Adult Nursing Dissertation Topics

Today we’re putting fresh, researchable ideas on the table because adult nurses deliver most frontline care and deserve dissertation topics that reflect real practice gaps, current evidence, and feasible methods. We work as academic researchers at Topic Suggestions, and we know a strong adult nursing dissertation links patient outcomes, safety, equity, and workforce realities to clear, ethical research questions you can actually complete on time.

Our aim in this post is simple: we present original, student‑friendly topics aligned with today’s clinical priorities and available data sources, so you can move from interest to actionable proposal quickly.

List of Adult Nursing Dissertation Topic Ideas

We’ve organized the list by key themes—acute and chronic conditions, patient safety and quality, digital health, mental health and frailty, workforce and education, policy and equity, and research methods—so you can scan for your niche and pick a direction that fits your setting, skills, and deadlines.

1. Cloud-Native Jurisdiction: Can Algorithmically Managed “Data Embassies” Constitute Territories in Public International Law?

We ask whether service-level agreements establishing state-owned data embassies abroad can generate treaty-like obligations under the Vienna Convention framework? We examine if state immunity and inviolability can attach to virtualized infrastructure distributed across multiple jurisdictions? We test how conflict-of-laws operates when containerized microservices of a single sovereign workload execute simultaneously in diverging legal orders? We explore whether jurisdictional “sharding” permits partial assertions of sovereignty without territorial contiguity?

2. Autonomous Naval Swarms and the Revival of Prize Law: Attribution, Capture, and Blockades at Sea Without Crews

We investigate how international responsibility is attributed when decentralized swarms collectively disable, seize, or divert vessels? We analyze whether a digital prize court could satisfy due process and neutrality requirements under contemporary law of the sea? We assess how blockade law and contraband doctrines adapt when enforcement is executed by autonomous platforms with probabilistic targeting? We ask what notification and verification standards states must meet when delegating maritime enforcement to learning systems?

3. Gene-Drive Interventions Across Borders: Due Diligence, Benefit-Sharing, and Causation in Transboundary Biodiversity Engineering

We evaluate whether releasing a gene drive to eradicate an invasive species meets the no-harm rule when ecological effects propagate into neighboring states? We ask how precaution and prior informed consent should operate when scientific uncertainty is asymmetric across borders? We test causal attribution standards for reversible versus self-propagating drives in mixed jurisdictions? We explore if benefit-sharing obligations arise where one state’s intervention reduces another’s conservation costs?

4. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations as Subjects of Public International Law: From Observer Status to Responsibility for Wrongful Acts

We examine whether DAOs can attain limited international personality analogous to insurgent movements or international organizations? We ask what capacity, if any, DAOs have to conclude binding agreements with states or IOs without a seat of incorporation? We analyze the standards for attributing internationally wrongful acts to a DAO with pseudonymous membership dispersed globally? We test how recognition, sanctions, and immunities would function for code-governed entities?

5. Amphibious Citizenship Compacts: Rotating Host-State Arrangements for Communities Displaced by Sea-Level Rise

We explore whether states can lawfully establish time-bound, rotating sovereignty-sharing agreements tied to a climate-affected people rather than territory? We ask if maritime entitlements can be tethered to a community-in-exile through treaty to preserve EEZ-related rights? We assess conflicts-of-nationality and diplomatic protection when citizenship follows a schedule of host-state rotation? We test how human rights obligations travel with a mobile polity across multiple legal orders?

6. Reparations Futures: Tokenized Claims as Tradable Sovereign Obligations for Historical Injustice

We analyze whether tokenized reparation claims can constitute enforceable sovereign debts under public international law? We ask how secondary market trading of such claims affects standing, victim participation, and non-commodification norms? We test which fora—ICJ, human rights courts, investment arbitration—could adjudicate disputes over token design, valuation, and compliance? We explore safeguards to prevent market manipulation from distorting truth, acknowledgment, and guarantees of non-repetition?

7. Lunar Insolvency and Salvage: Creditor Priority Over Assets Situated on the Moon

We examine how secured creditors assert claims against lunar installations without violating the Outer Space Treaty’s non-appropriation principle? We ask whether a space-specific salvage regime can coexist with prohibitions on national appropriation and private property assertions? We test priority rules when assets are registered under multiple national space registries and ITU filings? We explore what dispute settlement architecture could credibly adjudicate cross-border space bankruptcies?

8. Algorithmic Sanctions in Real Time: Due Process and State Responsibility for Machine-Updated Blacklists

We assess whether hourly machine-generated designation lists satisfy notice, evidence, and review standards under human rights law? We ask how attribution and control operate when states outsource sanction screening to private AI vendors? We test proportionality where false positives trigger extraterritorial overcompliance by global financial intermediaries? We explore remedial baselines, including delisting rights and compensation, in an automated sanctions ecosystem?

9. Digital Twin Evidence Before International Courts: Chain of Custody, Epistemic Standards, and Procedural Fairness

We investigate whether high-fidelity digital twins of ecosystems or conflict zones meet admissibility and reliability thresholds at the ICJ or arbitral tribunals? We ask how we establish transparent chain-of-custody for models updated continuously with remote sensing and crowdsourced data? We test adversarial validation protocols to prevent model bias from predetermining legal narratives? We explore whether parties have a right to interrogate model architecture as part of due process?

10. Seabed Infrastructure Corridors as a Critical Commons: Governance of Undersea Cables and Power Interconnectors

We analyze whether a jus communis framework can emerge for dense multi-use corridors of cables and high-voltage lines beyond national jurisdiction? We ask how security obligations and neutrality rules apply to corridor users during international armed conflict and peacetime sabotage? We test liability allocation and insurance pooling when concurrent damage cascades across telecom, energy, and data services? We explore cooperative monitoring and attribution mechanisms that respect coastal state rights and global connectivity interests?

11. Evaluating a nurse-led smartwatch-alert protocol to detect early deterioration in homebound adults

We, TopicSuggestions, ask: (1) Can a nurse-monitored smartwatch alert protocol reduce time-to-intervention for early physiological deterioration in homebound adults compared with standard telephone triage? (2) What false alarm rate and nurse workload are associated with such a protocol?
We, TopicSuggestions, will pilot a mixed-methods feasibility study with a randomized cluster of homebound patients receiving nurse-monitored smartwatches versus standard care, measure time-to-intervention, alarm frequency, nurse response time, and conduct qualitative interviews with nurses and patients to refine algorithms and workflow.

12. De-prescribing decision support delivered by adult nurses using explainable AI in multimorbidity clinics

We, TopicSuggestions, ask: (1) Does integrating an explainable AI de-prescribing recommendation tool into nurse consultations change deprescribing rates and medication appropriateness in adults with multimorbidity? (2) How do nurses interpret and act on AI explanations in real consultations?
We, TopicSuggestions, will design a stepped-wedge trial introducing an explainable AI tool to nurse-led multimorbidity clinics, collect prescribing outcomes, medication burden scores, and use think-aloud and semi-structured interviews to study nurse decision processes and trust in the tool.

13. The impact of microbreak scheduling on musculoskeletal pain and medication errors among adult acute care nurses

We, TopicSuggestions, ask: (1) Does implementing structured microbreak schedules reduce reported musculoskeletal pain and opioid analgesic use among adult acute care nurses? (2) Is there an associated change in medication error rates or patient safety indicators?
We, TopicSuggestions, will conduct a quasi-experimental before-and-after intervention across wards introducing fixed microbreak windows, collect nurse-reported pain scales, analgesic consumption, incident reports, and use wearable posture sensors and time-motion observation to link behavior with outcomes.

14. Cultural humility training for adult nurses caring for recent migrants: effects on patient trust and adherence to chronic disease regimens

We, TopicSuggestions, ask: (1) Does a structured cultural humility program for adult nurses improve trust and medication adherence among recent adult migrants with chronic conditions? (2) Which components of the training drive measurable change?
We, TopicSuggestions, will run a cluster randomized trial at community clinics comparing training versus standard CPD, measure validated patient trust and adherence scales, and perform process evaluation with focus groups to map active ingredients.

15. Nurses’ emotional labor during telepalliative consultations and its association with compassion fatigue in adult palliative care

We, TopicSuggestions, ask: (1) How does emotional labor differ for nurses delivering palliative care via teleconsultations versus face-to-face, and what is its relationship with compassion fatigue and retention? (2) Which coping strategies mitigate adverse effects?
We, TopicSuggestions, will conduct a cross-sectional comparative survey with validated emotional labor and compassion fatigue scales, supplement with in-depth narrative interviews and workplace ethnography of telepalliative teams to identify coping mechanisms and organizational supports.

16. Integrating wearable sleep and activity data into adult nursing handover: effects on individualized care planning for hospitalized older adults

We, TopicSuggestions, ask: (1) Does adding wearable-derived sleep and activity summaries into nursing handovers change individualized mobilization and nighttime care plans for hospitalized older adults? (2) What barriers do nurses face when interpreting wearable data?
We, TopicSuggestions, will perform a pilot controlled study adding synthesized wearable reports to nursing handovers, measure mobilization frequency, delirium incidence, length of stay, and use usability testing and thematic analysis to capture nurse interpretation challenges.

17. Co-designed peer-support micro-teams to reduce turnover among newly qualified adult nurses in high-acuity wards

We, TopicSuggestions, ask: (1) Can co-designed peer-support micro-teams embedded within shifts reduce intention-to-leave and early turnover among newly qualified nurses on high-acuity wards? (2) What team features are most valued and sustainable?
We, TopicSuggestions, will implement a participatory action research project creating micro-teams, evaluate retention, job satisfaction, and patient safety metrics over 12 months, and use realist evaluation to uncover mechanisms and context factors.

18. Time-limited nurse prescribing bundles for opioid taper initiation in adults with chronic non-cancer pain

We, TopicSuggestions, ask: (1) Are nurse-delivered, protocolized opioid taper initiation bundles safe and effective at reducing dose and improving function compared with physician-led tapering? (2) What training and supervision models optimize outcomes?
We, TopicSuggestions, will design a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial comparing nurse-led bundles (assessment, education, gradual taper protocol) to physician-led care, measure pain, function, withdrawal symptoms, and conduct implementation interviews with nurses and patients.

19. Blockchain-enabled continuity notes for adult nursing transitions between hospital and community care: feasibility and acceptability

We, TopicSuggestions, ask: (1) Is a lightweight blockchain-backed continuity note system feasible and acceptable to adult nurses for secure, tamper-evident handover between hospital and community teams? (2) Does it improve completeness and timeliness of critical nursing information?
We, TopicSuggestions, will develop a prototype blockchain ledger for nursing handover entries, run a usability pilot in transition-of-care pathways, measure documentation completeness, timeliness, perceived trust, and perform thematic analysis of stakeholder interviews.

20. Cognitive load profiling from electronic health record (EHR) alerts and its effect on clinical decision quality among adult nurses

We, TopicSuggestions, ask: (1) How do different EHR alert designs and frequencies affect nurses’ cognitive load, situational awareness, and decision quality in adult inpatient settings? (2) Which alert modification strategies reduce harmful cognitive overload without missing critical warnings?
We, TopicSuggestions, will execute a simulation-based experiment varying alert types and frequencies with objective cognitive load measures (pupilometry, secondary task performance), validated decision-quality assessments, and post-simulation debriefs to propose human-centered alert redesign recommendations.

21. Integrating Wearable Stress-Biofeedback into Adult Renal Dialysis Nursing

We propose: How does continuous wearable biofeedback (heart rate variability + skin conductance) used by dialysis nurses affect intradialytic anxiety, hemodynamic instability, and nurse decision-making?
We will: Pilot a mixed-methods stepped-wedge trial across three dialysis units, collect wearable streams from patients, observe nurse responses, conduct pre/post measures of anxiety and intradialytic events, and interview nurses about workflow integration; we will analyze time-series physiological data, compare event rates with generalized mixed models, and thematically analyze qualitative data for acceptability and barriers.

22. Nurse-Led Microbiome-Targeted Wound Care Protocols for Chronic Leg Ulcers

We propose: Can a nurse-implemented protocol that uses point-of-care wound microbiome profiling to guide topical therapies reduce healing time and antimicrobial use compared with standard care?
We will: Run a pilot randomized controlled feasibility study where trained nurses perform pooled swab sequencing (rapid 16S nanopore), tailor dressings/antimicrobials accordingly, measure healing trajectories, antibiotic prescriptions, and cost; we will use survival analysis for time-to-heal and economic modeling for resource impact.

23. Compassion Fatigue Prevention Using Brief Mindfulness Microinterventions in Home Care Nurses

We propose: Do ultra-brief (2–3 minute) mindfulness microinterventions delivered between visits decrease acute compassion fatigue spikes and improve empathy retention across a 12-week period?
We will: Conduct a randomized crossover trial with ecological momentary assessment (EMA), provide audio-guided microinterventions via mobile app, capture real-time fatigue/empathy scores, and analyze within-subject changes with multilevel models; we will also interview nurses about feasibility and adherence.

24. Implementation of Rapid Polypharmacy Deprescribing Rounds in Older Adult Medical Wards

We propose: What is the effect of nurse-facilitated, pharmacist-nurse rapid deprescribing rounds on 30-day readmissions, adverse drug events, and patient-reported medication burden?
We will: Design a cluster randomized trial where nursing teams lead structured 20-minute deprescribing huddles with pharmacists and physicians, collect medication lists, adverse events, readmission data, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs); we will perform intention-to-treat analyses and process evaluation for fidelity.

25. Using Augmented Reality (AR) to Train Nurses in Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment at Bedside

We propose: Does bedside AR-assisted training improve nurses’ accuracy and speed in pressure ulcer risk assessment and documentation compared with conventional e-learning?
We will: Develop AR overlays that simulate skin integrity signs, run a randomized educational trial among ward nurses, evaluate diagnostic accuracy on standardized simulated patients, measure time per assessment, and collect usability and confidence metrics; we will analyze differences with appropriate hypothesis testing and collect qualitative feedback for refinement.

26. Culturally Adapted Advance Care Planning (ACP) Conversations Facilitated by Nurses for Migrant Older Adults

We propose: How does a nurse-delivered, culturally adapted ACP conversation toolkit influence completion of ACP documents, concordance with family preferences, and perceived dignity among migrant older adults?
We will: Co-design the toolkit with community representatives, implement a quasi-experimental pre/post design in community clinics, track ACP completion, concordance through case vignettes, and measure dignity-related PROMs; we will use mixed methods to understand cultural facilitators and barriers.

27. Nurse-Led Remote Sensory Rehabilitation for Post-COVID Olfactory Dysfunction in Adults

We propose: Can a structured, nurse-supervised tele-rehabilitation program for olfactory retraining improve smell recovery trajectories and quality of life compared with self-guided protocols?
We will: Enroll adults with persistent post-COVID anosmia, randomize to nurse-led tele-sessions versus self-directed olfactory training, measure objective olfactory function (UPSIT) and QoL over 6 months, and analyze longitudinal recovery patterns with repeated-measures models; we will document adherence and patient perceptions.

28. Assessing the Effect of Shift-Level Team Huddles on Medication Administration Errors in Adult Acute Care

We propose: Do brief nurse-led shift huddles that explicitly include medication safety checkpoints reduce medication administration errors and near-miss reporting compared with standard shift handovers?
We will: Implement a stepped-wedge trial across medical-surgical units, train teams to conduct 5-minute medication-focused huddles, monitor medication error rates via direct observation and incident reports, and perform interrupted time series analysis supplemented by staff interviews about safety culture change.

29. Exploring the Role of Sleep Coaching by Nurses to Improve Glycemic Control in Hospitalized Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

We propose: Does a nurse-delivered inpatient sleep coaching bundle (environmental modifications, sleep hygiene coaching, non-pharmacologic relaxation) impact nocturnal glycemic variability and insulin requirements?
We will: Run a randomized pilot where bedside nurses deliver the bundle versus usual care, continuously monitor glucose with CGM, quantify nocturnal variability and insulin dosing, and measure patient-reported sleep quality; we will analyze physiological outcomes with mixed models and assess feasibility for scale-up.

30. Evaluating Peer-Led Transitional Nursing Support for Adults with Severe Mental Illness Re-entering General Medical Care

We propose: What is the impact of pairing adults with severe mental illness (SMI) with peer-supported transitional nursing in reducing diagnostic overshadowing, improving diagnostic accuracy of comorbid physical illness, and enhancing patient engagement?
We will: Co-develop a model where nurses coordinate with trained peer-support workers during medical encounters, compare diagnostic concordance and follow-up adherence to usual care in a controlled before-after study, and collect qualitative narratives from patients, peers, and nurses to map mechanisms and implementation challenges.

31. Nurse-led pharmacogenomic decision support for antidepressant prescribing in adults with treatment-resistant depression

We propose examining whether nurse-accessible pharmacogenomic reports improve antidepressant selection and patient outcomes.
Research questions:
– How do we measure the effect of nurse-led pharmacogenomic decision support on time-to-effective medication in adults with treatment-resistant depression?
– How do patients perceive nurse explanations of pharmacogenomic results and subsequent medication changes?
– What barriers do nurses report when integrating pharmacogenomic information into antidepressant prescribing pathways?
Overview: We will design a mixed-methods implementation study using a pilot cluster trial in outpatient clinics, collect clinical outcomes (symptom scales, time to response), interview patients and nurses, and use thematic analysis plus comparative outcome statistics to assess feasibility and effect.

32. Impact of nurse-facilitated culturally tailored dietary counselling on medication adherence in adult Type 2 diabetes patients from diverse ethnic communities

We propose testing whether culturally tailored dietary counselling delivered by trained nurses improves oral hypoglycaemic adherence.
Research questions:
– How does nurse-delivered, culturally tailored dietary counselling affect medication adherence over six months?
– What components of cultural tailoring do patients identify as most influential for adherence?
– How do nurses adapt counselling protocols to different cultural food practices in routine clinics?
Overview: We will perform a randomized pilot with adherence measured by pharmacy refill and self-report, conduct focus groups with patients from target communities, and use process evaluation to document nurse adaptations and fidelity.

33. Effects of nurse-coordinated remote monitoring on informal caregiver burden for adults with advanced heart failure

We propose evaluating whether a nurse-coordinated remote-monitoring program reduces caregiver strain and improves patient outcomes.
Research questions:
– Does a nurse-coordinated remote monitoring intervention reduce caregiver burden scores compared with usual care?
– How do caregivers describe the perceived utility and intrusiveness of nurse contact and data monitoring?
– What workflow changes do nurses report when scaling remote monitoring into heart failure care?
Overview: We will run a controlled before-and-after study with standardized caregiver burden instruments, semi-structured caregiver interviews, and time-motion logs for nursing workload; we will analyze quantitative changes and thematic qualitative data.

34. Nurse-led deprescribing clinics for reducing potentially inappropriate polypharmacy in adults aged 65–80 with multimorbidity

We propose assessing the effectiveness and safety of nurse-led deprescribing clinics using shared decision-making tools.
Research questions:
– How does attendance at a nurse-led deprescribing clinic affect the number of potentially inappropriate medications over 12 months?
– What patient-reported outcomes (symptom burden, quality of life) change after deprescribing led by nurses?
– What clinical decision support and training do nurses need to deliver safe deprescribing?
Overview: We will conduct a pragmatic controlled trial with medication review protocols, collect primary outcomes via medication reconciliation and secondary outcomes via validated QOL measures, and perform nurse interviews to refine implementation.

35. Evaluating the role of adult acute ward nurses in initiating sleep clinic referrals for patients with chronic pain and suspected sleep disturbance

We propose investigating whether nurse-initiated referrals increase diagnostic rates of sleep disorders and improve pain outcomes.
Research questions:
– Do nurse-initiated sleep clinic referrals increase the proportion of chronic pain patients who receive a sleep disorder diagnosis?
– How do nurses assess sleep disturbance and decide to refer in an acute ward context?
– What effect do subsequent sleep disorder diagnoses and treatments have on pain scores and opioid use?
Overview: We will implement a nurse training package and referral pathway, use a stepped-wedge design across wards, track referral-to-diagnosis timelines and pain/opioid outcomes, and conduct observational audits of nursing assessment practices.

36. Nurses’ practices and patient experiences of continence care for LGBTQ+ older adults in acute adult wards

We propose exploring unique continence care needs and nursing practices affecting dignity and outcomes in LGBTQ+ older adults.
Research questions:
– How do LGBTQ+ older adults describe their experiences of continence care in adult acute wards?
– What practices do nurses report that promote or hinder dignity and culturally safe continence care for LGBTQ+ patients?
– What interventions can we co-design with LGBTQ+ patients and nurses to improve continence care?
Overview: We will conduct an interpretive qualitative study with narrative interviews of LGBTQ+ patients and focus groups with nurses, then co-design a brief intervention toolkit using participatory methods and pilot usability assessment.

37. Integration of bedside music therapy by nurses to reduce delirium-related agitation in adults with dementia admitted to medical wards

We propose determining whether brief nurse-delivered music interventions reduce agitation and antipsychotic use.
Research questions:
– Does a protocolized nurse-delivered bedside music therapy session reduce delirium-related agitation scores compared with usual care?
– How do nurses experience delivering music interventions in the acute ward environment?
– What is the effect on use of PRN psychotropic medications and incident falls?
Overview: We will develop a standardized music intervention training for nurses, conduct a pilot randomized crossover trial with agitation and medication use outcomes, and collect nurse feedback to refine feasibility.

38. Nurse-facilitated personalized opioid tapering plans for adults with chronic non-cancer pain transitioning from specialist to primary care

We propose evaluating whether nurse-managed tapering programs improve taper success and patient satisfaction during care transitions.
Research questions:
– What is the impact of nurse-facilitated personalized opioid tapering on successful sustained dose reduction at six months?
– How do patients rate pain control, withdrawal symptoms, and satisfaction during nurse-managed tapering?
– What interprofessional communication processes are required for safe nurse-led tapering across care settings?
Overview: We will design a prospective cohort intervention with standardized taper protocols, collect clinical and patient-reported outcomes, and map communication pathways between specialist services, primary care, and nursing coordinators.

39. Influence of adult medical ward environmental design (light, noise, layout) on nurse–patient therapeutic relationship formation

We propose investigating how physical ward environments shape nurses’ ability to build therapeutic relationships with adult patients.
Research questions:
– How do variations in light, noise levels, and ward layout correlate with nurse-reported therapeutic engagement and patient-perceived rapport?
– Which specific environmental features do nurses identify as facilitators or barriers to building therapeutic relationships?
– What low-cost environmental modifications can we pilot to improve relational care measures?
Overview: We will use a mixed-methods study combining environmental measures (lux, dB), validated relational care scales from nurses and patients, and qualitative interviews; we will pilot targeted environmental changes and assess pre/post relational outcomes.

40. Efficacy of nurse-led prehabilitation programs on postoperative recovery trajectories in adults undergoing major abdominal surgery

We propose testing whether a nurse-led prehabilitation bundle (exercise, nutrition, smoking cessation, anxiety management) accelerates functional recovery.
Research questions:
– Does participation in a nurse-led prehabilitation program shorten time-to-return-to-baseline function after major abdominal surgery?
– Which components of the prehabilitation bundle contribute most to improved postoperative outcomes?
– How do patients and nurses perceive barriers and facilitators to engaging in prehabilitation delivered by nursing teams?
Overview: We will conduct a randomized pilot with objective functional measures (6-minute walk, timed up-and-go), collect adherence and component-specific data, and perform qualitative process evaluation with patients and nursing staff to inform a definitive trial.

41. Nurse-led digital phenotyping to predict medication non-adherence in adults with heart failure

We will investigate the feasibility of using passive smartphone and wearable data collected by nurses to predict medication non-adherence.
We will investigate these research questions: 1) Which digital biomarkers (movement patterns, sleep, phone use) correlate most strongly with missed heart failure medications? 2) Can a nurse-managed digital dashboard improve early detection and intervention for non-adherence compared with standard follow-up? 3) What are patients’ privacy and acceptability concerns in nurse-mediated digital monitoring?
We will work on this by designing a prospective cohort where nurses enroll patients, collect consented passive data and pillbox records, develop predictive models with clinician-in-the-loop validation, and pilot a nurse response protocol for flagged patients.

42. Impact of ward soundscapes on incident delirium in older adult medical inpatients

We will evaluate how objective and subjective ward noise characteristics influence incident delirium rates.
We will investigate these research questions: 1) Which acoustic metrics (decibel peaks, variability, frequency composition) predict new-onset delirium? 2) Does nurse-led modification of soundscape (timed quiet periods, staff training) reduce delirium incidence? 3) How do patients and staff perceive changes to the ward soundscape?
We will work on this by conducting continuous acoustic monitoring across wards, linking time-series noise data to cognitive assessments, implementing a stepped-wedge sound reduction intervention led by nursing staff, and using mixed methods to capture perceptions.

43. Nurse-facilitated narrative advance care planning for adults from migrant communities

We will test the effectiveness of story-based advance care planning (ACP) delivered by community nurses to increase culturally concordant end-of-life decision-making.
We will investigate these research questions: 1) Does narrative ACP delivered by trained nurses increase completion of documented preferences among migrants compared with standard ACP? 2) Which narrative elements improve comprehension and trust (translated stories, illness metaphors, family-focused scenarios)? 3) How do nurses adapt narratives while maintaining clinical accuracy?
We will work on this by co-designing stories with community members, training nurses in narrative facilitation, running a cluster-RCT in community clinics, and performing process evaluation with qualitative interviews.

44. Microlearning modules for rapid recognition of early sepsis by bedside nurses

We will develop and evaluate a series of ultra-short (2–4 minute) microlearning videos and prompts to improve bedside nurses’ early sepsis recognition and response times.
We will investigate these research questions: 1) Do microlearning interventions delivered via mobile push notifications increase recognition rates and time-to-antibiotic compared with standard education? 2) Which microcontent formats (case vignettes, decision trees, simulations) have the greatest retention at 1 and 3 months? 3) How do nurses integrate microlearning into shift workflows?
We will work on this by co-creating micromodules with nurses, running a randomized crossover trial on adult wards, measuring clinical process metrics and knowledge retention, and using workflow observation to refine delivery.

45. Nurse-led deprescribing rounds using shared electronic prompts for older adults with polypharmacy

We will pilot a nurse-coordinated deprescribing intervention that leverages EHR prompts to initiate medication review conversations with prescribers and patients.
We will investigate these research questions: 1) Does a nurse-led, EHR-prompted deprescribing protocol reduce potentially inappropriate medications at 90 days? 2) What barriers and facilitators do nurses encounter when initiating deprescribing discussions? 3) What is the impact on patient-reported adverse drug events and quality of life?
We will work on this by integrating evidence-based deprescribing alerts into the EHR, training ward pharmacists and nurses to lead bedside medication review rounds, and conducting a controlled before-and-after study with qualitative interviews.

46. Wearable sensor–guided repositioning schedules to prevent pressure injuries in immobile adults

We will examine whether individualized repositioning schedules informed by continuous pressure-sensing wearables reduce pressure injury incidence more effectively than fixed-interval turning.
We will investigate these research questions: 1) Can nurse-monitored wearable pressure maps identify high-risk periods requiring repositioning? 2) Does adaptive turning based on sensor alerts reduce pressure injury rates and nursing workload? 3) How acceptable are sensor-driven alerts to patients and staff?
We will work on this by deploying pressure-sensing mattress overlays, creating nurse alert protocols, running a pilot RCT comparing adaptive versus standard turning, and collecting process and acceptability data.

47. Emotional labor, moral distress, and retention: a longitudinal study of community adult nurses

We will longitudinally track how emotional labor and moral distress predict intentions to leave and actual turnover among community adult nursing teams.
We will investigate these research questions: 1) Which components of emotional labor (surface acting, deep acting) most strongly predict moral distress and turnover intentions? 2) Do supportive managerial practices buffer these effects over 12 months? 3) Which targeted interventions reduce moral distress and improve retention?
We will work on this by enrolling a cohort of community nurses, administering validated psychometric instruments repeatedly, linking to HR turnover data, and embedding a pilot managerial-support intervention in a subset.

48. Integrating brief pet-assisted interventions on adult oncology wards during isolation precautions

We will explore the safety, psychological effect, and nursing workflow implications of supervised, brief animal-assisted visits for isolated adult oncology patients.
We will investigate these research questions: 1) Do supervised short-duration pet visits reduce anxiety, loneliness, and physiologic stress markers in isolated oncology inpatients? 2) What infection control measures and nursing protocols are necessary to safely implement visits? 3) How does the intervention affect nursing time and perceived workload?
We will work on this by co-developing infection-control-aligned protocols with infection prevention teams, running a pilot crossover trial measuring psychological and physiological outcomes, and collecting staff workload and feasibility metrics.

49. Adaptive risk communication scripts for home oxygen therapy education delivered by nurses

We will design and test adaptive, plain-language risk communication scripts that nurses use to teach adults starting home oxygen about safety, smoking risks, and device management.
We will investigate these research questions: 1) Do adaptive scripts tailored to health literacy and cultural context improve comprehension and adherence compared with standard instruction? 2) Which script elements (visuals, teach-back prompts, motivational framing) most influence safe behaviors? 3) How do nurses perceive the usability of adaptive scripts in discharge workflows?
We will work on this by creating script libraries stratified by literacy level, training nurses in adaptive delivery and teach-back, conducting a randomized implementation trial with behavioral and comprehension endpoints, and performing implementation interviews.

50. AI-assisted triage prompts for adult general nursing admissions: nurse acceptance and diagnostic accuracy

We will evaluate an AI-assisted triage prompt tool that provides nurses with suggested risk flags during adult admission assessments.
We will investigate these research questions: 1) Does nurse use of AI triage prompts improve early detection of deterioration (e.g., sepsis, stroke) without increasing false positives? 2) What factors influence nurse trust, override rates, and reliance on prompts? 3) How does AI assistance change admission workflow times and documentation quality?
We will work on this by integrating a prospectively validated AI model into admission workflows, conducting a mixed-methods stepped-wedge study measuring clinical detection metrics and nurse interaction logs, and using qualitative methods to explore trust and usability.