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Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have a significant and expanding role in modern healthcare. They provide a wide array of services, including diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute and chronic health conditions. As the demand for healthcare services increases, nurse practitioners have become an essential part of the healthcare workforce, addressing gaps in care, improving patient outcomes, and reducing healthcare costs.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced education and clinical training in the diagnosis and management of various medical conditions. NPs hold at least a master’s degree in nursing, although many pursue doctoral-level education (Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP). Nurse practitioners are trained to provide primary, acute, and specialty care, often working alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals.

In many states, nurse practitioners are authorized to perform tasks traditionally associated with physicians, such as prescribing medications, ordering diagnostic tests, and developing treatment plans. Depending on the state, NPs may work independently or in collaboration with a physician. Nurse practitioners specialize in a variety of fields, including family practice, pediatrics, geriatrics, psychiatry, women’s health, and acute care.

The Increasing Demand for Nurse Practitioners

The growing shortage of physicians, particularly in rural and underserved areas, has contributed to the rising demand for nurse practitioners. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the U.S. will need an additional 100,000 primary care providers by 2030 to meet the healthcare needs of the population. Nurse practitioners are stepping in to fill this gap, especially in primary care, where they can effectively manage a broad range of health conditions.

In addition to the physician shortage, the aging population is another factor driving the demand for NPs. As people age, they often develop multiple chronic conditions that require ongoing care. Nurse practitioners are trained to manage these conditions, provide preventive care, and educate patients about maintaining their health, which makes them a crucial resource for aging populations.

Benefits of Nurse Practitioners in Healthcare

1. Improved Access to Care One of the most significant advantages of nurse practitioners is their ability to increase access to healthcare. In rural or underserved urban areas, physician shortages can result in long wait times and limited access to care. NPs can fill this gap by providing essential services, including physical exams, health assessments, and chronic disease management. Their ability to work independently or with minimal supervision allows them to deliver care to populations that may otherwise face barriers in accessing quality healthcare.

2. High-Quality Patient Care Nurse practitioners are highly trained professionals who have a strong foundation in both nursing and medical care. Their comprehensive training emphasizes patient-centered care, which focuses on treating the whole person rather than just addressing symptoms. Studies have shown that NPs deliver high-quality care comparable to that of physicians, particularly in primary care settings. Additionally, NPs tend to spend more time with patients, which can lead to better communication, improved patient education, and higher patient satisfaction.

3. Cost-Effectiveness The inclusion of nurse practitioners in healthcare teams can help reduce costs without sacrificing the quality of care. NPs are often able to provide many of the same services as physicians but at a lower cost. By focusing on prevention, early intervention, and managing chronic conditions, NPs can help reduce the need for costly emergency room visits and hospitalizations. This cost-effectiveness makes NPs an important component in efforts to control rising healthcare expenditures.

4. Emphasis on Preventive Care Nurse practitioners are trained to emphasize prevention, health promotion, and education in their practice. By focusing on prevention and managing chronic diseases, NPs help reduce the likelihood of complications and hospitalizations. This proactive approach not only improves individual patient outcomes but also contributes to overall public health. In particular, NPs often serve as health educators, helping patients understand how to manage their conditions, make healthier lifestyle choices, and take preventive measures to avoid illness.

Challenges Faced by Nurse Practitioners

Despite their growing importance in healthcare, nurse practitioners face several challenges. One of the most significant hurdles is the varying scope of practice laws across states. While some states allow NPs to practice independently, others require them to work under the supervision or collaboration of a physician. These restrictions can limit the ability of NPs to fully utilize their training and provide care where it is most needed.

Another challenge is the ongoing debate about reimbursement rates for nurse practitioners. In many cases, insurance companies reimburse NPs at lower rates than physicians, even though the care they provide is often equivalent in quality. This discrepancy can affect the financial sustainability of NP practices, particularly in primary care settings.

Additionally, while NPs are highly skilled in patient care, they may face challenges in gaining recognition and support from other healthcare professionals. The collaborative nature of healthcare requires effective communication and teamwork, and NPs must work to ensure that their roles are clearly defined and valued within multidisciplinary teams.

Nurse practitioners are an essential part of the modern healthcare system. Their ability to provide high-quality, cost-effective care in a variety of settings is helping to meet the growing demand for healthcare services. With their emphasis on patient-centered care, preventive measures, and chronic disease management, nurse practitioners play a vital role in improving patient outcomes and expanding access to care. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the role of nurse practitioners will only become more significant, making them an indispensable resource in addressing the healthcare needs of the population.

In healthcare, the emphasis has increasingly shifted towards providing patient-centered care (PCC). This approach, which places the patient at the center of the care process, is foundational to improving the overall quality of healthcare. Nursing plays a pivotal role in ensuring that patient-centered care is both delivered and upheld. Nurses are often the most frequent and direct point of contact for patients, making them key players in the implementation of this model of care.

What is Patient-Centered Care?

Patient-centered care is an approach to healthcare that emphasizes the importance of respecting and responding to the preferences, needs, and values of patients. Unlike traditional healthcare models that focus predominantly on medical procedures or conditions, patient-centered care strives to treat the person as a whole—considering not just their physical health but also their emotional, social, and psychological well-being.

This approach ensures that patients are active participants in their care decisions, rather than passive recipients of care. It involves understanding the patient’s values and incorporating their preferences into the treatment plan. In this model, nurses are advocates for the patient, helping to coordinate care and ensuring that the patient’s voice is heard in all aspects of their treatment.

Why Patient-Centered Care Matters

The shift towards patient-centered care stems from the recognition that healthcare is not just about curing illness, but about caring for the person as a whole. Numerous studies have shown that patient-centered care leads to better patient outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, and reduced healthcare costs.

1. Improved Patient Outcomes: When patients feel heard, respected, and involved in their care decisions, they are more likely to adhere to prescribed treatments and follow through with medical recommendations. This leads to better management of chronic conditions, faster recovery times, and overall better health outcomes.

2. Increased Patient Satisfaction: Patients who receive care that is tailored to their needs and preferences report higher levels of satisfaction. When healthcare providers, including nurses, take the time to explain procedures, answer questions, and show empathy, patients feel more comfortable and supported throughout their healthcare journey.

3. Better Communication: One of the hallmarks of patient-centered care is the importance of open and clear communication between healthcare providers and patients. Nurses, in particular, are often the frontline communicators, translating complex medical information into language that patients can understand. This reduces confusion, builds trust, and strengthens the nurse-patient relationship.

4. Reducing Healthcare Costs: While it might seem counterintuitive, patient-centered care has been shown to reduce overall healthcare costs. By focusing on preventative care and effective management of chronic conditions, unnecessary hospital readmissions and costly procedures can be avoided. Additionally, when patients feel more confident in their care, they are less likely to seek emergency care or frequent visits to specialists.

Nurses as Key Advocates in Patient-Centered Care

Nurses are at the heart of patient-centered care. They spend the most time with patients, providing not just medical care but emotional support as well. Nurses are advocates for their patients, ensuring that their preferences are communicated and respected.

One of the ways nurses implement patient-centered care is by developing a therapeutic relationship with patients. This relationship is built on trust, respect, and communication. Nurses must take the time to listen to their patients, assess their needs beyond just the physical, and make sure that the patient’s voice is always considered in the decision-making process.

In addition to providing direct care, nurses also act as coordinators. Many patients have complex healthcare needs that require input from multiple specialists and healthcare professionals. Nurses help to ensure that care is coordinated, making sure that the patient’s needs are met across the entire care continuum. They also advocate for patients when there are challenges in accessing care, whether due to financial barriers or systemic issues.

The Role of Empathy and Compassion

One of the most important aspects of patient-centered care is empathy. Nurses who display empathy create an environment where patients feel valued and understood. Empathy in nursing goes beyond just acknowledging a patient’s feelings—it involves a deep understanding of the patient’s emotional and physical state. A compassionate nurse can make a world of difference in a patient’s healing process, offering comfort and reassurance during times of uncertainty.

Challenges in Implementing Patient-Centered Care

While the benefits of patient-centered care are clear, there are challenges in its implementation. For one, the healthcare system can be complex and fragmented, making it difficult to coordinate care effectively. Nurses often face time constraints due to staffing shortages, which can limit their ability to spend enough time with each patient to fully understand their needs.

Additionally, not all patients are comfortable taking an active role in their care decisions. Some may prefer to leave decisions to their healthcare providers, which can create a barrier to fully implementing patient-centered care.

Patient-centered care is a cornerstone of modern healthcare, offering numerous benefits to both patients and providers. Nurses play a crucial role in delivering this type of care, acting as advocates, educators, and emotional supporters. By emphasizing communication, empathy, and collaboration, nurses can ensure that patients receive care that respects their values, preferences, and needs. Although challenges exist in implementing patient-centered care, its potential to improve patient outcomes, satisfaction, and overall healthcare efficiency is undeniable. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the role of nurses in promoting and delivering patient-centered care will only become more essential.

Patient safety is a fundamental aspect of healthcare. It ensures that patients receive the highest quality of care without harm or unnecessary risks. Nurses, as integral members of the healthcare team, play a significant role in promoting patient safety. They are the ones who provide direct, continuous care, and often serve as the first line of defense against potential safety issues. In this article, we will explore the crucial role that nurses play in maintaining patient safety, the challenges they face, and the strategies they use to prevent harm.

The Importance of Patient Safety

Patient safety involves preventing errors, accidents, and harm to patients during the course of healthcare treatment. This includes avoiding medication errors, preventing falls, managing infections, and ensuring that patients are properly monitored. Patient safety is essential not only for the well-being of the individual patient but also for the overall quality of the healthcare system. It is a key aspect of providing effective, high-quality care. Nurses have a unique position in patient safety because they are often the primary caregivers who interact with patients on a daily basis. They are in constant communication with patients, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, which allows them to observe and detect potential issues early. Nurses’ attention to detail and their ability to advocate for patients are critical in ensuring that patients receive safe, effective care.

Nurses’ Role in Preventing Medication Errors

One of the most common areas where patient safety is at risk is medication management. Medication errors, such as incorrect dosages, wrong medications, or administration at the wrong time, can have severe consequences for patients. Nurses are often responsible for administering medications to patients and must be vigilant in checking the right medication and dosage before giving it to the patient. To minimize medication errors, nurses follow specific protocols, such as the “Five Rights” of medication administration: the right patient, the right medication, the right dose, the right time, and the right route. These steps are vital in preventing harmful mistakes. Nurses also play an essential role in educating patients about their medications, including how and when to take them, potential side effects, and what to do if they miss a dose. In addition to these practical measures, nurses are also trained to recognize signs of adverse drug reactions. Their close monitoring of patients allows them to detect any issues with medications early and intervene before the problem becomes more serious.

Preventing Falls and Injuries

Falls are a significant safety concern, especially in hospital settings where patients may be weak, disoriented, or under the influence of medications. Nurses play an essential role in fall prevention by assessing each patient’s risk for falls and implementing safety measures accordingly. For example, nurses may install fall mats, ensure that patients have a clear path to the bathroom, and provide assistive devices like walkers or canes. Furthermore, nurses educate patients and their families about safety measures to prevent falls both in the hospital and at home. Nurses help patients understand the importance of using call lights for assistance and make sure their environment is free of obstacles. They also monitor patients regularly to ensure they are not at risk of falling, particularly after surgery or when their mobility is impaired.

Infection Control and Hygiene

Infections are another serious risk to patient safety, particularly in healthcare settings where patients may have weakened immune systems. Nurses play a critical role in infection control by adhering to proper hygiene practices and infection prevention protocols. This includes regularly washing hands, wearing protective equipment such as gloves and gowns, and ensuring that medical equipment is sterilized properly. Nurses are also responsible for educating patients and their families about hygiene and infection prevention. They may instruct patients on how to care for wounds or surgical sites to prevent infection, how to practice proper hand hygiene, and how to recognize the early signs of an infection. By following strict infection control procedures, nurses help reduce the spread of hospital-acquired infections, which are a leading cause of harm to patients. Their vigilance in this area ensures that patients are not exposed to unnecessary risks during their treatment.

Effective Communication and Advocacy

One of the most essential skills that nurses bring to patient safety is their ability to communicate effectively. Nurses serve as the communication bridge between patients, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. By providing clear and accurate information, nurses ensure that everyone involved in a patient’s care is on the same page. Additionally, nurses advocate for their patients by voicing concerns about potential safety issues. For example, if a nurse notices a change in a patient’s condition or detects a potential error in their care plan, they are trained to speak up and alert the appropriate individuals. Nurses are also key members of multidisciplinary teams, collaborating with doctors, physical therapists, and other healthcare providers to develop care plans that prioritize safety and reduce risks.

Challenges in Promoting Patient Safety

Despite their critical role, nurses face many challenges in promoting patient safety. High patient-to-nurse ratios can limit the time nurses have to monitor each patient closely. Understaffing, fatigue, and time constraints can also make it difficult for nurses to follow all the necessary safety protocols. In some cases, nurses may face pressure to cut corners or overlook safety procedures due to busy workloads. To address these challenges, healthcare institutions must provide nurses with the resources, training, and support they need to prioritize patient safety. Creating an environment that values patient safety and encourages open communication between healthcare professionals is essential in reducing risks and ensuring high-quality care. Nurses play an indispensable role in promoting patient safety. They are responsible for preventing medication errors, reducing the risk of falls, controlling infections, and ensuring effective communication between patients and healthcare teams. Through their vigilance, dedication, and compassion, nurses help safeguard the health and well-being of their patients. While challenges exist, the commitment of nurses to patient safety remains unwavering. As healthcare continues to evolve, it is essential to continue supporting nurses in their vital role and providing them with the tools and resources they need to keep patients safe.

Nursing is a profession that requires a deep sense of care, skill, and dedication. Nurses play a crucial role in the healthcare system, often being the primary point of contact for patients. While technical knowledge and medical expertise are essential in nursing, one of the most important aspects of a nurse’s job is providing compassionate care. Compassionate care goes beyond medical procedures and includes understanding, empathy, and emotional support. This article explores the significance of compassionate care in nursing, how it impacts patients, and why it is essential for nurses to prioritize it.

What is Compassionate Care?

Compassionate care is the ability of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, to show kindness, empathy, and understanding to patients. It involves being present with patients in their time of need, not just physically, but emotionally as well. Compassionate nurses are attentive to the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of their patients. They listen to concerns, offer encouragement, and make patients feel safe and valued. This is not only important for healing but also for making patients feel respected and cared for during their healthcare journey.

The Role of Compassion in Patient Care

Compassionate care plays a key role in improving the overall patient experience. When patients feel that their nurse genuinely cares about them, they are more likely to feel comforted and less anxious. Many patients experience fear, confusion, or stress during medical treatments or when they are diagnosed with a health issue. Nurses who offer compassionate care can help to alleviate some of these emotions, making the hospital experience less frightening. One of the most significant benefits of compassionate care is its effect on patient outcomes. Research has shown that patients who feel supported by their nurses tend to recover more quickly, experience less pain, and have better overall health outcomes. This is because compassionate care can positively affect the patient’s mental health, which in turn influences their physical health. Nurses who offer empathy and support can help to lower stress levels, which has been linked to better immune function and faster recovery. Moreover, compassionate care also contributes to the development of a trusting relationship between nurses and patients. Trust is an essential component of healthcare. When a patient trusts their nurse, they are more likely to follow medical advice, participate in their treatment plan, and communicate openly about their needs. This trust leads to a better partnership between the nurse and the patient, which ultimately enhances the quality of care.

How Compassionate Care Affects Nurses

While compassionate care is vital for patients, it also has a positive impact on nurses themselves. Nursing is an emotionally demanding profession. Nurses often deal with stressful situations, long hours, and difficult cases, which can lead to burnout. However, offering compassionate care can be a source of personal fulfillment and motivation. Nurses who take the time to connect with their patients on an emotional level can experience a sense of pride and satisfaction in their work. Helping others in such a meaningful way can be emotionally rewarding and make the challenges of the job feel more worthwhile. Additionally, compassionate care can create a positive work environment. When nurses support each other in providing compassionate care, it fosters teamwork and collaboration. This sense of community can reduce the risk of burnout and improve job satisfaction, which benefits both the healthcare professionals and the patients they care for.

The Challenges of Providing Compassionate Care

Despite its importance, providing compassionate care can be challenging. Nurses often face time constraints and heavy workloads that make it difficult to spend as much time with patients as they would like. The demands of modern healthcare can sometimes lead to burnout, and it can be hard for nurses to maintain a sense of empathy when they are feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, nurses may encounter patients with complex needs, including those who are in chronic pain or suffering from mental health issues, which can make it harder to provide emotional support. However, these challenges can be managed with proper self-care and support. It is important for nurses to practice self-compassion, take breaks when necessary, and seek emotional support from colleagues or supervisors. Hospitals and healthcare organizations also play a role in promoting compassionate care by creating an environment that values emotional well-being and provides the necessary resources for nurses to perform their jobs effectively. Compassionate care is at the heart of nursing. It is not just about administering medications or performing medical procedures; it is about connecting with patients on a human level and providing emotional support when they need it the most. The impact of compassionate care is far-reaching, benefiting not only patients but also nurses and the healthcare system as a whole. Nurses who prioritize compassion in their practice are more likely to foster positive relationships with their patients, improve patient outcomes, and find personal fulfillment in their work. As healthcare continues to evolve, it is essential that the importance of compassionate care remains a fundamental aspect of nursing practice.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder also known as PTSD is the mental disorder that can occur with, or under the threat of death, sexual violence and severe injury. PTSD can also be experienced by people who have witnessed a distressing event. These traumatic events could be natural disaster, a grave accident, an act of terrorism, war/fighting or violation.

Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.

People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and sentiments long after the trauma has ended. They can look back, remember the event, feel sorrow, fear or anger and they usually isolate themselves from others. PTSD individuals can prevent or remind people of trauma and can react severely to a loud noise or accident.

A diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder requires exposure to an upsetting traumatic event. However, the exposure could be indirect rather than first hand. For example, PTSD could occur in an individual learning about the violent death of a close family or friend. It can also occur as a result of repeated exposure to horrible details of trauma such as police officers exposed to details of child abuse cases.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder fall into four categories. Specific symptoms can vary in severity.

1. Intrusion: Intrusive thoughts such as repeated, involuntary memories; distressing dreams; or flashbacks of the traumatic event. Flashbacks may be so vivid that people feel they are re-living the traumatic experience or seeing it before their eyes.
2. Avoidance: Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event may include avoiding people, places, activities, objects and situations that may trigger distressing memories. People may try to avoid remembering or thinking about the traumatic event. They may resist talking about what happened or how they feel about it.
3. Alterations in cognition and mood: Inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event, negative thoughts and feelings leading to ongoing and distorted beliefs about oneself or others (e.g., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted”); distorted thoughts about the cause or consequences of the event leading to wrongly blaming self or other; ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame; much less interest in activities previously enjoyed; feeling detached or estranged from others; or being unable to experience positive emotions (a void of happiness or satisfaction).
4. Alterations in arousal and reactivity: Arousal and reactive symptoms may include being irritable and having angry outbursts; behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive way; being overly watchful of one’s surroundings in a suspecting way; being easily startled; or having problems concentrating or sleeping.

Many people who are exposed to a traumatic event experience symptoms similar to those described above in the days following the event. For a person to be diagnosed with PTSD, however, symptoms must last for more than a month and must cause significant distress or problems on the individual’s daily functioning. Many individuals develop symptoms within three months of the trauma, but symptoms may appear later and often persist for months and sometimes years. post-traumatic stress disorder often occurs with other related conditions, such as depression, substance use, memory problems and other physical and mental health problems.

Intensity of symptoms

PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time. You may have more PTSD symptoms when you’re stressed in general, or when you come across reminders of what you went through. For example, you may hear a car backfire and relive combat experiences. Or you may see a report on the news about a sexual assault and feel overcome by memories of your own assault.

When to see a doctor

If you have disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month, if they’re severe, or if you feel you’re having trouble getting your life back under control, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. Getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.

Related Conditions

Acute Stress Disorder

Acute stress disorder occurs in reaction to a traumatic event, just as PTSD does, and the symptoms are similar. However, the symptoms occur between three days and one month after the event. People with acute stress disorder may relive the trauma, have flashbacks or nightmares and may feel numb or detached from themselves.  These symptoms cause major distress and problems in their daily lives. About half of people with acute stress disorder go on to have PTSD.

An estimated 13 to 21 percent of survivors of car accidents develop acute stress disorder and between 20 and 50 percent of survivors of assault, rape or mass shootings develop it.

Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavior therapy can help control symptoms and help prevent them from getting worse and developing into post-traumatic stress disorder.  Medication, such as SSRI antidepressants can help ease the symptoms.

Adjustment disorder

Adjustment disorder occurs in response to a stressful life event or events. The emotional or behavioral symptoms a person experiences in response to the stressor are generally more severe or more intense than what would be reasonably expected for the type of event that occurred.

Symptoms can include feeling tense, sad or hopeless; withdrawing from other people; acting defiantly or showing impulsive behavior; or physical manifestations like tremors, palpitations, and headaches. The symptoms cause significant distress or problems functioning in important areas of someone’s life, for example, at work, school or in social interactions. Symptoms of adjustment disorders begin within three months of a stressful event and last no longer than six months after the stressor or its consequences have ended.

The stressor may be a single event such as a romantic breakup, or there may be more than one event with a cumulative effect. Stressors may be recurring or continuous such as an ongoing painful illness with increasing disability. Stressors may affect a single individual, an entire family, or a larger group or community for example, in the case of a natural disaster.

An estimated 5% to 20% of individuals in outpatient mental health treatment have a principal diagnosis of adjustment disorder. A recent study found that more than 15% of adults with cancer had adjustment disorder. It is typically treated with psychotherapy.  

Disinhibited social engagement disorder

Disinhibited social engagement disorder occurs in children who have experienced severe social neglect or deprivation before the age of 2. Similar to reactive attachment disorder, it can occur when children lack the basic emotional needs for comfort, stimulation and affection, or when repeated changes in caregivers (such as frequent foster care changes) prevent them from forming stable attachments.

Disinhibited social engagement disorder involves a child engaging in overly familiar or culturally inappropriate behavior with unfamiliar adults. For example, the child may be willing to go off with an unfamiliar adult with minimal or no hesitation. These behaviors cause problems in the child’s ability to relate to adults and peers. Moving the child to a normal caregiving environment improves the symptoms. However, even after placement in a positive environment, some children continue to have symptoms through adolescence. Developmental delays, especially cognitive and language delays, may co-occur along with the disorder.

The prevalence of disinhibited social engagement disorder is unknown, but it is thought to be rare. Most severely neglected children do not develop the disorder. Treatment involves the child and family working with a therapist to strengthen their relationship.   

Reactive attachment disorder

Reactive attachment disorder occurs in children who have experienced severe social neglect or deprivation during their first years of life. It can occur when children lack the basic emotional needs for comfort, stimulation and affection, or when repeated changes in caregivers (such as frequent foster care changes) prevent them from forming stable attachments.

Children with reactive attachment disorder are emotionally withdrawn from their adult caregivers. They rarely turn to caregivers for comfort, support or protection or do not respond to comforting when they are distressed. During routine interactions with caregivers, they show little positive emotion and may show unexplained fear or sadness. The problems appear before age 5. Developmental delays, especially cognitive and language delays, often occur along with the disorder.

Reactive attachment disorder is uncommon, even in severely neglected children. Treatment involves the child and family working with a therapist to strengthen their relationship.

Cancer is an abnormal development of the cells. Despite the fact that there’s restriction of space, shared nutrients by other cells, or body signals which are being sent from the body to stop reproduction, cancer cells reproduce rapidly.  Cancer cells often differ from healthy cells, do not function properly and can spread to many parts of the body. So tumors are group of cells that grow rapidly and they keep dividing. This makes it hard to control. 

What are the Causes of Cancer?

The cause of cancer hasn’t been established yet. Scientists believe that cancer is caused jointly by the interaction of many factors. The factors may be genetic, environmental or constitutional features of the person.

Childhood cancer diagnoses, therapies and prognosis differ from adult cancers. Diagnosis Survival rate and the cause of the cancer are the main differences. The overall survival rate for childhood cancer for five years is around 80%, while for adult cancers it is 68%. It is thought that this difference is because childhood cancer is more therapeutic and a child can accept more aggressive therapy.

In stem cells, simple cells that produce other special cells that the body needs, children can develop cancers. Sporadic (accidental) cell changes or mutations are the common cause of childhood cancer. In adults, the type of cell that becomes cancerous is usually the epithelial cell. Epithelial cells line the body cavity and cover the corpse’s surface. Over time, due to environmental exposures, cancer was present in these cells. Adult cancers are sometimes called acquired for this reason.

The Risk Factors of Cancer

Repeated exposures or risk factors, especially in adults, have been linked with some cancers. The probability of a person developing a condition can be increased by a risk factor. However, a risk factor does not necessarily reduce the body’s disease resistance. The following factors and mechanisms have been suggested as a contribution to cancer:

• Lifestyle factors. The tobacco consumption, a high-fat diet and toxic chemical substances are examples of lifestyle choices that may risk some adult cancers. Most cancer children are, however, too young for long-term exposure to these lifestyle factors. 
• Family history, heritage and genetics can play an important role in certain childhood cancers. A family may be more than once affected by cancer of different forms. If the disease is caused by genetic mutation, exposure to chemicals near the home of a family, combining or just coincidence, it is not known.
• Certain genetic conditions. The immune system is a complex system that helps to prevent infection and disease in our bodies. Cells that later mature and work as part of the immune system are produced by the bone marrow. There is one theory that the cells in the bone marrow, or stem cells, become damaged or faulty, so that they become abnormal cells or cancer cells when reproduced in order to produce more cells. An inherited genetical defect or exposure to a virus or toxin might be responsible for the defect in the stem cells.
• Specific virus exposures. An increasing risk of developing certain childhood cancers such as Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma was associated with the Epstein-Barm virus and HIV, the virus causing AIDS. Perhaps the virus will somehow alter a cell. This cell then reproduces a modified cell and ultimately becomes a cancer cell that reproduces more cancer cells.
• Environmental exposures. For a direct link with childhood cancer, pesticides, fertilizers and power lines have been investigated. In some neighborhoods and/or towns, cancer has been shown in unrelated children. It is unknown whether or not an exposure to these agents is prenatal or infant that causes cancer or is a coincidence.

Some forms of chemical treatment and radiation with high doses. In certain cases, children exposed to these agents may later in life develop a second malignancy. These high levels of cancer may alter cells and/or the immune system. A second malignancy is a cancer caused by a different cancer therapy.

How Is Cancer Diagnosed?

No single test can diagnose cancer accurately. A thorough history and physical examination together with diagnostic tests usually require a thorough evaluation. Many tests are necessary if a person has cancer or if a different condition (e.g. an infection) imitates cancer symptoms.

Effective diagnostic tests are used to confirm or eliminate disease, monitor the disease process and plan and evaluate treatment efficacy. Repeated tests need to be done in some cases if a person’s condition has been changed, the sample taken is not good or the test result is abnormal.

Circumstances can include imaging, laboratory tests, tumor biopsy, endoscopic exams, operations and/or genetic tests. Cancer diagnostics can be a result of cancer testing.

Cancer diagnosis methods:

• Lab tests
• Diagnostic imaging
• Endoscopic exams
• Genetic tests
• Tumor biopsies

Types of lab tests used to diagnose cancer

Clinical chemistry uses chemical processes to measure body fluid and tissue levels of chemical components. Blood and urine are the most common examples of clinical chemistry.

Nearly every type of chemical component in the blood or urine is detected and measured in many different tests. Blood glucose, electrolytes, enzymes, hormones, lipids (fats), other metabolism and proteins may also be included in these components.

Diagnostic imaging

The development of new techniques and instruments that can better detect and help patients avoid surgery has made a great deal of progress in diagnostic radiology in recent years.

Diagnostic radiology personnel and doctors at the Stanford Cancer Centre are leaders in their field and have access to today’s most advanced cancer imagery technology.

Indeed, our doctors’ expertise is so well known that we are proud to be a reference center, so that outside the doctors can send our staff complex or borderline images and be expertly interpreted for their patients.

The Cancer Center was developed to improve the delivery of radiology diagnostics in addition to advanced instruments and experienced personnel. For example we have consolidated imagery workstations in one room to compare images from multiple sources for mammogram, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

This unprecedented simultaneous cross-platform ensures that all the relevant data are available when your physician takes important care choices.

What are the different types of diagnostic imaging?

Imaging is the process of making valuable photos of organ and body structures. Tumors and other abnormalities can be detected, the extent of the disease determined and treatment efficacy evaluated. Imaging can also be used for biopsies and other operations. There are three image types used for cancer diagnosis: imagery transmission, imagery reflection and imagery emission. Each process differs from the other.

Transmission imaging

Radiological examinations with images generated through transmission include X-rays, computed Tomography scans (CT scans), and fluoroscopy. A beam of high-energy photons is created in transmission imaging and passed through the body structure. The beam passes through less dense tissue types as watery secretions, blood, and fat very quickly, and leaves the X-ray film with a darkened area. Gray appearance of muscle, connective tissue (ligaments, tendons, and cartilage). Bones are going to look white.

Reflection imaging

Reflection imaging refers to the type of picture produced by transmitting high frequency sounds to the studied body or organ. These sound waves “bounce,” depending on the density of the tissue, off different types of body tissue and structure at varying speeds. Bounced sonic waves are sent to a computer which analyzes the sound waves and gives the body part or structure a visual image.

Emission imaging

Emissions imaging takes place when the scanner is employed to detect or analyze nuclear or magnetic particles that are minute and to make a picture of the body or organ being examined. For the testing of the body’s nuclear substances, nuclear medicine uses nuclear particulates emissions specifically. Radio waves are used by the MRI to develop a strong magnetic field, so that a cell emits its own frequencies.

Cancer Treatment

Depending on the medical condition and type of cancer of individuals, cancer is treated in several ways. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are common treatments. Other treatments include operations and biological treatments.

Treatment is a process that is designed to meet your needs for many people with cancer. Doctors plan their treatments for the type and stage of cancer and their age, health and lifestyle, according to several key factors.

It is important for you to know that you have been diagnosed with cancer that you play a major part in the treatment process. Input, questions and treatment concerns can help to make treatment a better experience.

Cancer treatment terms you should know

Combined modality therapy: a term used by doctors to describe a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy when treating a patient with more than one treatment.

Adjuvant therapy: a term used to describe a patient’s treatment when physicians choose more than one treatment. The term adjuvant therapy however is used more especially to describe treatment following the completion of primary cancer therapy to improve the chance of healing. For example, the doctor may prescribe one or more additional treatments if he/she wants to treat cancer cells that may be present.

Neoadjuvant therapy: A term used to describe the use of more than one therapy by doctors to treat a patient. Neoadjuvant therapy is used more specifically in the description of cancer therapy prior to basic therapy, either to kill all cancer cells and to make primary therapy more effective.

Regardless of where you work, there consistently are by all accounts those coworkers who are hard to manage. We’ve all dealt with challenging colleagues—that person who frustrates you so much that you feel like you want to pull your hair out. The key is learning to deal with them in a way that benefits both you and the organization.

Difficult people are found in every single workplace. Difficult people come in every variety that you can imagine. But, how difficult a person is for you to deal with depends a lot on such factors as your self-esteem, your self-confidence, how closely you must work with them on a daily basis, and your professional courage.

Dealing with difficult people is easier when the person is just generally obnoxious or when the behavior affects more than one person. You can team together to address the behavior or inform management and Human Resources staff to get help addressing the employee issue before it spirals into negativity.

Now and then, that coworker even transforms into a bully, and that can influence your work execution and confidence when all you need to do it get along and take care of business. On the off chance that you let it go, you can end up losing your temper, and that could affect you professionally. Be that as it may, there are a few different ways you can get along or defuse the circumstance to make life simpler at work. Nurses feel uncomfortable being around colleagues and start to avoid interacting with them. This in turn creates distrust in the workplace. These negative interactions can lead nurses to misinterpret behavioral cues and personalize information as harmful, causing even more anxiety and distraction from patient care.

Here are a couple of tips that can help:

Tips to Help Nurses Deal with Co-workers

1) Identify the issue

Is the issue with the associate a mix of you and them, or is the issue exclusively their duty? On the off chance that the associate is ‘poisonous’ in any capacity, figure out how to perceive what their identity is, the thing that circumstances set off their undesirable conduct and in what ways you can try not to take the issue further.

2) Be the greater individual

Transcending a hazardous circumstance is difficult to do, yet basic at work. As disappointing as a circumstance and coworker might be, hold your feelings and activities under wraps. You would prefer not to be the individual at work that is known for going ballistic or getting disturbed, so attempt and transcend issues with associates and be the greater individual.

3) Be prepared

Do issues consistently emerge when you work on activities? When you’re in gatherings with the associate? Perceive the circumstances where issues emerge and be intellectually ready for the issues. Setting yourself up for these circumstances can keep you from an upheaval or following up on your feelings. You can’t handle the coworker, yet you can handle yourself and your capacity to deal with the circumstance.

4) Address the issue

Despite the fact that, it very well might be awkward, if issues continue long enough that the quality or efficiency of your work is influenced, you need to address the issue. Moving toward them outside of the contention or issue when there isn’t feeling included will no doubt get the best outcome. Talk smoothly and express how you feel and how their conduct at work is meddling with yours.

5) Involve a third party

In the event that 1-4 have ceaselessly fizzled and issues with your colleague actually exist, address your supervisor about it. Maybe you can be moved to another group, an alternate region of the structure or your supervisor can help address the issue.

6. Have an Exit Strategy

Having a reason to move away from a troublesome associate can help. Regardless of whether concocting a call you need to make, work you need to do immediately or another reason, invest as meager energy with the harmful coworker as could be expected. At the point when individuals acknowledge they aren’t being tuned in to, they surrender.

7. Keep Your Co-Worker’s Problem Hidden

You don’t need your character addressed, so keep up your cool when confronted with an issue associate. Griping to others in the workplace may get you marked as a difficult yourself, so hold any grumbling down to those in your family or a dear companion outside the workplace. Opening up to the world about complaints is consistently an impractical notion.

8. A Friend Can’t Be an Enemy

While it doesn’t work in all cases, being inviting however not excessively amicable to a troublesome associate can create positive outcomes. On the off chance that the issue is tattle, having a neighborly discussion can sort things out. On the off chance that, then again, the colleague is attempting to assume praise for work you have done, you can tell your manager in advance that you are chipping away at a specific part of a task, so you will get the credit.

9. Communicate Honestly, Openly, and Privately

Whenever possible, communicate directly with your challenging colleague. Have this conversation in an appropriate place and time—not, for example, at a patient’s bedside or busy nursing station.

When talking with the person, remain calm, open-minded, and curious. Take the view that you are approaching this conversation with two main goals:

• To express how their behavior affects you, and
• To understand where they are coming from.

Avoid assuming bad intent—many of us simply aren’t aware of the impact or impression we’re making on others. This person may be more open to productive and constructive feedback than you may think, especially if it’s delivered in a direct yet non-accusatory way.

Self-care may be essential here. Rehearse the conversation in your mind, practice some deep breathing beforehand, and ultimately take care of your own mental and physical well-being. It’ll make you a better communicator as well as a better colleague.

10. Communicate With Appropriate People When Necessary

If a rude co-worker is affecting patient care it’s time to speak up. This is certainly one of the biggest ways how to deal with rude co-workers as a nurse. Nothing should impact patient care. If this happens, speak with the rude co-worker or if you aren’t comfortable speak with a supervisor.

11. Don’t Gossip

Gossiping is one of the quickest ways you can make a tough situation worse. Instead of digging a deep hole, be proactive in finding a solution. Playing the gossip game can cause further division between coworkers. While it’s certainly okay to let off some steam, make sure you do it during an appropriate time and place.

12. Stay Focused

If you ever become distracted by a negative co-worker, “snap out of it.” It can be very easy to become distracted but stay focused on your job at hand. Spend your energy toward performing your duties, not worrying about rude co-workers.

13. Surround Yourself With Good People. You’ve might have heard that like attracts like. This means that similar minded people gravitate to each other. Surround yourself with similar people to you. Fill your time up with positive people. You will see over time that positive people will seeking you.

14. Have A Strong Mindset. Bring a positive perspective to work. Negativity is always out there. But if you strengthen your mindset you can change how you react to negativity. There are ways you can bring a strong mindset to work such as journaling or meditating. Find out what works for you.

15. Strengthen Your Mindset

One way to deal with the rude coworker is to shift your perspective. Sure, negativity will always be there, but if you change how you respond to it- you’ll find it has much less of an effect on you. To do this, you may need to start with some self-growth exercises. Modalities such as meditation, journaling, affirmations, or subliminal message tapes can help you focus more on the positive. With practice, over time, you will notice that your reaction to these unpleasant colleagues will start to change. In fact, you might even be able to stand up to them (in a respectful way, of course).

Having a difficult co-worker is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be a career killer.  You can learn a lot about yourself by how you end up handling a very challenging situation for millions of workers, in every industry across the country.  You aren’t alone, and you won’t be the last person to deal with it, so do your best for yourself and for those you are caring for. Figuring out how to deal with troublesome working environment circumstances, for example, annoying associate can train you a great deal about yourself and what conditions you work best in. On the off chance that a colleague is meddling with your capacity to function admirably, follow the above means to help settle the issues.

If you want people to spend their time reading your health essay, then you have to put so much effort into writing it. Also, bear in mind that any essay won’t attract people into reading it. What catches people’s attention is the topic that you choose. So ensure that you have chosen what most people find it interesting to read. Therefore, once you have this kind of topic, you can go ahead and write a health essay that most people will be so intrigued to read. Below are some of the most interesting topics that are more likely to attract people’s attention. There are plenty of resources concerning these topics for research as well.

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of mental, physical, and social well-being, and not merely physical well-being. Individuals who are healthy in mind are automatically healthy in their bodies. Good health is man’s greatest possession. A healthy person is one who can function up to his optimal capacity without any difficulty. Good health facilitates a lot of other body processes. Good health helps us to handle stress and combat with increasing pressures.

How to Choose a Health Essay Topic?

Of course, if you were given a clear task to write on a particular topic you won’t have to wreck your brains in search of something exciting and crucial to dwell on. There is no need in making a decision, which health problem or phenomena is more urgent at the moment or what is left in the shadows and needs to be enlightened at least in your essay.

In such a case, you can just relax, take things easy, and search for some info on the Internet or in books, and then have a rest. But if the situation is contrary, you will have to gather all your essay ideas and look through either one or two essay hook examples. The path of free choice is rather slippery, so be careful on your way. Bring together your forces and all your writing inspiration; the road may take some hours. And these next essay hacks are just for you.

So how do you think, what are the most popular essay topics concerning health nowadays? What do we face in everyday life? What do you hear on the radio or TV? What haunts us permanently? Maybe you already have a generalized idea of what to write in your mind, and the following will help you to concentrate on some particular thought or maybe change your decision. Now, let’s distinguish some of the health essay topics one by one.

To help students in writing academic essays and give speeches, we have provided long and short essays on health in this article. We have also added ten lines about fitness so that children can easily take part in competitions and win prizes.

1. Immunotherapies

Over the past few years, there has been a surge in interest in this form of cancer treatment. Immunotherapy therapies come in a number of ways, all of which help to improve the body’s immune system so that it can effectively target cancer cells. Proponents of this cancer therapy say that it will stop cancerous cells from developing and spreading by assisting the immune system in finding them.

While immunotherapies have received a lot of positive press, more research is needed to determine their actual efficacy in preventing cancer from spreading across the body. People want to know if it really works. As a consequence, this is a subject that your health essay should cover.

2. Internet and Electronics Usage and Personal Health

Over the last two decades, the widespread use of smartphones and technology has resulted in a profound shift in how people live their lives. People all over the world, especially families raising small children in a technologically enslaved society, are curious about the effects of constant cell phone use on mental and physical health.

According to some reports, when people spend a lot more time on their smartphones, they experience more anxiety and depression. Others argue that there isn’t any proof of this. There’s also the issue of what constitutes Internet addiction, which is constantly changing.

3. Sugar Avoidance

These past few years, news outlets have been churning out story after story about the health benefits of eliminating sugar from people’s diets. Many people believe it has undiscovered harmful effects on the body. Some health professionals believe that eliminating sugar from your diet may help with depression in some situations.

While there are numerous research studies on the effects of sugar on physical health, the effects of sugar on mood are a relatively new and common area of study. This is a subject that will be studied in a variety of ways and will pique the interest of those seeking knowledge about their own wellbeing.

4. Mindfulness

For many years, mindfulness has been a common subject in terms of meditation and exercise, but only recently have scientific researchers begun to explore the potential immediate health effects it can have on our bodies and minds. The science has progressed quickly, and there is still much more that can be added to this field of analysis.

Meditation that includes mindfulness has been shown to enhance certain biological functions as well as relieve stress, all of which have a significant effect on one’s health. According to some research, this technique can also help with depression and other psychiatric conditions.

5. Physical Health Alone is Not Everything

There is this stigma that surrounds mental health. People do not take mental illnesses seriously. To be completely fit, one must also be mentally fit. When people completely discredit mental illnesses, it creates a negative impact. For instance, you never tell a person with cancer to get over it and that it’s all in their head in comparison to someone dealing with depression. Similarly, we should treat mental health the same as physical health.

Parents always take care of their children’s physical needs. They feed them with nutritious foods and always dress up their wounds immediately. However, they fail to notice the deteriorating mental health of their child. Mostly so, because they do not give it that much importance. It is due to a lack of awareness amongst people.

Even amongst adults, you never know what a person is going through mentally.

Thus, we need to be able to recognize the signs of mental illnesses. A laughing person does not equal a happy person. We must not consider mental illnesses as a taboo and give it the attention it deserves to save people’s lives.

6. Health Care Service

One of the most critical issues concerning health is the cost of it. Nowadays there are ways to get free treatment as well as the paid. However, there are pitfalls in both options. Really, what’s the truth? Is it better to spend amounts of money and feel safe or to spend nothing and have doubts about the quality of treatment? I think the opinions here sharply vary, so consider these topics to research the issue:

• Advantages and Disadvantages of Paid and Free Treatment;
• Health Care: Should It Be For Free or Should We Pay For Our Treatment?
• Pros and Cons of Health Insurance;
• The Effects of Self-treatment: A Way to Harm or a Chance to Heal?
• Compare and Contrast Essay on Public and Private Hospitals;
• The True Cost of Free Health Care Services;

7. Euthanasia

The question of euthanasia always has been a great contradiction all over the world. Some cultures are rigorously against it; some do not actually mind such merciful death for the weak. And nobody has a clear opinion about it. The situation is quite similar to the question of the death penalty, but the main difference is in the roles of the subjects: the perpetrator and the victim of a serious illness. Who deserves such a relief as death? And does deserve it at all? If you have your strong ideas about it, pick a topic and develop them:

• Can Death Be a Relief for a Patient?
• Americans’ Attitudes toward Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide;
• Does Patients Have a Natural Right to Die;
• The Moral Issues of Euthanasia;
• Pros and Cons of Euthanasia;
• Compare and Contrast the Attitude to Euthanasia in Different Countries

All of these issues are currently being discussed, and a vast amount of scientific study is being published on them. You will contribute to a global conversation on health issues as they evolve by including these subjects in your essay.

In any professional field, research is necessary to advance and improve practices. Nursing is no different, and nursing research has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. Nurses with research skills are equipped for evidence-based practice to ensure better standards for caregiving.

Nurses provide direct care to their patients on a daily basis, so they know which approaches work well and which need adjusting. An essential trait of a caring, competent practitioner is questioning standard procedure and determining how to improve it. Nursing concerns are the heart of nursing research.

What Is Nursing Research?

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, rigorous nursing research provides a body of knowledge that helps advance nursing practice. The findings of such scientific inquiry may also help shape health policy and contribute to global healthcare. Nursing professionals are committed to the health and well-being of everyone. The research they conduct often has lasting impacts.

The National Institute of Nursing Research says that nursing research uncovers knowledge to build the foundation of clinical practice and reinforce the following:

• Prevent disease and disability.
• Manage symptoms of illness.
• Enhance end-of-life care.

According to the website Nursing World, nurses use research to effect positive outcomes for their patients and for others within the healthcare system. As patients’ needs become more complex and healthcare systems become more varied, nurses use evidence-based care by incorporating their own nursing research with their professional experience and a patient’s preferences. Nurses may conduct their own research, use research in their everyday practice and teach others using existing research.

Scientific Inquiry

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing uses three classifications of nursing research. These include clinical research, nursing education research and health systems and outcomes research. Clinical research looks at care for individuals across the spans of their entire lives, and nurses can carry out this research in any clinical setting. Nursing education research examines how students learn the nursing profession. Finally, health systems and outcomes research focuses on the quality, quantity and costs of healthcare services, including how to improve the delivery of care. These three areas provide the full scope of nursing research.

Research Is an Important Part of Nursing Education

Nurses teach, organize community health, work in business, and of course, work in the clinical setting. Research is important for all of these areas, and nurses should be a part of that research.

Research and scientific inquiry also help students develop analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. If they observe a consistent pattern of a practice, procedure or method that helps patients, they can pursue those discoveries and either conduct or propose a study on those issues. It does not mean they need to act like lab assistants or constantly look for ways to change things; it means that they have the power to approach their jobs with a critical eye.

Nursing research is vital to improving healthcare delivery and outcomes. Understanding the research process helps nurses approach any job with critical thinking skills.

This is one of the reasons that Magnet hospitals seek nurses with BSNs. Even in clinical positions, nurses who can focus on issues with a critical eye and employ creative problem-solving strategies in difficult situations are in demand. Because clinical situations present many difficult problems and decisions, research and analytical skills help nurses perform clinical duties better.

The Role of Nurses in Research

BSN-prepared nurses can work as members of research teams to coordinate and manage research, collect data, ensure the well-being of study participants, and present at conferences. In other words, they can take a central role in the research process.

Nurses perhaps have the most intimate understanding of patients’ various physical, emotional and socioeconomic needs. This knowledge gives them a unique perspective as researchers; it allows them to ask pertinent research questions and analyze data that will specifically improve patient health and wellbeing.

Nurses with advanced research skills can continue to advocate and care for patients by designing and assisting with scientific studies. The findings from these studies have positive and immediate effects on different populations, including minorities, school-aged children and the elderly. Nursing research provides an opportunity for nurses to use their scientific skills while continuing to serve the immediate needs of their patients.

Research might take place in a clinical, university or community setting, with nurses studying ways to improve and streamline patient care. Health systems and outcomes research examines the availability and quality of healthcare services in a community and is vital to understanding and improving community health. Nursing education researchers study how students best learn nursing skills. Like any other researcher, they might start their careers as assistants, later developing and leading their own projects.

Clinical experience is vital to success as a nurse researcher, so students in online RN to BSN programs are particularly well-equipped to enter this field. They have experience with patients and may already have ideas about what works and what does not.

BSN-prepared nurses who enjoy research may also choose to enter the field of nursing research. Nurse researchers support and coordinate studies related to a wide range of clinical, community and education issues. Research organizations, pharma companies, teaching hospitals, and government agencies are some examples of job settings for nurse researchers. Whether in the hospital or public health environments, providers use this research to evaluate and improve healthcare for millions of people.

What is nursing about?

Increasingly, medicine and nursing are beginning to overlap. There is much talk of interprofessional training and multidisciplinary working, and nurses have been encouraged to adopt as their own some tasks traditionally undertaken by doctors. However, in their operation, practice, and culture, nursing and medicine remain quite different. The oft quoted suggestion is that doctors “cure” or “treat” and that nurses “care”, but this is not upheld by research. In a study of professional boundaries, the management of complex wounds was perceived by nurses as firmly within their domain. Nurses justified their claim to “control” wound treatment by reference to scientific knowledge and practical experience, just as medicine justifies its claim in other areas of treatment. One of the most obvious distinctions between the professions in this study was the contrast between the continual presence of the nurse as opposed to the periodic appearance of the doctor. Lawler raises the same point, and suggests that nurses and patients are “captives” together. Questioning the relevance of scientific knowledge, she argues that nurses and patients are “focused on more immediate concerns and on ways in which experiences can be endured and transcended”. This highlights the particular contribution of nursing, for it is not merely concerned with the body, but is also in an “intimate” and ongoing relationship with the person within the body. Thus nursing becomes concerned with “untidy” things such as emotions and feelings, which traditional natural and social sciences have difficulty accommodating. It is about the interface between the biological and the social, as people reconcile the lived body with the object body in the experience of illness.

How Does Nursing Research Help Patients And Communities?

Staying informed on the latest research enables patients — and the communities they are a part of — to take charge of their health. Research assists nurses with the following:

• Developing cost-effective healthcare systems
• Educating patients about illnesses and disabilities
• Preventing health problems
• Promoting well-being and healthy lifestyle choices
• Providing care to patients over the lifespan
• Meeting the needs of vulnerable populations through appropriate interventions
• Teaching patients self-care and ways to manage health conditions

How Does Research In Nursing Aid Health Systems?

Research in nursing can benefit health systems in these ways:

• Boosts access to care for vulnerable groups such as the elderly or homeless
• Aids in developing cost-effective models for nursing care strategies
• Helps identify social and environmental determinants of wellness in individuals, families and communities
• Pinpoints phenomena that negatively influence recovery
• Reduces the stress patients experience when undergoing surgical procedures, intrusive examinations or continuous monitoring

Role of Nursing Research in Online Programs

Students who enroll in online nursing programs may take courses in research that will help improve their skills. Courses in nursing research may introduce research design and analysis, giving the student a basis for learning how to examine, apply and utilize current knowledge. These courses also include evidence-based practice, and the student will receive an overview of current issues in knowledge development.

Today’s healthcare system is complex, and patients have increasingly varied needs. Developing solutions for the health issues of diverse populations requires providers with many different perspectives. Those enrolled in online nursing programs may become professionals who understand the need for nursing research and how to incorporate it into their own practice.

Just when you thought writing essays was getting to be a bit too much, now your professors are asking you to write proposals to write essays. This can feel quite debilitating especially if you don’t know how to write a research proposal. To start, academic writing comes in several shapes and sizes. You’ll be required to learn many citation formats, meet ridiculous word counts on empty subjects and somehow do it without accidentally plagiarizing anything in the process.

If you’re exhausted from meeting all these particularities, help is on the way. We’ve assembled this intuitive research paper guide to get you writing a paper proposal like a pro! We’ve covered all major details from developing a research plan to delivering an effective presentation to get your work approved. Read on to get the edge you need and overcome this challenge.

What Is A Research Proposal?

In addition to yet more work a research proposal actually is quite important. It demonstrates that you understand the topic at stake and you can properly set a plan of action to investigate your proposal questions. Your text also indicates why the research is worthwhile. After graduating, often you’ll need to make a case to initiate a project. This is an integral part of working in the sciences, particularly when you’ll need to request resources for your work. Therefore, it is important you take the time to develop your academic proposal skills for your future career.

What is your research proposal used for and why is it important?

It is used to establish whether there is expertise to support your proposed area of research

It forms part of the assessment of your application

The research proposal you submit as part of your application is just the starting point, as your ideas evolve your proposed research is likely to change

How To Write A Proposal For A Research Paper?

Okay so let’s delve into the details. Our guide will walk you through each section and hit upon the main requirements found in a typical paper proposal. Your instructor may have some preferences so be sure to always follow those as well as the formatting guidelines for the required citation style. Many students who want to save time, skip over this part and opt to buy a research proposal from professional writers. This allows them to get a head start with their research and a great strategy to manage your deadlines. You’ll buy time to work on the actual paper instead of being bogged down in the details.

Research Proposal Format

The format for your assignment is largely dictated by the set citation style. By now you should be familiar with a couple of the common styles such as APA or MLA. Some style guides require a title page or a running head while others do not. Also, pay attention to the font you use for your scientific proposal all style require a legible font and may have spacing and margin guidelines.

Research Proposal Abstract

In the academic community the abstract is what sells your paper. It is a brief synopsis of the questions you aim to explore as well as the current state of knowledge. Many professors will first read the abstract to get a snapshot of what your text contains. A well written abstract will be concise, yet interesting which can be a hard balance to strike, especially if writing is not your strong suit. Initiate interest by giving an overview of the current state of knowledge and how you plan to contribute to it. This will go a long way in building interest for your work. The abstract will also guide the reader to jump to points of interest in your paper. Mention key elements of your planned work and how you plan to tackle these questions.

Research Paper Proposal Outline

The outline is the backbone of your text. It will help streamline your ideas and how to put them together in a completed work. Many students neglect writing a research paper outline, but a proper outline gives general topic headings you’ll include in the paper. The best advantage of this, is you’ll save time by connecting your research how you’ll proceed with writing. With a visual of how to conduct your research most efficiently, you won’t have to revisit sources multiple times. You’ll also be able to start writing your paper at any point and don’t need to go from beginning to end.

Research Proposal Structure

There are a few key sections for your research topic proposal. Here is a run down of the sections to include in your paper.

• Introduction – A few parts of the intro is your lead-in, background information, and your thesis statement. Start your lead-in with an introduction that garners interest with a strong hook. You may quote a controversial statistic you plan to investigate or a question your peers often ask themselves about a contemporary subject. This will setup a strong transition for any background information on the topic which will then follow with your thesis statement. Your thesis is the basis of your paper and should be relevant through the entire text including your conclusion.
• Literature review – Here you demonstrate your knowledge on your subject. Mention texts you’ve read and how they reinforce the background of your topic proposal and especially any knowledge gaps that serve as a driver for your research.
• Methodology – Scientific work must be based on logical conclusions and the only way to have consistent and accurate data is through proper technique. In this section detail what experiments or studies you plan to conduct. Ensure your methods are logical and on point with your thesis statement. When another scientist reads your methods, they should be able to duplicate your tests and obtain similar results.
• Expected Results – It may not seem possible to indicate the expected results, especially when venturing into unknown territory. But with solid background knowledge, you’ll be able to formulate a hypothesis of what to expect. Certainly the results of many college proposal have differed in practice, so don’t get discouraged if your expected results deviate from reality. You’ll have plenty of time to document the discrepancies in your actual paper.
• Conclusion – Don’t wing this. The conclusion is what leaves the reader with an impression so make it memorable. Restate your thesis, why it is important and what you aim to achieve. Give a consolidated summary to persuade your professor to approve your topic.

Research Proposal Topics

When you write a research proposal you may be stuck trying to find the best topic that will be interesting and have sufficient material to develop your paper for a high grade. The key here is to be relevant. You may have a pet subject you’re passionate about, but if doesn’t appeal to the larger audience, your paper will likely be rejected. A good tip is to check with academic publications in your field and see what questions leading researchers are working on. This will provide a blueprint that is relevant to your studies and greatly improve the chances of your work being approved.

Research Proposal Presentation Tips

When you pitch your proposal, nothing sells better than confidence. Take time to prepare and think of any questions your audience may ask. You may find it useful to practice with friends and ask for feedback how you can improve the delivery. Ask what they like, or dislike and if they have any questions. It is important to give a good impression as to why your work is important and the questions you will explore. Include a list of visual aids to encourage interest in your work. A few graphs to indicate a problem as well as an explanation of how you intend to solve it will work well to keep your audience engaged and follow your presentation.

Professors appreciate the effort you put into your proposal so do not neglect this step. Students who craft the best proposals are seen more serious and are given more authority to follow their passions instead of towing the line with the curriculum. Show that you have what it takes to be a lead scientist in your discipline with a well-crafted proposal. And as always, if you find yourself a rock in a hard place, our professional writers are always available to help you put together a high quality proposal at a moments notice.