Based on your specialty role option (i.e., Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, Nurse Informaticist, Nurse Administrator), identify a potential problem (topic) that you would like to investigate through nursing research. Begin by reading the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) position statement on nursing research (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/publications/position/nursing-research).

The AACN’s position statement on nursing research emphasizes the importance of nursing research in advancing the profession, improving healthcare outcomes, and informing healthcare policy. Nursing research, they say, should focus on safety, patient-centered care and improving quality.

According to this guide, one potential nursing problem could be the impact of nurse led interventions on patient outcomes and safety in acute care settings. In this research, nurse practitioners or educators could be asked to explore their role in the implementation of evidence-based intervention that reduces medication errors, helps prevent falls, enhances patient communication and improves overall quality. This study may also explore the impact nurse-led intervention on hospital readmissions and costs, as well as patient satisfaction.

This research aims to improve patient outcomes and safety in acute-care settings by identifying effective strategies. It will also inform the development and implementation of nursing guidelines based on evidence.