210 Best Nursing Research Topics

Deciding on a good nursing research topic is a real challenge. It is, however, a requirement that a nursing student you have to meet before you graduate from nursing school. A nursing research paper shows your knowledge in a specific course area. 210 Best Nursing Research Topics:

The research process is time-consuming and stressful as the nursing course is broad. The complexity of the study also makes it difficult to choose a topic that stands out and is unique. You must select an up-to-date and straightforward theme to find research material.

What is a nursing research paper?

A nursing research paper is part of the nursing curriculum, which helps students learn how to organize information, document research, manage time and write professionally. A nurse needs to learn how to communicate efficiently while writing as they will be documenting a patient’s medical history later in their career.

A nursing research paper is used to assess the students’ knowledge, analytical skills, and research capabilities. The research paper consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion. It can be argumentative, analytical, or expository.

Introduction of a nursing research paper

A good introduction will encourage the reader to continue reading. Therefore, your introduction must have an attention grabber to hook the reader in. A well-written introduction makes an excellent first impression.

The introduction should have the following.

• Hook- to grab the attention of the reader
• Introduction of the topic
• Thesis statement
• Outline of the study
• Overview of the main points

Introducing the topic

Tell the reader what the topic is about and why it is essential through the introduction. Make them interested by engaging them using a thought-provoking question, statistic, anecdote, or quote. However, the hook you choose to use must be relevant to the topic.

Highlighting the benefit of the research is a simple way of emphasizing its importance. This ensures that the reader focuses mainly on the positives of the investigation.

Setting the background of a nursing research paper.

The nature of the research paper influences the background. You can compare your research to what has been researched in the past by establishing the difference between them if the research is empirical.

Similarly, you can identify and state limitations or gaps, if any, from the previous research that you wish to fill. Refer to the available literature but not the formal literature review in the introduction. This indicates that you know about the topic you are writing about and awareness of the previous research.

Provide a general background, set the context, and narrow down your topic if your research paper is argumentative. Remember that this is just the introduction, and more background information will be in the body. Give a glimpse of the topic and keep the rest for later.

Stating the research problem

Once you set the background of your research, establish the research problem. It would be best to convince the reader you will address the situation confirmed by your analysis. Demonstrate how you will fill the gap of any previous research and the contribution of your work to the current information on the subject matter.

Outline the objectives of the paper

You need to specify what your research goal is. Present a thesis statement of not more than one or two sentences. Alternatively, propose a research question with a hypothesis.

Outline the structure of the paper

This is the last part of the introduction, and it aims at giving a brief review of the research paper. Outlining the structure of your paper will enable the reader to understand its flow. You can also highlight the main points you will be making in the article.

Citing the sources

Always cite a source once you refer to the introduction. Use the required formatting style when making a citation. Commonly used referencing styles include MLA, APA, Chicago, and Harvard.

If you are unable to begin writing starting with an introduction, you can always write the rest of the paper and come back to it later. The inspiration may be from the flow of the article, which can, in turn, help you craft a compelling and easy to write the introduction.

Considerations to make when choosing a nursing research topic

One of the most popular research questions is selecting the best case for a nursing research paper. Successful research should be innovative despite the field you are majoring in. You must remain specific. You can do this by choosing a topic that deals with diversity and ethics.

Of importance is to use relevant and reputable sources and use the format agreeable to your institution. The layout of your paper should include an introduction, three body paragraphs, conclusion with citations based on the design used.

Unless writing requirements have been given, always write in an academic style using the first person unless it is not personal reflection. Whenever you introduce unknown facts or facts that are not common, cite properly to support ideas and avoid plagiarism.

Choosing a good topic

A good nursing research topic should be unique and broad enough so that you can get enough research material from the internet or books. It can be challenging to find topics that have not been researched previously, as a repeat can lead to plagiarism.

Always perform proper research by including analysis of even popular medical issues and propose any change that can be introduced. Let your paper stand out through the choice of topic.

When choosing a topic, research through available ideas and focus on the problems and what approach can be used by making your contribution valuable. Support your thoughts by using the works of famous nursing theorists. Make your paper qualitative over quantitative.

Tips for choosing the best nursing research topic

The difficulty level of choosing a nursing research topic is relatively high. The nursing field is broad, and students struggle to find the ideal area to focus on. So how should you choose the right topic for your nursing research paper?

Choosing a topic idea

Before you settle down on a topic idea, you need to understand that the primary purpose of a research paper is to assess your understanding of the topic and how capable you are of handling it. Focus on finding a topic that has plenty of research. You should probably choose two topics and then narrow them down to one.

Best sources for nursing research topics

There are many places where you can research topics: medical journals. As a student, you may have an interest in a specific disease or condition, and that too makes for an excellent place to start your research. Alternatively, you can get inspiration from personal experience.

If you don’t have an interest in any health condition, you can choose to research the health issue that drew you to choose nursing as a career choice. Be keen on the topic you go for, as some are known to have shallow literature research.

Recent news on health issues is another area that can help you choose a topic. Review books and health journals are equally rich in ideas that can assist you in deciding on the area to focus on. You can also choose to combine ideas of your interest and make a vital topic out of them. Another area worth looking at is controversial topics like cloning. They, too, can inspire you as you search for the perfect topic idea.

Conduct a literature search

Once you choose your search topic, look for previous research on the subject that has been done and completed. Follow this by narrowing it down by searching for a more specific issue with more resources to back it up.

Finding the best topic is not a straightforward process, and it requires time. You may see that during the course of your research, new ideas may emerge, or an existing idea may evolve and take a different turn. Such is bound to happen, and it is part of the process.

Armed with the tips and guide on how to research and structure your nursing research paper, you can now proceed to write your essay. The course is rather broad, and there are many areas from where you can choose a topic. Below are topics from various fields that can serve as inspiration for your research topic.

Quantitative nursing research topics

Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It is used to find averages, make predictions and find patterns. Quantitative research is used primarily in natural and social sciences: chemistry, biology, psychology, sociology, etc. Some quantitative research topics include;

• Challenges and management of chronic diseases
• Benefits of healthy diets
• Fundamental causes of heart attack
• Ethics of euthanasia
• Comparative analysis of nursing homes and home care
• Treatment of cardiovascular illnesses
• Analysis of telehealth development
• Home remedies for the home attack
• Government budget against expenses in health care

Qualitative nursing research topics

This research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data like video and audio to understand opinions and experiences. It gathers insights into an issue to generate new research ideas.

Qualitative research is the opposite of quantitative research, which uses numerical data for statistical analysis. Areas that rely on qualitative research are humanities and social sciences in subjects like sociology, health sciences, and anthropology.

• Bipolar disorders in adults
• Mental disorders among the homeless
• Handling adults with eating disorders
• Qualities needed in treating the homeless
• Factors concerning out-patient security
• Methods used for mental trauma
• Effectiveness of e-health in offering treatment
• Does an increase in many nurses improve healthcare

Obstetric nursing research topics

Obstetrics involves labor and delivery, and childbirth is always an area that can generate a hot topic for discussion. You can choose to focus on a personal experience or that of a friend or family member and build your case around that. Below are more topics to choose from.

• Causes and risks of preterm labor
• Factors that contribute to death in newborns
• How safe is home birth
• How safe is elective cesarean section
• Is elective induction safe
• What are the benefits of epidural
• Hypertension in pregnancy
• Causes of preeclampsia
• Mental issues during pregnancy
• Stabilizing glucose levels during pregnancy

Pediatric nursing research topics

This field requires passion and enthusiasm. Choose a topic in pediatrics only if you wish to major in it. You may assume that a subject is simple since it is in pediatrics, but it proves challenging. Please do your due diligence on the issue, then narrow it to one idea. Some pediatric ideas include;

• The leading cause of death in children
• Treatment and prevention strategies of obesity in children and adolescents
• Pediatric vaccinations
• Survival risk in pediatric cancer patients
• Antibiotic resistance in pediatrics
• Care regime for premature children
• Is pediatric nursing more complex than adult nursing?
• Neonatal medicine
• Taking care of children with congenital heart diseases
• Pediatric dermatology
• Causes of Tourette’s in children
• The best therapy for autistic children

Critical care nursing research topics

Critical care nursing is the most demanding field of nursing. When choosing a topic in necessary nursing research, select a workable one.

•  of private and national healthcare in serving critical patients
• Study of AIDS and the stigma associated with it
• Communication issues in critical patients
• A review of experiences by nurses caring for critically ill patients
• The importance of critical care nurses in the health care field
• Management and care of critically ill patient’s challenges of dealing with non-verbal patients
• Causes of burnout in critical care nurses
• Interacting with the family of a critically ill patient
• Providing critical care in remote areas
• Psychological support to critically ill patients

Evidence-based practice (Ebp) nursing research topics

• Tele-medicine
• Pediatrics
• Pharmacology
• Pain management
• Mental health and chemical dependency
• Forensics
• Hospice
• Adolescent and substance abuse
• Genetics and depression in men
• Genetic testing

Neonatal nursing research topics

Neonatal nursing is a medical specialty of caring for newborn babies. Neonatal nursing is a vital branch of nursing that involves taking care of infants with potential medical problems from prematurity, surgical needs, and congenital disabilities. There are many topics that you can get from neonatal nursing, which include

• Neonatal care and nursing response
• Neonatal care in the first hour of life
• Respiratory care of the neonates
• Neonatal meningitis
• Pre and post-surgery care of the neonates
• Cultural competence of neonatal nurses
• Job satisfaction among neonatal nurses
• Ethical challenges in neonatal nursing
• Prevention of early neonatal death
• Neonatal hypoglycemia

Research topics in mental health nursing

Mental health nursing deals with the study of taking care of mental health disorder patients. It also studies various ways of improving the quality of life among these patients. Below are some topics you can choose from

• Mental health care for women after a miscarriage
• Causes of depression
• Psychiatric patient ethics
• Mental impacts on pregnancy weight gain
• Solutions to burnout among mental health nurses
• Stress among police officers
• Bipolar disorders
• Impact of social media on teenagers
• Social media platforms on the mental well-being of adults
• The mental impact of emotional attachment among teenagers with mental problems

Nursing research topics in women’s health

A women’s health nurse specializes in handling women’s medical issues. If you are interested in providing health care to women, some topics below are interesting for a research paper.

• Menopause treatment
• Causes of sleep disorders in women
• Effectiveness of breast cancer screening
• Ethical treatments of infertility
• Factors that lead to high infertility rates
• Prevention measures for sexually transmitted illnesses
• Acne treatment in women
• Emotional assistance after a miscarriage
• Women’s heath in different cultures
• Procedure for breast cancer diagnosis

Elderly nursing research topics

Elderly nursing involves caring for geriatric patients, usually over the age of 65. If you wish to care for the elderly, choose a topic that focuses on this area.

• Analysis of age as a factor in dementia
• Effects of aging on the immune system
• Signs of malnutrition in the elderly
• Ethical use of restrains in elderly patients
• Prevention of falls in elderly patients
• Critical care for elderly patients
• Joint disorder treatment among the elderly
• Treatment of Alzheimer’s
• Treatment and prevention of cardiovascular risk
• Restless leg syndrome
• Treatment of late-life depression
• Oral health in the elderly

Nursing research topics in pain management

Pain management is the care of patients who need relief from pain or assistance in managing chronic pain. Consider some of these topics if you are interested in this study area.

• The role of nursing in pain management
• Pain management strategies in cancer patients
• Effectiveness of non-chemical pain management methods
• Cognitive hypnotherapy in pain management
• Chemical and non-chemical pain management plans for post-surgery patients
• Treatment and management for long term pain
• Pain management in the pediatric unit
• Beliefs in pain management

Midwifery nursing research topics

Midwifery Nursing involves taking care of women during and after pregnancy. Research on a topic focused on midwifery if that is an area that interests you.

• Childbirth experience among teenagers
• Risks of advanced maternal age
• Treatment of postpartum depression
• Case studies of positive birth experiences
• Non-chemical pain management during labor
• Ways of engaging the father in pre and post-natal care
• Treatment of mental disorders during birth
• Treatment of pregnancy-induced hypertension
• Impacts of delayed umbilical cord clamping after birth
• Analysis of the importance of perinatal care to pregnant women
• Effects of birth plan on the birth experience
• Risks and the prolonged impact of caesarian section

Nursing research topics in promoting health

The field of nursing is not only focused on treatment and prevention but also advocates for ways of promoting healthy living. If you are interested in undertaking such an initiative, consider basing your research on any of the topics below.

• Ways of promoting healthy living among the elderly
• Techniques to help quit smoking
• Promotion strategies to involve children in different physical activities
• Ways of influencing eating habits in children
• Managing depression in workplaces
• Methods of raising awareness against cyberbullying
• Understanding key principles of brain exercise
• New ways of promoting HIV prevention
• New ways of raising awareness on the prevention of obesity
• Methods of reducing exposure to risks of diabetes

Primary healthcare nursing research topics

Primary healthcare is basic health care based on socially accepted and sound scientific methods. It includes emotional, social, physical, and mental well-being. The diversity in this area makes it rich in topics that you can choose for your research paper.

• Acceptance of service-based practice in the primary health care
• Economic evaluation for primary healthcare
• Data collection ethics in primary healthcare
• Modern vaccination in remote areas
• Methods of quality assessment in healthcare
• Strengthening home healthcare delivery
• Financing strategies bias in healthcare
• Strengthening the role of community healthcare nurses
• Modern models of healthcare systems
• Offering home healthcare for critically ill patients
• Diversity in healthcare
• Gender roles in nursing
• Pathways from nursing to physician

Research topics on current issues in nursing

Nursing is a high-pressure job, and its challenges bring issues occasionally. Burnout from long working hours, personal health, and understaffing are common issues. You can address them in your research paper.

• What are the challenges of meeting a patient’s expectations?
• Healthcare diversity
• Nursing staff shortages
• Health hazards in workplaces
• Violence in workplaces
• Roles of clinical nursing
• Stress management strategies
• Obstacles in maintaining a career and progressing with education
• Ways to assist a chronically ill patient
• Impact of social media in spreading fake health-related news

Research topics on surgical nursing

A surgical nurse, also referred to as a theatre, specializes in perioperative care, providing care before, during, and after an operation. If this is an area you are interested in, consider researching any topic below.

• Pain management in surgical nursing
• Roles of nurses in surgical wards
• Moral distress among nurses in surgical units
• Frequency of nursing tasks in surgical wards
• Organizational effects on patient satisfaction in hospital surgical units
• Patient’s satisfaction with the care provided by a theatre nurse
• Self-confidence and leadership abilities by surgical nurses in responding to a critical patient
• Continuity of care post-surgery

Expert opinion on nursing research topics

You consider researching an expert’s opinion as your research topic. The below section will help you get ideas and inspiration on what nursing experts have recommended.

• Dangers of preterm labor
• Ethics of abortion
• Evidence-based practices vs. culture
• Integration of evidence-based practice in hospitals
• Shortage of nurses and burnout
• Causes of hypertension
• Challenges of saving mother and child
• Challenges in implementation of evidence-based practice
• Resuscitation rules
• Caesarian section preparation

Adult nursing research topics

Adult nursing is the care of patients who are 18 years old to older people. These patients have varying health conditions, from minor injuries to long-term illnesses. Below are topics to choose from

• Dietary treatment
• Obesity and weight management
• Cardiovascular treatment
• Adult psychiatric care
• Treatment of dehydration
• Importance of weight loss programs
• Sports medicine
• Causes of migraine
• Non-chemical therapy for bipolar disorders
• Ethics off euthanasia
• Triggers for chronic anxiety disorders

Popular nursing research topics

A topic’s popularity changes based on various reasons like technological advancement and innovation. However, if you are looking for a popular topic, below are several examples.

• Causes and development of Parkinson’s disease
• Ways of improving mental health
• Delivery room checklist
• How to treat the restless syndrome
• Treatment for Alzheimer’s
• Impact of skin to skin contact by mother and child
• Demands for critical care
• End of life care
• How to overcome alcohol addiction
• Main causes of depression
• Ethical problems in pain management

Interesting nursing research topics

You may consider a topic enjoyable based on its relevance, however, assume recent themes that have been covered if you wish to interest your reader. Below are a few issues to choose from

• Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of schizophrenia
• Basics of palliative care
• Ways to control blood pressure at home
• Primary symptoms of bipolar disorder
• Recovery methods after trauma
• Different roles of clinical nurses
• Strategies to prevent breast cancer
• Ethical aspects of infertility
• Evaluation of pain restrictions
• Is child health insurance a right or privilege
• Common issues related to menopause
• Causes of type II diabetes

Good nursing research topics 

• Effectiveness of telecare
• Does spiritual care make sense
• Contemporary neonatal practices
• Causes of headaches
• Measures to prevent pregnancy
• Importance of healthy nutrition
• Importance of immunization
• Risks of abortion
• Prevention of child obesity
• Main symptoms of autism
• Therapies used in speech disorders
• Dealing with various eating disorders
• Resistance to antibiotics in children

Nursing ethics research topics

As a nurse, you should know what is ethically right or wrong. These topics will give you an idea of what to research.

• Importance of ethics
• Your perspective on what is unethical
• Cross-cultural ethics
• Who is an ethical nurse
• Code of ethics for ER nurses
• End of life nursing ethics
• Ethical issues in nursing for patients with mental disorders

Conclusion

There are many great topics for your nursing research paper to choose from. All you need to do is select a topic that suits your area of study, research it and structure your paper according to the requirements. It would be best if you took time to brainstorm on your topic since some don’t have enough literature on them.

Use available resources like medical journals, articles, and previous research to draft your paper and formulate an idea for your project once you’ve chosen your topic, critique, and question where necessary. Set clear goals and write your best nursing research topic.