new and improved treatments, interventions and support for mental health problems

Overarching themes

The overarching themes identified across the 3 priority areas were:

• the need to address the topics in the context of different populations and across the life span (children, adolescents and young people, adults, older people and people receiving palliative and end-of-life care) and in the range of contexts where mental health nurses work (in-patient units, at home, in the community, psychiatric intensive care units, secure services, maternity, schools, and social care)
• the importance of involving and engaging people with lived experience, families, and carers in all aspects of the research life cycle in shaping what research is done, how it is carried out and how the results are shared
• the need for consideration across mental health nursing services of the factors that promote and inhibit the implementation of evidence-based interventions (and highlight the relevance of implementation science to this area)
• the importance of a diverse workforce that reflects the needs of their patient and client population and possesses the appropriate skills and knowledge
• the need to pay as much attention to knowledge mobilisation as to the novelty and innovativeness of research was repeatedly emphasised across the 3 topic-specific workshops

What are the top research questions?

Participants ranked the importance of the 19 research questions identified following the electronic survey and sifting process. They did 3 separate ranking exercises to identify the top research question for each of the 3 priority areas.

The highest ranked question for each of the priority areas was:

• what mental health nurse-delivered health promotion interventions can best improve the long-term physical health conditions of people with mental illness? (health equity, prevention and population health priority area, 1.1.1)
• how can we enable service users, families and caregivers to co-design safety plans and do these sorts of plans reduce incidents and aid recovery? (person-centred practice priority area, 2.3.1)
• what types of interventions offered by mental health nurses (including those in advanced practice roles) are associated with improved clinical outcomes, patient-reported outcomes and experiences and service outcomes? (workforce, people and culture priority area, 3.2.4)

Annex 3 provides a more detailed ranking of the final questions by theme.

• this document has outlined a systematic approach to the identification and prioritisation of the key research questions for mental health nursing in England
• there are 4 communities for whom this work is relevant: people with a lived experience of mental health disorders, researchers, research funders and policymakers
• the CNO for England’s research team will work with the Mental Health Nursing and Mental Health Policy teams to raise awareness of these priorities. Key channels include the Council of Deans of Health, the Mental Health Nurse Academics UK group, the Mental Health Nurse Consultant Forum and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Mental Health Implementation Network. We will use existing channels with research funders to disseminate and raise awareness and work with the Royal College of Nursing and charities such as the RCN Foundation, the Burdett Trust for Nursing, Mental Health Research UK and MQ Mental Health Research
• for areas where relevant research is ongoing, the CNO for England’s research team will work with the NIHR to establish routes to promptly get this evidence to policymakers. The need for better use of existing and emerging evidence was frequently emphasised during the demand signalling process.
• for funding calls that are already in development, but could potentially be aligned, we will encourage funders to tailor their calls accordingly (either as a highlight notice as part of the call or as reference material to inform decision-making at selection and funding committees)
• the CNO for England’s research team and the Demand Signalling Team will work closely with funders to design bespoke calls or programmes for priority areas that are underserved and lacking evidence.
• We will monitor impact and keep partners including the research community, funders, practitioners, people with lived experience and our colleagues in devolved nations informed of our progress. We invite feedback from all of our partners on this work

Annex 1: Methodology

Research generates new knowledge and guides best practice. Demand signalling is the process of identifying the research questions that most need answering and making researchers and funders aware of them (‘signalling’).

The research demand signalling process for this report involved stakeholders from across the health and social care system and included the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s research team, policy leads, clinicians, leading academics in mental health nursing research, charities, and public contributors.

The table below summarises the key steps of the process:

The objective of Workshop 1 was to determine and agree the high-level priority areas where more research was needed.  A separate workshop was dedicated to 3 high-level priority areas (labelled “a”, “b” and “c” above). 

Through discussion in small groups at the workshops, subsequent ranking during a plenary session, and consideration by the oversight group and topic advisors, the top 3 topics aligned with the 3 mental health nursing priority themes were agreed:

Following Workshop 1, evidence gap reviews were commissioned to identify areas of unmet need for research associated with each of the high-level priority areas.  The evidence gaps were cross referenced and mapped against the outputs from Workshop 1. Topic-specific experts worked with the research teams and the evidence gap review teams. Gaps were verified with the oversight group.

Stakeholders were provided with evidence summaries related to each of the high-level priority areas and invited via an online survey to submit detailed research questions using the PICO format, where possible, namely patient and population, intervention, comparison, outcomes elated to the evidence gaps.

112 research questions (with 39 from patient and public contributors with lived experience of mental ill health) were submitted. Research questions were screened for duplicates, filtered against relevance to the high-level priority areas and prioritised against cross-cutting themes in the NHS Long Term Plan, NIHR mental health research goals and Department of Health and Social Care areas of research interest. A refined list of 19 research questions was presented at Workshop 2.

The objective of Workshop 2 was to bring together academics, mental health nurses, those with lived experience and associated partners such as NIHR, other research funders and charities to present the evidence gaps and rank the 19 questions in order of priority according to theme. The workshop included 60 stakeholders (see Annex 2 ).

Annex 2: Stakeholder engagement summary

Workshop 1 involved 52 stakeholders representing a wide range of organisations from across the health sector:

• 50% were practitioners
• 28% were academics
• 13% were policy professionals
• 9% were members of the public

Workshop 2 involved a wider group of 60 participants:

• 42% were academics
• 28% were practitioners
• 13% were members of the public
• 12% were policy professionals
• 3% were from charities
• 2% were students

Both workshops were held virtually. A separate virtual workshop was also held with patient and public contributors to facilitate input to the process of research question development.                                       

Annex 3: Priority topics for research ranked by theme at Workshop 2

Table: health equity, prevention and population health – ranking of questions, table: person-centred practice – ranking of questions, table: workforce, people and culture – ranking of questions, annex 4: prioritisation criteria for picos.

In advance of the final workshop, participants were provided with the evidence gap summaries related to each of the high-level priority areas. They were then invited to submit detailed PICO-style research questions related to the evidence gaps. 

After screening for duplicates and grouping largely similar questions, these were filtered and prioritised internally against a set of predetermined criteria.

An initial review assessed the overall alignment of the proposed questions with the research demand signalling process.  Questions were dismissed if they did not relate to a high-level priority area identified in the first series of workshops, did not address a well-articulated evidence gap or were unlikely to be researchable.

Table: Criteria used to assess PICO submissions during the initial sift

A second sift using second layer criteria to prioritise the research questions and score using the scale Yes, Somewhat or No to prioritise PICOs against was then undertaken.

Table: Criteria used to prioritise further using secondary criteria

Does the research question address any of the following areas of DHSC ARI?

Does the research question address the NIHR Mental Health Research Goals?

Publications reference: PRN00063

Nursing assessment of mental health issues in the general clinical environment: A descriptive study

Affiliations.

• 1 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.
• 2 Joondalup Health Campus, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.
• PMID: 38738987
• DOI: 10.1111/jan.16214

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of a mental health screening form for early identification and care escalation of mental health issues in general settings. A secondary aim was to explore general nurses' use of the form and their confidence to discuss mental health issues with patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional design comprising a review of clinical records to determine use of the form, instances of missed care and escalation to the mental health team. The survey focused on nurses' confidence in general settings to engage in discussions with patients about mental health. Data were collected from April to December 2022. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology Statement guided this study.

Results: Of 400 patient records, 397 were analysed; 293 (73.8%) of those had mental health screening by nurses. Age was a significant factor, with younger patients more likely to be screened although concerns were typically recognized in older patients. Of the 20 patients identified with mental health concerns, 9 (45%) were referred for further evaluation by the Clinical Liaison Team. While nurses were proactive in assessing physical risks, assessing risk factors that required deeper conversations with patients, including psychiatric history, was lacking. The survey highlighted fewer than half of the respondents (46%, n = 10) felt competent to engage in discussions about mental health; however, most (59%, n = 13) knew when to seek a mental health referral.

Conclusions: General nurses have a role in the early identification and referral of patients with mental health challenges. However, training is imperative to facilitate deeper patient interactions concerning mental health. Integrating mental health checks within general settings is crucial for early detection and intervention, aligning with global quality care standards.

Reporting method: STROBE guidelines.

Patient or public contribution: We received feedback that shaped the research protocol from a consumer representative.

Keywords: adult nursing; mental health; nurse roles; quantitative approaches; screening.

© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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May 16, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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Research looks at how loneliness and mental health problems are interconnected

by Steinar Brandslet, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

In a new study, researchers looked at whether lonely people are more prone to problems such as depression and psychosis. Based on medication use, the correlation is clear.

"We have found a correlation between loneliness and several mental health problems," says Associate Professor Rubén Rodríguez-Cano at NTNU's Department of Psychology.

"The risk of a lonely person also struggling with mental health problems is greater than for people who are not lonely."

The results have been published in BJPsych Open .

What comes first?

The mental health problems identified by the study are both serious and wide-ranging.

"Our research indicates that loneliness increases the risk of developing psychosis, bipolar disorders and severe depression ," says Rodríguez-Cano.

But is it loneliness that causes the mental health problems, or is it the mental health problems that cause people to feel lonely?

It can be both.

"When evaluating how loneliness develops from adolescence to adulthood, we found that people with psychotic and bipolar disorders are more likely to experience increased loneliness after adolescence.

Although we cannot identify causality in our study, the correlation between loneliness and serious mental illness is clear from a long-term perspective," says Associate Professor Rodríguez-Cano.

Multiple correlations

Loneliness and being alone are two different things. Some people choose to be alone and cope just fine without it having a negative impact on their mental health, but lonely people can really struggle.

"For example, people who are in the early stages of mental illness during their adolescence may experience problems with their social relationships . This can result in them feeling more alone, and this worsens their psychopathology," says Rodríguez-Cano.

Moreover, people who generally feel lonely may experience low self-esteem , and this can lead to loneliness, which in turn can increase mental disorders in adulthood.

The researchers studied approximately 2,600 people who participated in the long-term study Young in Norway, which has been ongoing since 1992. It follows thousands of people who were teenagers in the 1990s.

The researchers can therefore see how the participants have fared over a long period of time. In this study, they followed the participants for over 20 years. The information they gathered was compiled with data about medication use from the Norwegian Prescription Database.

"More than 80% of the participants did not receive mental health medication during the period we investigated," says Associate Professor Rodríguez-Cano.

In other words, most people do not struggle with mental health problems. However, 12% received at least one type of psychotropic medication, and 7% received two or more. In total, these groups consist of almost 500 people.

"Researchers, politicians and various social actors, both at preventive and clinical levels, should monitor loneliness during adolescence. We need to create opportunities for young people to feel less alone, thus preventing mental health problems," Rodríguez-Cano said.

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