175 Nursing Research Ideas for Evidence-Ready Papers and Projects

Choosing a research question can feel tougher than writing the paper itself. That’s why we’ve decided to organize the 175 topic options below to reflect the specialty areas (pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, etc.) and medical approaches (evidence-based practice, qualitative studies, education-focused projects and so on). You’ll find concise, study-ready ideas that work for short assignments, capstones, and graduate projects alike.

Choosing a research question can feel tougher than writing the paper itself. To make it easier, we’ve grouped 175 nursing research topics into categories you’ll encounter in coursework and practice. You’ll find ideas arranged by specialty areas like pediatrics, geriatrics, and mental health, as well as by approaches such as evidence-based practice, qualitative studies, and education-focused projects. Whether you’re preparing a short assignment or a full thesis, these sections will point you toward topics you can study with confidence.

Most relevant nursing research topics of 2025:

• AI in patient monitoring
• Burnout among new nurses
• Post-pandemic infection control
• Telehealth in rural communities
• Ethical issues in end-of-life care

MyPaperHelp can assist with refining a thesis proposal or revising a classroom project by offering topic refinement, research mapping, and writing support services.

Nursing Research Topics You Should Cover in 2025

With rapid changes in care delivery, analytics and workforce dynamics continuously altering priorities, strong 2025 topics must combine feasibility with measurable outcomes and adhere to current guidelines while considering equity and implementation barriers right away.

Consider designs such as quality improvement projects, pragmatic trials, or mixed methods to capture both results and context.

1. Machine learning risk scores for sepsis alerts on general wards
2. Wearable devices and remote monitoring for heart failure follow-up
3. Practical frameworks for preventing nurse burnout during staffing shortages
4. Antimicrobial stewardship led by bedside nurses in mixed-acuity units
5. Virtual triage models for rural clinics and small hospitals
6. Reducing diagnostic delay through nurse-initiated protocols in emergency settings
7. Outcomes of nurse-led long COVID clinics in primary care
8. Data literacy training for nurses and its effect on quality indicators
9. Equity-focused discharge planning for patients with low health literacy
10. Patient safety dashboards and real-time feedback for unit-based improvement

Nursing Research Paper Topics for Students

Semester projects benefit from topics with accessible data sources and clear variables. Aim for questions that align with unit priorities and allow you to collect reliable measures within a short window. Surveys, retrospective chart reviews, and small pilot interventions are all workable options.

1. Nurse-to-patient ratios and medication error trends
2. Teach-back methods to improve adherence in diabetes care
3. Palliative care consults before ICU transfer and family satisfaction
4. Nurse-driven pathways to reduce 30-day readmissions in COPD
5. Electronic health record usability and communication accuracy during handoffs
6. Cultural humility training and patient experience scores in outpatient clinics
7. Barriers to adopting evidence-based practice among new graduates
8. Safe opioid prescribing education for nurses and postoperative outcomes
9. Fall risk screening tools and resource allocation on medical units
10. Interprofessional simulation and teamwork behaviors in student teams

Pediatric Nursing Research Topics

Nurses providing healthcare for children require more than simply treating medical conditions; instead they must tailor care according to each stage of development, involve parents or caregivers as partners and find ways to minimize fear or discomfort during treatments.

Research in this field frequently investigates interventions designed to manage symptoms effectively while supporting families and enabling young patients adhere to treatment plans; the topics below discuss topics which combine medical attention with strategies which make hospital or clinic experiences safer, calmer and more successful for kids.

1. Valid pain assessment strategies for nonverbal infants
2. Parental presence during procedures and child distress levels
3. Nurse-led asthma action plans for school-aged children
4. Early identification of developmental delays during well-child visits
5. Family education for adherence in pediatric cystic fibrosis care
6. Postoperative nausea control protocols for pediatric surgery patients
7. Play-based coping interventions during hospitalization
8. Nutrition counseling to address pediatric obesity in primary care
9. Trauma-informed nursing in pediatric emergency departments
10. Virtual reality distraction for vaccinations and blood draws

Evidence-Based Practice Nursing Research Topics

Evidence-based practice means taking a guideline-supported intervention and testing it in a defined setting to see if it improves care. Strong student projects follow one path: select a single protocol, document the starting level of performance, roll out the change with training and tools, and track both staff adherence and patient outcomes.

The topics below work well because each can be turned into that kind of measurable project within a semester.

1. Multimodal pain strategies and length of stay after orthopedic surgery
2. Hand hygiene bundle adherence and hospital-acquired infection rates
3. Early mobility protocols for ventilated patients and ventilator-free days
4. Catheter-associated urinary tract infection reduction using nurse-driven removal criteria
5. Pressure injury prevention with risk stratification and targeted surfaces
6. Structured SBAR handoff and near-miss events
7. Medication reconciliation led by nurses at admission and discharge
8. Breastfeeding support pathways and exclusive breastfeeding at six weeks
9. Delirium screening frequency and antipsychotic use in older adults
10. Mindfulness programs for nurses and turnover intention

Advanced Practice Nursing Research Topics

Advanced practice roles extend access, coordinate complex care, and shape policy. Projects here may evaluate outcomes of NP- or CNS-led services, analyze prescribing patterns, or quantify system-level value. Methods can include program evaluations, time-series analyses, or comparative effectiveness designs.

1. Nurse practitioner management of same-day access clinics and wait-time reduction
2. Chronic pain management outcomes in NP-led primary care
3. Clinical nurse specialist consults and hospital-acquired condition rates
4. CRNA participation in enhanced recovery pathways and opioid sparing
5. APN telehealth follow-up for high-risk maternity care
6. NP prescribing patterns and guideline concordance in rural settings
7. APN-led transitions of care for complex multimorbidity
8. Policy changes to the scope of practice and primary care access
9. APN leadership in antimicrobial stewardship committees
10. Economic evaluations of APN roles on readmission penalties

Mental Health Nursing Research Topics

Mental health nursing topics should strike an appropriate balance between safety, therapeutic relationships, and evidence-based therapies. Successful projects will pay particular attention to stigma mitigation strategies and cover continuity of care strategies and patient-reported outcomes to monitor meaningful change.

Here are some examples:

1. Nurse-led screening for suicide risk in primary care
2. Digital cognitive behavioral therapy with nurse coaching for anxiety
3. Stigma reduction training for staff and patient-reported respect
4. Trauma-informed de-escalation training and restraint incidents
5. Peer-support programs for nurses after adverse events
6. Substance use disorder care pathways and treatment retention
7. Family psychoeducation for pediatric mood disorders
8. Sleep hygiene interventions on inpatient psychiatric units
9. Telepsychiatry access for adolescents in underserved areas
10. Burnout predictors among psychiatric nursing teams

Global Health Nursing Research Topics

Global projects prioritize scalability, cultural relevance, and resource awareness. Build partnerships with local clinicians, select metrics that matter to communities, and plan for training that supports long-term adoption of successful interventions.

1. Nurse-led vaccination outreach in remote communities
2. Maternal mortality reduction through midwife and nurse collaboration
3. Community health worker and nurse partnerships for malaria control
4. Water, sanitation, and hygiene training for community clinics
5. Nutritional supplementation programs coordinated by nurses
6. Emergency nursing readiness for climate-related disasters
7. Cervical cancer screening uptake through nurse education campaigns
8. Mobile clinics staffed by nurses and providing continuity of care
9. Antibiotic stewardship education in low-resource hospitals
10. Telehealth mentoring networks for rural nurses

Holistic Nursing Research Topics

Holistic nursing evaluates interventions that address physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Prioritize safety, standardized measures, and patient preference. Mixed-methods designs can capture both outcomes and the lived experience of care.

1. Guided imagery to reduce preoperative anxiety
2. Music interventions and sleep quality in medical wards
3. Aromatherapy for chemotherapy-induced nausea
4. Mind-body practices and blood pressure control in adults
5. Spiritual assessment tools and end-of-life comfort
6. Nature exposure programs for stress in long-term care
7. Yoga-based rehabilitation for chronic low back pain
8. Social prescribing led by nurses and loneliness in older adults
9. Integrative pain management in oncology clinics
10. Mindful eating education for metabolic syndrome

Geriatric Nursing Research Topics

With aging populations, research should target function, cognition, and dignity. Choose outcomes such as mobility, caregiver burden, and avoidable utilization. Ethical considerations include consent capacity and minimizing disruption to routines.

1. Comprehensive geriatric assessment and readmission risk
2. Medication deprescribing protocols in polypharmacy
3. Fall prevention technology in assisted living
4. Oral health programs and aspiration pneumonia incidence
5. Dementia-friendly design elements in inpatient units
6. Advance care planning conversations led by nurses
7. Sarcopenia screening and mobility outcomes
8. Caregiver training and burden reduction for home dementia care
9. Nutrition optimization in frail elders during hospitalization
10. Sleep promotion strategies for residents in long-term care

Quantitative Nursing Research Topics

Quantitative projects benefit from clear independent and dependent variables, valid instruments, and adequate sample sizes. Use statistical plans aligned with your question and report effect sizes to support practical interpretation.

1. Association between nurse staffing skill mix and mortality
2. Dose-response of hourly rounding on patient falls
3. Telehealth visit frequency and blood pressure control rates
4. Health literacy scores and 30-day readmission in heart failure
5. Alarm fatigue metrics and response times in ICUs
6. Nurse experience level and central line infection rates
7. Time-to-analgesia in emergency departments after triage changes
8. Postoperative opioid morphine milligram equivalents and pain scores
9. Rates of documentation errors before and after EHR upgrades
10. Vaccination uptake after nurse-led education campaigns

Qualitative Nursing Research Topics

Qualitative work explores how people make sense of care. Use purposeful sampling, transparent coding methods, and member checking. Present rich descriptions that inform policy, education, and bedside practice.

1. New graduate nurses’ experiences with preceptorship quality
2. Family perspectives on communication in the ICU
3. Cultural influences on end-of-life preferences in diverse communities
4. Patient narratives about living with heart failure at home
5. Nurses’ perceptions of moral distress during resource scarcity
6. Barriers to mental health help-seeking among adolescents
7. Lived experiences of long COVID in working adults
8. Caregivers’ decision-making about feeding in advanced dementia
9. Nurses’ views on AI decision support at the bedside
10. Adolescent voices on telehealth therapy engagement

Critical Care Nursing Research Topics

Critical care studies often evaluate protocols, teamwork, and recovery trajectories. Select outcomes that reflect both safety and function, and consider family engagement as a key component of quality.

1. Early mobilization pathways and ICU-acquired weakness
2. Sedation minimization protocols and delirium duration
3. Family presence guidelines and communication quality in critical care
4. Nurse-driven spontaneous breathing trials and extubation success
5. Hemodynamic monitoring, education, and fluid stewardship
6. Prone positioning adherence and oxygenation outcomes
7. Sepsis bundle compliance and mortality in mixed ICUs
8. Nutrition delivery timing and muscle mass preservation
9. ECMO patient education for families and understanding of risks
10. Nurse resilience programs and intent to stay in critical care

Nursing Education Research Topics

Educational research examines how learners build judgment, skills, and readiness. Align assessments with competencies, use validated rubrics, and track outcomes beyond the classroom to show impact.

1. High-fidelity simulation and clinical judgment scores
2. Virtual reality scenarios and skill retention over time
3. Concept-based curricula and exam performance in pathophysiology
4. Objective structured clinical examinations and anxiety reduction
5. Interprofessional education and teamwork competencies
6. Academic coaching for students at risk of attrition
7. Flipped classroom methods in pharmacology courses
8. Debriefing frameworks and reflection quality after simulation
9. Clinical placement models and readiness-to-practice indicators
10. Digital portfolio use for documenting competency progression

Nursing Topics for Presentation

Posters and talks benefit from sharply scoped questions and memorable takeaways. Choose topics with clear visuals, practical tips, and concise data points suitable for a 5 to 10-minute slot.

1. Building a culture of safety on busy medical units
2. Preventing pressure injuries with risk-based strategies
3. Using SBAR to strengthen interprofessional handoffs
4. The nurse’s role in antimicrobial stewardship
5. Addressing vaccine hesitancy with motivational interviewing
6. Managing moral distress in challenging clinical situations
7. Equity in pain management across diverse populations
8. Practical steps to reduce alarm fatigue
9. Telehealth etiquette and effectiveness for nurses
10. Quick wins for better discharge education

Easy Nursing Research Topics

These ideas remain meaningful while keeping scope tight and data collection straightforward. They’re ideal for short timelines or introductory methods courses.

1. Benefits of hourly rounding for patient satisfaction
2. Simple fall risk screening and early interventions
3. Handwashing reminders near sinks and compliance rates
4. Whiteboard use in rooms and communication clarity
5. Comfort rounding and call light frequency
6. Hydration prompts for older inpatients
7. Bedside shift report and patient perceptions of involvement
8. Chair alarms and false alarm reduction strategies
9. Visual medication labels and error prevention
10. Standardized discharge checklists and follow-up attendance

Interesting Nursing Research Topics

Innovation can spark engagement without sacrificing rigor. These topics invite creative methods while staying grounded in patient outcomes and workflow realities.

1. Nurse-led gaming-based rehab for stroke survivors
2. Pet therapy visits and anxiety reduction in oncology
3. Art-making sessions for adolescents with chronic illness
4. Social media interventions to improve teen vaccine literacy
5. Ambient noise control and sleep quality in wards
6. Wearable step goals for surgical recovery motivation
7. Microlearning videos for rapid skill refreshers
8. Community gardens and glycemic control in urban clinics
9. Mobile app journaling for postpartum mood tracking
10. Volunteer navigators and patient experience in outpatient surgery

Current Research Topics in Medical Surgical Nursing

Med-surg units handle large volumes and varied conditions, making them ideal for studies with clear operational value. Focus on pathways, infection prevention, and safe recovery. Balance clinical metrics with patient experience.

1. Enhanced recovery after surgery pathways and opioid use
2. Peripheral IV complication reduction through site rotation policies
3. Postoperative hypothermia prevention and infection rates
4. Early ambulation after abdominal surgery and ileus incidence
5. Nurse-led anticoagulation education and bleeding events
6. Standardized wound care algorithms and healing time
7. Chlorhexidine bathing protocols and bloodstream infection reduction
8. Glycemic control targets for noncritical surgical patients
9. Preoperative anemia optimization and transfusion needs
10. Safe patient handling programs and musculoskeletal injuries in staff

How to Choose a Nursing Research Topic

A strong topic sits where your interests, patient impact, and feasibility meet. Start by naming the population, setting, and clinical problem you care about. Then check whether the idea answers a question that matters now, not five years ago. Keep practicality in view from the first notes you take.

How to shape an idea into a researchable topic:

• Scan recent guidance and reviews. Look at current guidelines, systematic reviews, and credible databases to confirm the problem is timely and to spot tested interventions or gaps.
• Frame a precise question. Convert your idea into an answerable prompt using a structure like PICOT. Clear variables make methods and measures much easier to select.
• Check feasibility early. Verify access to data, an adequate sample, mentors, and any required permissions or ethics review. If one piece is missing, refine or pivot.
• Operationalize outcomes. Choose endpoints that you can measure reliably, such as falls per 1,000 patient days, catheter days, or patient-reported anxiety scores. Match each outcome with validated tools.
• Select a fit-for-purpose design. Align the method with the question: quality improvement for workflow change, a retrospective chart review for trend analysis, and a small pilot for testing a bundle.
• Do a quick scoping search for novelty. Confirm you are not repeating a well-covered study in the same context. If you are, add a new angle, population, or implementation focus.
• Draft a mini protocol and timeline. Outline aims, data sources, analysis plan, and checkpoints for literature review, collection, and writing. Tight plans prevent scope creep.

Expect to revisit and narrow your question as you go. As you read and talk with mentors, refine the question, narrow the variables, and keep the design proportional to your time and resources so the project reaches a clear, publishable finish.

Final Notes

Across these 175 ideas, a pattern emerges: the most compelling nursing projects stay close to clinical reality, measure outcomes that matter to patients and teams, and plan for adoption from day one. The 2025 section pushes you toward equity, digital tools, and resilient staffing. Specialty sections translate those themes into pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, critical care, and global contexts. Education topics strengthen judgment and teamwork, while presentation ideas help you communicate results clearly. The methods sections remind you to match design to question, select valid measures, and report implementation details so others can repeat what works.

Carry these principles into your selection process. Choose a scope that fits your timeline, define success with concrete metrics, and document your pathway so the next nurse can build on it. If you want support refining your question, organizing sources, or shaping a cohesive paper, MyPaperHelp can partner with you from outline to final draft.