20 Nursing Research Paper Topics on End-of-Life Care, PICOT Questions Examples, EBP & Capstone Project Ideas, Nursing Research Questions Examples and Nursing Essay Topic Ideas

Palliative and end-of-life care is a specialized field of nursing dedicated to providing compassionate support, comfort, and dignity to individuals facing life-limiting illnesses or the final stages of their life journey. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial to empower nurses and future healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools to provide the highest level of care and support to those in need during their most vulnerable moments.

In this article, we explore Nursing Research Paper Topics on End-of-Life Care. We also cover PICOT questions examples, EBP and & capstone project ideas, research paper topics, research questions, and essay topic ideas on this critical aspect of healthcare.

PICOT Questions Examples on End-of-Life Care

1. In terminally ill cancer patients (P), how does early palliative care intervention (I) compared to standard care (C) affect quality of life (O) within three months (T)?
2. Among critically ill patients in the ICU (P), what is the effect of nurse-led communication training (I) compared to no structured training (C) on family satisfaction with end-of-life care (O) during the ICU stay (T)?
3. In hospice care settings (P), how does the presence of therapy animals (I) compared to their absence (C) influence pain management (O) among patients with advanced dementia (T)?
4. For elderly patients receiving palliative care at home (P), what is the impact of comprehensive geriatric assessment (I) compared to usual care (C) on functional status (O) within six months (T)?
5. In end-of-life care for children (P), how does the use of art therapy (I) compared to standard care (C) affect the expression of emotional distress (O) during the last two weeks of life (T)?
6. Among nurses working in palliative care units (P), what is the effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program (I) compared to no program (C) on the reduction of caregiver burnout (O) over eight weeks (T)?
7. In terminally ill patients with heart failure (P), how does a palliative care consult (I) compared to standard heart failure care (C) impact symptom burden (O) over a year (T)?
8. For families of patients in hospice care (P), what is the impact of a support group intervention (I) compared to no intervention (C) on the bereavement experience (O) during the first six months post-loss (T)?
9. In the case of patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) receiving palliative care (P), how does the administration of low-dose opioids (I) compared to no opioids (C) influence breathlessness (O) within two weeks (T)?
10. In the ICU setting (P), what is the effect of end-of-life care training for healthcare professionals (I) compared to no training (C) on the number of futile interventions (O) during the last 48 hours of life (T)?

You can also check out PICOT Questions Examples on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Evidence-Based Project Ideas on Palliative and End-of-Life Care

1. Implementing a Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program.
2. Music Therapy in Hospice Care.
3. Telehealth Services in Palliative Care to Expand Access to Rural Communities.
4. Developing a Palliative Care Pathway for Patients with Neurological Conditions
5. The Role of Family in End-of-Life Decision-Making.
6. Pain Assessment and Management in Palliative Care.
7. The Implementation of End-of-Life Doula Services in Healthcare Institutions.
8. Advancing Nurse Practitioner-Led Palliative Care Clinics.
9. Advance Care Planning Workshops to Empower Patients to Voice Their Preferences.
10. Ethical Dilemmas in Palliative Care and Strategies for Ethical Decision-Making.
11. Assessing the Impact of Art Therapy on Emotional Expression in Palliative Care.
12. Enhancing Communication Skills in End-of-Life Care.
13. Palliative Care for Pediatric Patients.
14. Strategies for Minimizing Suffering at the End of Life.
15. The Role of Therapeutic Touch in Palliative Care in Enhancing Patient Comfort.
16. Integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Palliative Care.
17. Enhancing Psychological Support for Families in Hospice Care.
18. The Benefits of Mindfulness Programs for Healthcare Professionals in Palliative Care.
19. Pediatric Pain Management in Palliative Care.
20. Pediatric Palliative Care Education in Nursing Curricula.

Nursing Capstone Project Ideas on End-of-Life Care

1. Assessing the Impact of a Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program on Patient and Family Satisfaction
2. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Music Therapy in Improving End-of-Life Patient Comfort
3. Expanding Access to Palliative Care: Developing Telehealth Services for Rural Communities 
4. Developing a Comprehensive Palliative Care Pathway for Patients with Neurological Conditions
5. Shared Decision-Making in End-of-Life Decision-Making
6.  Implementing a Pain Assessment and Management Protocol in Palliative Care
7. Investigating the Benefits of End-of-Life Doula Services for Patients and Families
8. The Role of Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics in Advancing Palliative Care
9. Empowering Patients with Advance Care Planning.
10. Ethical Decision-Making in Palliative Care.
11. The Influence of Art Therapy on Emotional Expression in Pediatric Palliative Care
12. Improving Communication Skills in End-of-Life Care.
13. Tailoring Pediatric Palliative Care Approaches to Young Patients and Their Families
14. Implementing Comfort Measures in the ICU.
15. Investigating the Impact of Therapeutic Touch on Patient Comfort in Palliative Care.
16. Integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Palliative Care.
17. Enhancing Psychological Support for Families in Hospice Care.
18. The Benefits of Mindfulness Programs for Healthcare Professionals in Palliative Care: An Evaluation
19. A Holistic Approach to Pediatric Pain Management in Palliative Care: An Intervention Assessment
20. Evaluating the Integration of Pediatric Palliative Care Education in Nursing Curricula

You can also check out Capstone Project Ideas on Neurological Nursing

Nursing Research Paper Topics on End-of-Life Care

1. The Impact of Early Palliative Care on Cancer Patients’ Quality of Life.
2. Nurse-Family Communication in Intensive Care Units.
3. The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Palliative Care for Patients with Dementia.
4. A Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Home-Based Palliative Care.
5. Art Therapy in Pediatric Palliative Care.
6. Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Palliative Care Nursing.
7. Expanding Access to Care at the End of Life with Telehealth.
8. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Programs for Palliative Care Nurses.
9. Music Therapy in End-of-Life Care to Ease Pain and Anxiety.
10. Balancing Patient Autonomy and Parental Decision-Making.
11. Opioid Use in Palliative Care for Pain Management at the End of Life.
12. Nurse-Led End-of-Life Communication Training and Impact on Family Satisfaction in the ICU.
13. The Presence of Therapy Animals in Hospice Care for Patients with Advanced Dementia.
14. The Influence of a Support Group Intervention on Bereaved Families.
15. Comprehensive End-of-Life Doula Services to Meet the Needs of Patients and Families.
16. Family-Centered Support in Hospice Care.
17. Empowering Patients to Make Their Wishes Known with Advanced Care Planning.
18. Palliative Care in Neurological Conditions.
19. Managing Pain at the End of Life and Effectiveness of Pain Pathways.
20. Therapeutic Touch in Palliative Care to Enhance Comfort and Well-Being.

Nursing Research Questions on Palliative and End-of-Life Care

1. How do cultural differences impact decision-making and care preferences in end-of-life situations, and what can be done to provide culturally sensitive palliative care?
2. What are the key factors influencing the decision to transition a patient from curative to palliative care, and how can these decisions be optimized for patient and family satisfaction?
3. How can healthcare providers ensure that patients’ spiritual and existential needs are addressed in palliative and end-of-life care?
4. What are the ethical dilemmas healthcare providers face when balancing pain management in end-of-life care with concerns about opioid misuse and addiction?
5. What is the role of advance care planning in ensuring that patients’ end-of-life preferences are respected, and how can it be effectively integrated into healthcare practice?
6. How do different care settings, such as home-based palliative care versus inpatient hospice care, impact patient and family experiences and outcomes?
7. What are the factors that influence the decision to pursue aggressive treatments or hospice care in the late stages of a terminal illness, and how can shared decision-making be improved?
8. How can healthcare providers better support family caregivers in providing care to loved ones at the end of life?
9. What is the impact of nurse-led palliative care programs on patient and family outcomes and healthcare utilization?
10. What are the challenges and benefits of providing palliative care in underserved and rural communities, and how can access to these services be improved?
11. How do psychosocial and emotional factors, such as depression and anxiety, impact the experience of patients in palliative care, and what interventions can address these concerns?
12. What are the barriers to timely hospice enrollment, and how can they be overcome to ensure that patients receive appropriate end-of-life care?
13. How do healthcare providers and patients navigate the complex ethical issues related to withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments at the end of life?
14. What are the experiences and needs of patients who choose medical aid in dying (MAID) as an end-of-life option?
15. How can healthcare providers ensure that patients receive culturally competent palliative care, particularly for diverse and minority populations?
16. How does nurse-led communication training in the ICU affect family satisfaction with end-of-life care for critically ill patients?
17. Does the presence of therapy animals influence pain management in hospice care for patients with advanced dementia?
18. What is the impact of comprehensive geriatric assessment on the functional status of elderly patients receiving palliative care at home within six months?
19. How does art therapy affect the expression of emotional distress in children receiving end-of-life care?
20. What is the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction programs on caregiver burnout in nurses working in palliative care units over eight weeks?

Nursing Essay Topics on Palliative and End-of-Life Care

1. The Role of Family in End-of-Life Decision-Making.
2. Telehealth Services in Palliative Care Overcoming for Rural Communities.
3. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Home-Based Palliative Care.
4. Influence of Therapeutic Touch on Comfort and Emotional Well-Being in Palliative Care.
5. The Importance of Effective Communication in Palliative Care.
6. Ethical Dilemmas in End-of-Life Decision-Making.
7. Addressing the Unique Needs of Children and Families in Pediatric Palliative Care.
8. The Role of Nurses in Providing Spiritual and Emotional Support in End-of-Life Care.
9. The Impact of Palliative Care on Quality of Life for Patients with Advanced Cancer.
10. Palliative Care in Dementia: Enhancing the Quality of Life for Patients and Families.
11. Advance Care Planning: Empowering Patients to Make Informed End-of-Life Choices.
12. Holistic Approaches to End-of-Life Care: Addressing Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Needs.
13. The Experience of Bereavement Support in End-of-Life Care: Grief and Coping.
14. The Role of Music Therapy in Providing Comfort and Emotional Support in Palliative Care.
15. Cultural Competency in End-of-Life Care.
16. The Impact of COVID-19 on Palliative Care.
17. Legal Considerations of Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) in End-of-Life Choices.
18. Symptom Management at the End of Life: A Focus on Pain, Dyspnea, and Nausea.
19. The Challenges of Delivering Palliative Care in Underserved and Rural Communities.
20. Meeting the Unique Needs of Children and Their Families.
21. The Influence of Healthcare Policies on Access to Palliative and End-of-Life Care.
22. Nurse-Initiated Advance Care Planning: Promoting Conversations About End-of-Life Preferences.
23. End-of-Life Decision-Making for Patients with Advanced Heart Failure.
24. The Role of Palliative Care in Assisting Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
25. Pediatric Palliative Care and Sibling Support.
26. End-of-Life Care for Patients with Neurological Disorders: Challenges and Solutions.
27. Integrating Palliative Care in Oncology to Enhance the Cancer Patient’s Journey.
28. The Impact of Palliative Care Consultations on Healthcare Utilization and Costs.
29. Pediatric Bereavement Support for Children and Adolescents.
30. Ethical Challenges in Withholding or Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Treatments in End-of-Life Care.

You can also check out Nursing Essay Topic Ideas on Oncology Nursing

Conclusion

Palliative and end-of-life care is a specialized nursing field that demands empathy, expertise, and a commitment to ensuring that patients and their families find comfort, dignity, and support during life’s most challenging moments. By addressing these facets of palliative and end-of-life care, we honor the essence of nursing and the sanctity of life itself.

FAQs

1. What is the palliative care and end of life care plan?

Palliative care describes specialist services provided by an interdisciplinary team of palliative care professionals, who work with people approaching the end of their life. End of life planning is the process of planning for end of life and may include plans for palliative care.

2. What are the 4 stages of palliative care?

Stage 1: Stable – Developing and Implementing the Care Plan. Stage 2: Unstable – Adjusting the Care Plan & Preparing Emotionally. Stage 3: Deteriorating – Shifting to End-of-Life-Care. Stage 4: Terminal – Symptom Management, Emotional & Spiritual Care.

3. What are the 3 forms of palliative care?

The three main forms of palliative care are: symptom management, emotional support and spiritual care.

4. What are 2 principles of palliative care?

Some key principles of palliative care include effective communication, holistic care, and a team-based approach to care. 

5. What is the role of the nurse in palliative care?

Palliative care nurses help relieve pain, and they extend comfort and support to critically ill patients or those nearing the end of their lives.

Sources:

1. Ferrell, B. R., & Coyle, N. (2019). Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing. Oxford University Press.
2. Matzo, M., Sherman, D. W., & Ferrell, B. R. (2019). Palliative Care Nursing: Quality Care to the End of Life. Springer Publishing Company.
3. Lea, S. J., Nicholl, H., & Dein, S. (Eds.). (2018). The Palgrave Handbook of the Psychology of End-of-Life Care. Palgrave Macmillan.
4. Coyle, N. (2019). Textbook of Palliative Nursing. Oxford University Press.
5. Emanuel, L. L., Librach, S. L., Visser, M. R., Ferris, F. D., & von Gunten, C. F. (2011). Palliative Care: Core Skills and Clinical Competencies. Elsevier Health Sciences.