Research in Nursing has been existent over the years since the times of the pioneers of the profession. The term however, has remained abstract to many especially young student nurse researchers.
As a 500L nursing student, I've been opportune to gather some research knowledge in the walls of the classroom and experiences as a volunteer research assistant. In all of these times, a major challenge I've observed worthy of note in the research process is in the aspect of choosing a topic.
With my ongoing first research work though still at hand, I'm putting this piece together for colleagues (junior and senior) who might have been frustrated at one point or another or have had to change topics a few times going back and forth the research process.
The field of healthcare sure covers a lot. Selecting the right topic for your research might pose a challenge, but you're not alone!
I'll be dropping a few tips here. Read along, and I hope it would be helpful 😊
#1. The first and most important tip for choosing a research topic is identifying your interest.
An important piece of advice for all nurses in this phase is choosing a topic that genuinely excites you, intrigues you, and interests you in some way or another. This is critical for the length of time required to complete the research as even when challenges come along the way, fuelling your passion will be all you need to do, not building it from the scratch.
Another reason you may want to hold on to going for a topic that interests you is that you never may know where it may eventually take you. In future career lines or referrals, only your genuine interest may really prove to stand the test of time.
The first practical thing you want to do in this regard is pick out a pen and a paper and itemizing all your areas of interest in healthcare.
#2. When you might have itemized some interests for your research work, the next question is, do you see a problem? This will tell you if your topic is researchable or not.
Is it a health issue? A management issue? Or are you drawing inspiration from personal, family or clinical posting experience? Are you interested in a disease condition? Whatever it is, your research problem has to be obvious to the reader in your topic.
#3. Another key tip in choosing the right topic for your research work is having a predelegated timeline going through the research process. Nobody wants to begin a project without envisioning the end of it else, the purpose may not be fulfilled, except it's a personal study.
Is your research completable within your academic timeframe?
#4. The fourth tip to staying on the right track is to search for existing research studies on your topic ideas of interest
Nobody is going to begin a research in a world of hunger of existing knowledge. In choosing your topic, you need to read on existing knowledge and see what might have been done in that area or similar before. Your research may not be achieving anything if another researcher has concluded already on that research problem in the same proposed location as you. Your research must be able to propose a new development either to an existing knowledge or another location.
#5. Finally, if you are going to get it right, then you need to ask questions and not get halfway the journey only to realize you got it all wrong from the first step.
Get a research mentor, volunteer when you have the opportunity to, and always seek your supervisor's approval all through the ladder of your research process.
Sadly enough, a lot of nurses do not pay so much attention to this Introductory phase in the research process. Everyone wants to rush into the field. My mentor would usually say, if you do not get it right from the beginning, you're bound to have a rough ride down the research process.
Like the nursing process, if you do not assess and diagnose your patient right, your interventions will have no therapeutic basis.
Choosing a topic is not always a straight forward ride as difficulties or modifications are bound to happen along the line. The secret is just flowing with your line of passion. It all begins with the perfect research idea. The dots are all connected from there.
I wish you all a hitch-free research ride.
Follow us on IG @thenursesjournal
©thenursesjournal2020
As a 500L nursing student, I've been opportune to gather some research knowledge in the walls of the classroom and experiences as a volunteer research assistant. In all of these times, a major challenge I've observed worthy of note in the research process is in the aspect of choosing a topic.
With my ongoing first research work though still at hand, I'm putting this piece together for colleagues (junior and senior) who might have been frustrated at one point or another or have had to change topics a few times going back and forth the research process.
The field of healthcare sure covers a lot. Selecting the right topic for your research might pose a challenge, but you're not alone!
I'll be dropping a few tips here. Read along, and I hope it would be helpful 😊
#1. The first and most important tip for choosing a research topic is identifying your interest.
An important piece of advice for all nurses in this phase is choosing a topic that genuinely excites you, intrigues you, and interests you in some way or another. This is critical for the length of time required to complete the research as even when challenges come along the way, fuelling your passion will be all you need to do, not building it from the scratch.
Another reason you may want to hold on to going for a topic that interests you is that you never may know where it may eventually take you. In future career lines or referrals, only your genuine interest may really prove to stand the test of time.
The first practical thing you want to do in this regard is pick out a pen and a paper and itemizing all your areas of interest in healthcare.
#2. When you might have itemized some interests for your research work, the next question is, do you see a problem? This will tell you if your topic is researchable or not.
Is it a health issue? A management issue? Or are you drawing inspiration from personal, family or clinical posting experience? Are you interested in a disease condition? Whatever it is, your research problem has to be obvious to the reader in your topic.
#3. Another key tip in choosing the right topic for your research work is having a predelegated timeline going through the research process. Nobody wants to begin a project without envisioning the end of it else, the purpose may not be fulfilled, except it's a personal study.
Is your research completable within your academic timeframe?
#4. The fourth tip to staying on the right track is to search for existing research studies on your topic ideas of interest
Nobody is going to begin a research in a world of hunger of existing knowledge. In choosing your topic, you need to read on existing knowledge and see what might have been done in that area or similar before. Your research may not be achieving anything if another researcher has concluded already on that research problem in the same proposed location as you. Your research must be able to propose a new development either to an existing knowledge or another location.
#5. Finally, if you are going to get it right, then you need to ask questions and not get halfway the journey only to realize you got it all wrong from the first step.
Get a research mentor, volunteer when you have the opportunity to, and always seek your supervisor's approval all through the ladder of your research process.
Sadly enough, a lot of nurses do not pay so much attention to this Introductory phase in the research process. Everyone wants to rush into the field. My mentor would usually say, if you do not get it right from the beginning, you're bound to have a rough ride down the research process.
Like the nursing process, if you do not assess and diagnose your patient right, your interventions will have no therapeutic basis.
Choosing a topic is not always a straight forward ride as difficulties or modifications are bound to happen along the line. The secret is just flowing with your line of passion. It all begins with the perfect research idea. The dots are all connected from there.
I wish you all a hitch-free research ride.
Follow us on IG @thenursesjournal
©thenursesjournal2020
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