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A practical approach to the process of writing a dissertation

09 October, 2017

Writing a dissertation does not have to be stressful and should be a vehicle for learning, not a chore. This article offers practical advice for student nurses embarking on the task

While many student nurses find the task daunting, writing a dissertation is essentially a powerful vehicle for learning; it is an opportunity to work on methodology and organisational skills, develop an appreciation of research, and demonstrate critical thinking. With the help of a good supervisor, a carefully planned dissertation will develop almost naturally, as long as students follow a few basic rules. This article considers the essentials of writing a dissertation and offers practical guidance to students.

Citation: Lowry M (2017) A practical approach to the process of writing a dissertation. Nursing Times [online]; 113: 11, 36-39.

Author: Mike Lowry is a freelance writer and former nursing academic.

• This article has been double-blind peer reviewed
• Scroll down to read the article or  download a print-friendly PDF here
• Also read our article Making the most of the relationship with your dissertation supervisor

Introduction

Many student nurses feel overwhelmed by the task of writing a dissertation, uncertain how to approach it and doubtful about their chances of success. Few are fully confident that they know how to go about writing the dissertation, manage the supervisory relationship and highlight the essentials of the topic they wish to examine. However, writing a dissertation is a learning process, and need not be such an onerous task if it is carefully planned.

A dissertation can be defined as the report of a process; it may also be seen as a long essay (Biggam, 2015). By comparison, a thesis is more sophisticated and adds to the knowledge in a field, or challenges accepted norms to bring about changes in established understanding. Undergradu-ates and taught master’s degree students are more likely to produce a dissertation, as do many master’s students, whereas students at doctoral level are more likely to write a thesis.

Writing a dissertation equates to developing an understanding of research or systematic enquiry rather than generating new evidence; that is the purpose of a doctoral thesis. While there are various methods according to the nature of the project, the main purpose of a dissertation is to enable students to demonstrate organisational skills, beginning insights into research, and deeper, more critical understanding of their chosen focal topic. However, there are commonalities be-tween a dissertation and thesis, especially around the importance of good supervisory relationships. This article focuses on dissertations, offering a framework for students embarking on – or stuck in the middle of – the process of writing one.

Purpose of a dissertation

Students are asked to write a dissertation to demonstrate their ability to focus on a subject, examine it in detail through systematic enquiry and identify relevant theories. They need to show they are capable of presenting work in an orderly, academic form, clearly demonstrating a working knowledge of their chosen subject. Equally important is the development of various levels of critical insight, depending on the level of degree for which the dissertation is to be submitted – undergraduate or master’s. Box 1 summarises what is expected from you in a dissertation.

Box 1. What your dissertation must demonstrate

• Ability to delve into a subject through systematic enquiry
• Capacity to present written work in an orderly, academic form
• Working knowledge of a subject
• Clarity of purpose, clarity of thought and sophistication of argument
• Ability to focus, plan, organise and work methodically
• Ability to think critically

Getting started

Acording to Wisker (2013) a dissertation is a large piece of work requiring careful planning, good time management, critical thinking, conceptual understanding and adherence to practices for completion. The time taken initially to decide on the topic, approaches and resources will be time well spent.

Many students consider identifying and refining the topic of their dissertation to be one of the most difficult elements in the process. It is fair to say that once the topic has been defined, the rest unrolls like a carpet – as long as you follow a few basic rules (Box 2).

Box 2. Basic rules for writing a dissertation

• Refine the topic, spending time with your supervisor at this stage
• Choose question(s), where relevant, that will likely produce interesting answers
• Consider resources
• Do not hesitate to write in the first person if appropriate
• Put effort and care into every stage of the process
• Justify your choices rather than simply stating them
• Produce a lively and informed discussion
• Follow the format requirements of your institution/supervisor

It is important to avoid chaos and to put effort and care into every stage of the process; the SCARY checklist contains useful advice on what a dissertation should and should not be (Box 3).

Box 3. The SCARY checklist

Your dissertation should be SCARY , in other words:

S traightforward: avoid waffling or overcomplicating ideas; you should, however, demonstrate complexity when discussing findings and literature

C lear and unambiguous: whatever you set out to do must be easily defined and may be trailed for audit

A chievable: within the time frame, limits of the remit, available resources and size limitations

R ecency, ensure that the material you are using to inform the work is current; it might be wise to ensure that all literature dates from the last 10 years or so, depending on the subject matter. Unless older work is seminal, avoid citing it and seek newer material; never use literature just because it is convenient or to hand

Y ours: do not be tempted to claim anyone else’s work as your own

One key piece of advice is that it must be the student’s own work, which means plagiarism must be avoided (Box 4).

Box 4. Plagiarism: do not go there

As Singh and Remenyi (2016) explain, plagiarism is using, in an essay or dissertation, ideas that have been sourced from work published by other authors without acknowledging them. It is academic misconduct to fail to acknowledge the original source, a point echoed by Biggam (2015). In the worst case scenario, plagiarism can lead to the candidate’s work being disallowed.

If you are tempted to use the work of others and claim it for yourself, the advice is simple: do not go there.

The qualities that distinguish an outstanding dissertation from an average one include clarity of purpose, clarity of thought and sophistication of the argument. A first-class submission will be highly organised and focused, clearly demonstrating critical insight, as opposed to a simple, unquestioned description.

Refining the topic

A topic that may seem obvious at the outset can prove to be too vague or too complex. It can be helpful to distil your ideas using a framework such as Lowry’s reflective triangle (Lowry, 2016). Start by making notes on what interests you and why (the ‘case’), then put these into the ‘context’ and consider all the ‘variables’ (Fig 1). For example, you might have an interest in educating patients and want to explore this case in more depth. The context might be your recent experience of a patient being unclear about information on treatment options. Given the importance of patients understanding treatment options so they can make informed decisions, the scenario might appear more complex than it first seemed. You might want to consider the impact on you as a practitioner, who else was involved, what was particularly important and why (the variables). Your reflections will eventually crystallise into a clearer topic and will help you justify your choice.

This part of a dissertation is often seen as the most challenging. Without a clear focus, the rest of the process is likely to stall, so spending time with your supervisor at this stage is invaluable. Go it alone if you will, but it is far better to nurture the supervisory relationship (Kimani, 2014).

Determining the research question

Not all dissertations need a question or questions; some can be purely observational – for example if they use grounded theory. When questions are involved, however, these must be relevant and have a reasonable chance of producing answers.

Unless the subject matter makes it impossible, you should never use a closed question (questions starting with “is”, “are”, “does” or “can”), as the answer will inevitably be yes or no. For example, the answer to the question “Is the process of completing a dissertation arduous?” is almost certainly yes, to an extent, so the question has no real value. A more interesting alternative would be to ask “To what extent is completing a dissertation arduous?”. This offers something to explore and play with to produce a discussion. If you study human society in any shape or form, you will quickly discover that it is seldom binary and rarely fits an ‘either/or’ format.

Considering resources

While refining your topic and research question, you also need to identify and justify the resources you may need, such as help from a statistician, support with transcribing data or advice from experts. Consider whether these resources will be available within the time frame and budget. It would be unwise to seek answers to questions that require disproportionate resources.

Using discursive writing

Students tend to avoid discursive writing, preferring to report rather than to argue, but Kamler and Thomson (2006) emphasise the importance of producing lively and informed discussions. There are opportunities for discussion in various sections of a dissertation, including in the literature review, and it can be used throughout your work, starting with the justification of your choice of topic and methods.

Choosing the right pronoun

It has long been debated whether to use the personal pronoun in academic work; the upshot is that, where justified, there is no reason to avoid writing in the first person. As Kamler and Thomson (2006) put it, “‘I’ is not just a matter of personal choice. There are epistemological/methodological and rhetorical reasons for choosing to use the first person pronoun”. Conversely, trying to shoehorn the personal pronoun (or third person) into your writing when it is unnecessary detracts from the intrinsic quality of the dissertation.

Discuss your preference with your supervisor and be ready to argue your case; the reason for your choice must be clear from the outset. Whatever choice you make – first or third person – must be adhered to throughout, so never alternate between pronouns.

Format and elements of a dissertation

Once you have a general feel for what your dissertation is going to look like, you can get started. The requirements for format and what elements the dissertation should include vary according to institutions and supervisors, so be guided by them. More information on the practicalities of pre-paring a research-based dissertation can be found in Bowen (2005). Generally, all the elements described below are needed in one form or another. At each step, remember to justify your choices as opposed to alternatives, rather than simply stating them and moving on. In terms of style, avoid colloquialisms and discipline your thinking to search for relevant illustrative expressions.

Although the introduction to the dissertation comes first it should be written last, after everything else is complete. Only then will you know exactly what is in your dissertation and how to introduce it.

The background section tells the story of what led you to undertake this work – for example, a recent placement, clinical experience or a presentation in an academic forum. It brings the reader to the table, so to speak.

Aims and objectives

Aims and objectives must be determined at the outset. Have at least one (main) aim and four (contributory) objectives: fewer than four objectives might appear superficial, especially considering that the aim has been deemed interesting enough to merit a study. Objectives must be relevant to the aim(s), and aims and objectives must be clearly stated and explained.

The aim is the overall destination and the objectives are what you need to do to get there; for example, if your aim was to help women to decide what method of contraception to choose, your objectives would include establishing what methods are available, examining the risks and benefits of each, and evaluating different forms of patient information.

Literature review

The literature review – sometimes called literature search or literature enquiry – is crucial. What you have read must be current and relevant, and you need to show that you have examined it critically. If one author’s assertion is contradicted by another, your role is to unravel the arguments and extract meaning from them. The fact that authors have had their work published does not mean they are necessarily right.

Synthesise what you have read, bring the information together and demonstrate how it has contributed to your thinking. From your reading you will develop ideas on how to investigate your topic – including what design best fits your purpose.

Journal articles are generally more focused and detailed than books. Ensure the journals you cite are peer-reviewed: this means its articles have been scrutinised by people with the relevant spe-cialist expertise before being accepted for publication. How many articles or books you include depends on the nature of your work. You are likely to need at least 20 current articles or books to make sense of your topic. Fewer sources may betray an unwillingness to delve into the subject, whereas featuring a huge amount of literature may indicate you have skimmed through it. Be selective and be prepared to justify your choice of included work.

The design – also referred to as approach or method – is the way in which you explore your topic. This section can adopt various presentations but should be clear and succinct, and you should avoid becoming mired in uncertainties. It may feature:

• The epistemological approach – for example qualitative or quantitative, or perhaps eclectic – and why you made that choice;
• The method – for example, if you have chosen a quantitative approach your method could be a survey, while a qualitative approach could be the observation of informants and interpretation of their behaviour with the help of follow-up interviews. These methods are by no means exhaustive and relevant texts on research principles, such as Parahoo (2014); Moule and Aveyard (2016); Ellis (2016) will help you select your method.
• Resources needed for your project;
• Any perceived limitations, such as availability of informants, response rates or equipment, and how these were dealt with.

Ethical approval

Research is awash with ethical challenges; you need to identify them early and show what steps you have taken to address them. Do refer to the theories on ethics that you have used to guide your thinking. As a general rule, undergraduates should not be encouraged to involve patients in their research projects, but they will still need to secure ethical approval if they intend to involve peers, staff or any other informants who could potentially be harmed. Obtaining ethical approval is a long and sometimes complex process that should not be taken lightly.

This section states what sources you derive information from; for example, this could be literature only, different types of literature, individual informants or observations.

Describe what you have done, what worked and what did not. Do not avoid exploring errors in your work, but when doing so, demonstrate how they have contributed to your understanding.

This is the section where you describe what has emerged from your study and what you think needs to be examined further (and why). Do not merely end with a series of superficial comments about what else could be done, but explain what brought you to these views.

The discussion is your chance to shine. It is likely to be longer than most other sections – if not there may be a problem. Start by stating what resulted from your enquiry, and every time you make a statement, ask yourself: so what? It may seem odd, but this self-enquiry will result in deeper insights, which will impress examiners.

If you want to excel, incorporate the findings from the literature review into your discussion and explore whether the findings from your work concur with or differ from the literature. You can further enhance the discussion by integrating fieldwork, findings and ethical challenges. The more fully you engage with the dissertation at this stage, the more sophisticated the end product will be.

Conclusions

The conclusions (or recommendations) need to be brief, draw everything together and suggest what needs to happen next and why.

Your work must include a carefully compiled list of literature cited in your dissertation. Bear in mind that examiners do check references – especially if they are themselves among the authors cited. They may find incomplete reference lists – or, even worse, their published work misquoted or wrongly interpreted – extremely irritating. Refer to your institution’s guidelines for reference protocols.

A dissertation is a means for students to demonstrate they can work methodically and think critically. It is also a powerful vehicle for learning, and one that may well stimulate students to become further involved with systematic enquiry. At the very least, it will engender an appreciation of the process of research.

• Many students feel overwhelmed by the task of writing a dissertation
• A dissertation that has been carefully thought through should develop naturally
• Time taken initially to decide on the topic, questions and methods will be time well spent
• Dissertations must be clear, organised and focused, and demonstrate critical insight
• Plagiarism is academic misconduct and must be avoided

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One comment.

I am a 3rd year student nurse embarking on my dissertation so found this article interesting. It is true, most students do feel nervous and overwhelmed at the thought of writing a dissertation especially on top of other assignments and being in practice.

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Writing Nursing Dissertations, Theses, & Scholarly Projects (Step-by-Step Guide)

Are you a doctoral, master's, or undergraduate nursing student? If yes, this guide has been made with love for you! As long as you will be handling a nursing scholarly project or dissertation, you have all the reasons to fall in love with this well-thought-guide.

The dissertation writing process is complicated to follow for most DNP nursing students. So, we made this guide to simplify it; we created this guide to make life a bit easier for you.

Although this step-by-step guide will not help you design and execute clinical research or implement quality improvement processes, it will help you successfully plan, organize, and write your nursing dissertation or scholarly project.

Let's begin.

What Is a Nursing Dissertation?

A nursing dissertation is a comprehensive research project a doctoral nursing student must complete to graduate. The centerpiece of the research project is the paper documenting the entire thing, and this paper is what is known as a dissertation.

Some nursing programs allow master's and undergraduate students to write dissertation-style scholarly projects.

Generally, nursing dissertations are between 5,000 to 15,000 words long. The length of your dissertation will largely be determined by the dissertation requirements set by your nursing school, and it will take you between three to twelve months to write your dissertation, depending on its length and complexity.

A typical nursing dissertation comprises several chapters, a references section, and an appendices section. And it is formatted following the APA manual. Therefore, when writing your paper, strictly adhere to the APA stylebook or Harvard formatting style (if you study in Australia or UK).

Before you commence your dissertation project, you will be assigned a supervisor. The supervisor is supposed to provide you with the guidance (mentorship) you need to make your dissertation a robust academic paper.

Therefore, you and them will have to meet regularly to discuss your dissertation from start to finish. So if you were very worried about the dissertation writing process thinking you may fail, you now know there will be someone to hold your hand and get you back on track in case you deviate.

As you may have noticed from the information shared above, a nursing dissertation is a complex paper requiring plenty of work and effort, and you must be at the top of your game to write a solid dissertation paper.

Get professional dissertation assistance from us if you need it at any point.

Structure of Nursing Dissertation

The typical nursing dissertation has the following chapters.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Your nursing dissertation paper has to start with an introduction chapter. In the chapter, you have to provide the reader with background information on the topic of your paper.

The chapter introduces your topic and makes a case for its significance. Any reader reading your nursing dissertation should tell the topic by reading the first two sentences.

Therefore, if you are handling a topic related to CAUTIs, make the first sentence about CAUTIs. A good way is to give statistics or statements about the CAUTIs issue in healthcare settings. You can describe the affected population, the depth of the issue, mortality and morbidity rates, and whether the problem is increasing or its impact is becoming greater.

Beginning the introduction with general to specific ideas help you settle in your readers. Therefore, the first paragraph of the introduction chapter should state the problem and its prevalence while making a general statement on its impact. In your succeeding paragraphs, you will have finer details through your problem statement, purpose statement, research or PICOT question, rationale, and aims/objectives. Giving appropriate background information is critical.

When writing the introduction, you should answer four fundamental questions:

• What is happening?
• Why should we care?
• What do we know currently?
• What do we need to find out and why?

Answering these questions should lead to a statement otherwise referred to as the purpose statement. A clear and concise purpose statement is vital to your dissertation introduction. Below is an example of a nursing dissertation purpose statement.

This quality improvement project aims to reduce the number of adverse events resulting from medical errors within 90 days.

This study aims to determine whether educating mothers about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding at a local maternity facility will increase adherence and acceptance to exclusive breastfeeding of newborns rather than relying on alternatives such as supplements.

Sometimes, you might be required to write a PICOT-based problem statement, especially if you are doing quantitative research or a quality improvement project.

PICOT stands for:

• Population: Who is the focus of the project or study?
• Intervention: What activity/behavior is being tested?
• Comparison: What group are you comparing your population to?
• Outcome: What are the outcomes you are examining?
• Time: What is the duration of the intervention or study?

Related Reading: Formulating PICOT questions plus examples.

Since patients with heart failure have high readmission rates, I propose implementing a discharge follow-up program that encompasses a bi-weekly post-discharge home visit by nurse practitioners within two weeks after hospital discharge. I will compare 40-day readmission rates for the patients during the six months before and after the introduction of the program.

Note that not all the purpose statements for nursing dissertations can be formulated as PICOT problem statement the same way; not all nursing research questions can be PICOT questions. If you are doing a qualitative study, you might sometimes not have time for the comparison, outcome, and intervention.

The purpose statement is followed immediately with a brief description of how you plan to accomplish it. If you are researching, detail your methodological approach, including the design, population, data collection and analysis methods, and your research timeline.

You can also state your hypotheses in the last section of your paragraph. It is also wise to include measurable objectives. Below is an example:

In the six months following the implementation of nurse practitioner-led post-discharge home visits, the average 40-day heart failure readmission rate will be lower than 15%.

You can then reformulate the purpose statement into a specific research question or question. For example:

Will biweekly home visits by nursing practitioners for two weeks post-hospital discharge reduce the readmission rates of heart failure patients?

You also have to provide the reader with an explanation of what is known and what is not known. Lastly, it would be best to clarify what you are investigating, why it is important, and how you will do it.

A good dissertation introduction convinces the reader of the importance of the study or project, includes clear and concise background information and a purpose statement, and identifies the research gap. It also has research questions, hypotheses, and aims/objectives as needed.

Chapter 2: Literature Review

In this chapter, you have to provide definitions for concepts and variables, and you also have to provide the theoretical framework for your dissertation. Your chapter two or the literature review should help the readers understand everything you are researching, the issue you are addressing, and why. It offers the context of the study or project and establishes the significance of the topic and the rationale for your study. A comprehensive literature review helps you critically analyze or synthesize all the available information on your topic. Focusing on peer-reviewed scholarly articles published in the last five years is important. You can also include seminal and classic articles. If you have gray literature, identify it as such in your literature review. The gray literature includes non-peer-reviewed articles,

technical reports, conference reports, reports from recognized organizations working in the topic area (such as NGOs), committee reports, white papers, or unpublished research report

Note that chapters one and two of the dissertation are the same as your proposal (if you were initially asked to write one). It should explain your chosen theoretical model or conceptual framework in depth. You can include your search strategy in the literature review, especially for doctoral programs.

Wrap up the literature review by stating the research gaps you identified that your current study would address.

As the literature review is the longest chapter in a dissertation, you can use subheadings to organize information and guide the readers through complex concepts.

Of course, your lit review must have a review of the literature, and you must provide a comprehensive and analytical review of the literature in this chapter, followed by a summary and an identification of the research gaps.

Chapter 3: Methodology

The methodology chapter is one of the most important chapters of a nursing dissertation because it is the chapter where the design of the study is revealed. So you have to discuss the design of your project in this chapter.

The discussion should include your planning activities, the setting, the people, the sample, the ethical considerations, the data collection, the instruments, the data analysis, the anticipated and actual barriers, the strategic plan, the budget, and the project timeline.

As you can see, many important project elements are to be covered in this chapter. Do not forget any of them if you want to ensure your dissertation is not rejected.

Chapter 4: Results/Findings

This chapter is just as crucial as the chapter above, and it is where you discuss the results of your project. The must-have elements of this chapter include the response rate, the sample size, the demographics, the preliminary statistical tests, the final statistical tests/analyses, the qualitative tests, and the project implementation outcomes.

This chapter is written at a sweet time when you have already collected and analyzed your data or fully implemented your science project. Writing it is all about detailing what you did and the outcomes.

Chapter 6: Discussion, Conclusion, and Recommendation

After detailing what you found out in your project, you must discuss it. This is where the rubber meets the road - you show the world you are a worthy doctoral nursing student. The essential elements you should have in this chapter include a summary of the problem, your key findings, what the findings mean, the implications of the findings, recommendations for future studies, the limitations of the study, and your conclusion.

Unlike the previous chapters, this chapter needs a lot of thinking and a lot of interpretation. Therefore, many students consider it challenging to write. Nevertheless, it is just a chapter like the others, so it can be written. It may take some time, but it can be written.

References Section

The references section of your dissertation is where you make clear the sources you used. Here, you must correctly include the citations for all the sources you have used in your dissertation.

You do this to credit other researchers who have worked hard like you to do their research. You also do it to avoid plagiarism, and your dissertation can be dismissed if you are found to have used sources without referencing.

Appendices Section

The appendices section of your dissertation provides your reader with all the images, tables, and other raw data you used in your dissertation.

You do this to enable the reader to find out more without distracting them from the main objective of your paper.

Steps for Writing the Perfect Nursing Dissertation

Follow the steps below to write a brilliant nursing dissertation.

1. Choose A Topic

This may sound easy, but it is not because your chosen topic will determine whether your dissertation is successful. To choose the perfect topic for your dissertation, you need to do a lot of brainstorming.

Do this by thinking about your areas of interest in nursing. What would you like to improve or to know more about? Note down everything significant that comes to mind. Then proceed to look at recently published journal articles in nursing and note down interesting gaps in the research.

All the things you have noted are potential topics for your dissertation. Identify the three most interesting ones and present them to your dissertation supervisor for a discussion. They will help to settle on the perfect topic for your nursing dissertation.

Related Reading:

• Capstone project ideas and topics
• Tips for choosing a nursing dissertation topic
• Epidemiology nursing topics
• Mental health nursing topics
• Nursing informatics topics
• Steps for writing a nursing philosophy statement
• Nursing research topics for nursing papers and essays.

2. Conduct Pre-Research

After settling on the perfect topic for your dissertation, you should research your topic. This research aims to help you refine your topic and your potential research question.

The most efficient way to conduct pilot research into your chosen topic is to find and review relevant scholarly literature. Find the literature by searching your topic or its keywords in broad scholarly databases such as Google Scholar and CINAHL.

Take plenty of notes as you review the literature to understand the topic better.

3. Conduct Deep Research

A nursing dissertation is an opportunity to show your readers (professors) your nursing knowledge, research, and writing skills. And the only way you can confidently do this is by reading a lot of literature on the topic you want to write about.

So conduct deep research into your chosen topic to find relevant literature for your dissertation. Use the notes you took in the step above to conduct the research. And conduct the research into as many nursing databases as you have access to � Google Scholar, CINAHL, Embase, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalKey, PubMed, etc.

As you conduct deep research into the topic, take plenty of notes. Your goal during this step should be to know your topic inside-out, which will help you think clearly about it and know what exactly you need to do.

4. Write A Research Proposal

Before writing your dissertation, you will need to write a research proposal. Your supervisor will assess the proposal, and the format and all the other requirements will be made clear by your supervisor.

The proposal aims to show you understand what you want to investigate and discuss in your dissertation. Therefore, make sure it discusses your dissertation research topic, proposed methodology, and the key literature reviewed. In this step, you will have to think of the best methodology to use for your research.

Upon assessing your proposal, your supervisor will give you feedback on whether you are on the right track. They will tell you what to do to ensure your dissertation is perfect.

5. Research A Lot

After getting feedback from your supervisor, you should incorporate their feedback and then embark on research. Research differentiates an ordinary dissertation from an extraordinary one, so ensure your research is thorough.

What are you researching in this step? You are researching similar dissertations to the one you have proposed, and you should use resources like ProQuest Dissertations to find them.

The purpose of researching similar dissertations to what you have is to understand what it takes to develop an outstanding dissertation. You most likely have never read a published dissertation before. So read several and look at the language, the formatting, the methodology, the discussion, and so on to find out what you need to do.

6. Start Writing

This is where you start pulling everything together. Start writing your introduction chapter, the next chapter, and the next until you conclude. Writing the thousands of words you need to complete your dissertation will take time and effort. Have this in mind when you start writing to avoid getting frustrated.

As you are writing, make sure you properly organize your chapters. If you are unsure what chapter to write next or what to write in a chapter, refer to the outline/structure provided in this post.

One more thing to remember is that each chapter is a building block to your entire research. Therefore, it must agree with the rest of the chapters; nothing in it must sound off or out of place.

7. Present Your Paper to Your Supervisor

After you write your dissertation or thesis paper, present it to your supervisor for discussion. You now have something to show and something concrete for them to assess. Send it to them and await their feedback.

They will assess your dissertation and give you feedback. Upon receiving the feedback, you need to incorporate the feedback into your dissertation. This will ensure your final paper/dissertation is perfect or near perfect.

8. Proofread and Polish Your Dissertation

After incorporating the feedback given by your professor, proceed to proofread and polish your dissertation. Since your dissertation is thousands of words long, you should proofread and polish it chapter by chapter.

Remember, it usually takes days to proofread and polish a dissertation. Therefore, do not feel pressured or frustrated if you feel as if you are moving slowly. Just push forward, and you will get to the end.

9. Make Sure Your Dissertation Is Well-Formatted

After polishing your paper, ensure your dissertation is well-formatted. You need to be very careful when formatting. Do not forget to apply any APA rule to your dissertation.

Move methodically and apply every relevant formatting rule to your paper. Do not forget to correctly add all the references and appendices to your dissertation.

10. Present Your Dissertation to Your Supervisor

After you complete the step above, you will be all but done with writing your dissertation. What you need to do now is to present your dissertation to your supervisor one more time.

They will give you their feedback and help you prepare to defend your dissertation. Of course, you must incorporate their feedback into your academic writing before starting any dissertation defense preparations.

Once you are done with this step, you are done writing your dissertation.

Tips for Writing an Excellent Dissertation for Nursing

Follow the 20 tips below to write a brilliant nursing dissertation paper.

1. Start Immediately

When you know your school's guidelines for writing a nursing dissertation, you should start working toward choosing a dissertation topic. After choosing a topic, you should begin taking steps to prepare your dissertation writing, and then you should go ahead and start writing it.

Students often assume they have much time to write their dissertations, which is frequently untrue. Time flies when you are a DNP student; before you know it, you will have only a few short months to start and complete your dissertation.

2. Cite All the Sources You Use

When writing your dissertation, cite all the sources you use. A dissertation is an opportunity for you to show not only your academic knowledge but also your academic integrity. And academic integrity is all about honesty.

You need to cite all the sources you use. Never present someone else's work as your own. Always cite the source where you've taken information. Failure to cite correctly can result in your dissertation being rejected. Most professors are rigorous on this.

3. Make Sure Your Topic Is Specific

When choosing a topic for your dissertation, ensure it is very specific. Making sure your topic is particular will make your research easier, and it will also make your dissertation much easier to write and better to read.

In contrast, if your topic is too big or ambitious, you will end up with a situation where your dissertation sounds too broad. You will find it somewhat difficult to cover your topic as in-depth as you like. So be realistic and make your topic specific.

4. Don't Use Big Words When Simple Words Can Do

Some students think a dissertation is an opportunity to show how clever or sophisticated they are. Therefore, they use big words, jargon, and complicated sentences to try and prove this. This is unnecessary because it usually doesn't make their work any better.

Using big words, jargon, and complicated sentences will most likely make your work difficult to read and affect the flow of your work. So use simple words instead of big words whenever you can.

5. Save Your Progress Often and in Multiple Places

Starting and completing a dissertation is a massive undertaking. This is because a typical dissertation research project takes months to complete. The number of words to be typed to complete a dissertation is in the thousands, and the formatting is usually a pain in the *ss.

Because starting and completing a dissertation is difficult, you should save your work often and in multiple places. Send it to yourself in your email, WhatsApp, etc. These backup copies will ensure all your hard work is NOT lost in case you lose your laptop to a virus or a thief.

6. Plan Your Dissertation Writing Process

There is a common saying about planning that is almost cliche; failure to plan is planning to fail. If you don't plan for something, you unknowingly plan to fail. In other words, planning is essential for success.

So once you have been given the departmental guidelines for writing your dissertation, you should create a comprehensive plan with deadlines to help you complete your dissertation project. If you create a good plan, you will find the dissertation writing process easier to manage.

7. Make Sure Your Major Decisions Are Research-Informed

Every big decision you make in your paper is informed by research. For example, before you decide on your dissertation's focus, research more about what you want to write about. Before you decide on the methodology, you will use research to discover the most appropriate methods.

Making sure your significant decisions are backed up by research, as shown in the two examples above, will make it very easy for you to explain why you made the decisions to your reader. It will also make your paper more scientific, accurate, and academically sound.

8. Don't Panic If Your Results Are Not What You Expected

If, after the careful planning and execution of your research project, you get unexpected results, do not panic. Unexpected results are as valuable as expected results. The key is to ensure you do more research to explain why you think you got the results in your discussion section.

By carefully explaining your unexpected results, you will show your professors you researched and understood the topic you decided to investigate. This will make your dissertation more likely to get an excellent mark/grade.

9. Show Awareness of Your Research Limits

No matter how good your research skills are, it would help if you showed awareness of your research limits. In other words, you should indicate the limitations of your research. Of course, the limitations you note should be backed by research.

It is essential to show the limitations of your project to let the reader know that you fully understood what you were doing. It will also help the reader better contextualize your results and findings.

10. Take It Easy

Dissertation writing is hard work full of pressure and frustrations. However, it would help if you didn't let all that get to you. Remember, calm heads always prevail in one way or another. So keep your cool no matter how difficult and frustrating things get.

Keeping your cool no matter what will help you to push forward with your dissertation and to complete it successfully. On the other hand, getting frustrated will make you get stuck, which could result in you being among the many students that do not complete their dissertations.

11. First Draft Isn't Perfect

When writing your dissertation, please do not feel too much pressure to perfect it. Your goal should be simple; to complete your first draft, and your goal should be to complete your first draft to get a psychological boost and not make the first draft perfect.

The first draft isn't perfect and doesn't need to be. If you make peace with this, writing and completing your first draft will be easier. The right time to perfect your dissertation is when you proofread and edit it. You will likely need to rewrite huge parts of your first draft to make it brilliant.

12. Be Flexible

You don't need to write the chapters in a perfect sequence when writing your essay. Some students think they must do this to create a good dissertation flow. However, this is unnecessary. You create flow by making sure your sentences and paragraphs are easy to understand and by using transition words and sentences generously.

Write your chapters in any way you like. Write the easiest chapters first to gain momentum in your dissertation. This momentum will make it easier for you to write the trickier chapters.

13. Talk to Your Supervisor Regularly

Your dissertation supervisor/advisor is there to help you. You should plan to meet them biweekly or more frequently to discuss your dissertation and the progress you have made.

Do not be afraid or shy to ask your supervisor questions or clarifications. Your supervisor is there to help you and guide you through your work, and they are there to ensure you stay on track. So meet them regularly and show them your work to get all the tips and advice you need to remain on the proper path.

14. Don't Forget Your Health and Wellbeing

Just because you are writing your dissertation doesn't mean you have to let your health deteriorate. Ensure you eat well, exercise, sleep well, and stay healthy. Maintaining your physical health will ensure you are always in the right physical condition to continue putting in the hard work you need to complete your project.

Also, take care of your mental health. Your mind is the biggest tool you need for your project. Protect it by taking breaks, relaxing, hanging out with friends, and doing the things you love regularly. The more protected your mind is, the easier it will be for you to write your dissertation.

15. Don't Give Up

Dissertating is extremely difficult, and it takes a lot of physical and mental effort to complete a nursing dissertation successfully. Therefore, you will feel like throwing in the towel in many instances. If you ever feel like this, do not do it.

Don't give up. Choosing not to give up and persevering will give you a sweet psychological victory and make you feel stronger and more capable. It will also ensure you graduate with the master's degree you have sacrificed so much to get.

16. Get Professional Assistance

If you ever need assistance to complete your entire dissertation or a part of it, do not be afraid to get professional assistance. Many dissertation writing services can provide you with the help you need at a small fee, and we are one such service.

We can help you write your entire dissertation paper or any part. We can also help with specific parts of the dissertation writing process, e.g., the research, the introduction, the methodology section, the proofreading/editing, and the incorporation of feedback.

As you Ponder the Steps and Tips ...

We hope we have provided all the information you need to write your nursing dissertation paper. Now it is up to you to step up and start dissertating.

Related Articles:

• Step-by-step guide for writing a nursing change project
• A guide for writing a nursing capstone project
• How to write a perfect Evidence-Based Nursing Paper
• Tips for making a poster presentation in nursing .

If you need any assistance in any part of the dissertation writing process, please visit our home page to get the assistance you need.

Our writers are experts with multiple years of experience in dissertation writing, formatting, and editing. You can never go wrong with us.

What is a dissertation?

A dissertation is a comprehensive research paper written to fulfill a graduate degree. A dissertation can be required to graduate with a master's degree in the UK or a doctorate in the US.

How long does it take to write a nursing dissertation?

It usually takes between three to twelve months to write a nursing dissertation. Two things largely determine how short or long a dissertation will be - the departmental requirements and the methodology chosen.

Can you write a nursing dissertation in three months?

Yes, you can. It is certainly not impossible, but it will take you every single day and night to write a good dissertation in such a short time. If you don't have enough time to write a dissertation, work with a dissertation writing service to get the desired results quickly.

Related: Is the WGU RN-BSN worth your time and money?

How long is a nursing dissertation?

Most nursing dissertations are between 6000 to 16000 words long. Of course, some are shorter than 6,000 words, and others are longer than 16000 words.

What is the difference between a thesis and a dissertation?

Masters nursing students need to write a thesis to complete their degree, while doctoral nursing students need to write a dissertation to complete their degree.

Is getting help with a nursing dissertation online illegal?

No, it is not. No law prohibits you or anybody else from getting a nursing dissertation online. So if you need dissertation assistance from a dissertation writing business online, feel free to get it.

Can a nursing dissertation be done as a group?

No. Dissertations are individual research projects, and you can get guidance and assistance from anywhere you want, but your dissertation is your project and will only have a single author - you.

Does a nursing dissertation require an abstract poster?

Yes, if it is going to be presented at a conference. The poster should include a title, a summary, an intro, the methodology used, the results, the discussion, and the conclusions. All these things should be less than 300 words.

Do nursing students defend their nursing theses and dissertations?

Yes, they do. In most colleges, nursing students must defend their theses and dissertations before a committee that usually includes faculty members.

Who writes a nursing dissertation?

In the US, a doctoral student writes a nursing dissertation, while a master's student writes a nursing thesis. In the UK, it is the opposite - a master's student writes a nursing dissertation and a doctoral student writes a nursing thesis.

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Your dissertation template

A template is provided to use for your dissertation. We recommend you use this as soon as you start any writing  rather than trying to apply it afterwards. As well as showing you the structure for your dissertation, it has built in styles than can help you format it as required for a long academic document.

Scroll down the page to find videos to help you with using the template.

Downloading the template

The template for your dissertation is provided here:

Nursing Dissertation Template

This includes a pre-created PRISMA flow diagram (just add the numbers) and the NMC template for Part B. If you are not using this format for Part B then you will of course need to delete/amend this.

Just click on either the link above or the image on the right to download the template. It will usually be automatically saved into your 'downloads' folder. We recommend moving it from there to a dedicated folder where you keep everything for your dissertation.

Important note:

You do not need to alter any of the fonts in the template, they have been approved by your faculty. Please ignore any advice that you see elsewhere about using alternative fonts.

Videos showing you how to use the template

The Skills Team have provided three videos which show you how to use the template. These are:

• An introduction to the template - including filling the title page
• Using the built-in styles and updating the table of contents
• Adding labels to your tables and figures and updating the lists of these

There are also some other videos that support using the generic university template (rather than the Nursing one specifically) that may be useful to some of you. These include using the cross-referencing tool and inserting landscape documents. You can find these videos on the Skills Team's  Undergraduate Dissertation Video Workshop page. Not all of you will find these useful however, so they are not included here.

An introduction to the template

Using styles and updating table of contents

Labelling your figures and tables

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Nursing student dissertation: why do it and how to manage it

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Welcome to your L6 Dissertation Reading list. Here you will find all the resources you need to support you through this module.

Reading for this module will be dependent on the topic area that the student selects.  

Below is an indication of books which may be of value to the student in the process of producing an evidence based practice project.

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• Evidence-based Nursing

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Home > Nursing > dissertations and theses

College of Nursing Dissertations and Theses

The College of Nursing Dissertations and Theses Series is comprised of dissertations theses authored by Marquette University's College of Nursing doctoral and master's students.

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Why We Work: Exploring the Relationships Between Work Rewards, Burnout, and Intention to Leave for Professional Nurses , Jacqueline Christianson

Examining Relationships Among Nursing Students' Views of Suffering, Positive Thinking, and Professional Quality of Life , Ruth Anne Engbers

THE IMPACT OF PEDAGOGY AND PROGRAM ON PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION FOR PRE-LICENSURE NURSING STUDENTS , Virginia F. Riggs

APPLICATION OF THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH TO GERIATRIC PATIENTS BY NURSE PRACTITIONER STUDENTS , Theresa Marie Gruenke Schnable

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Mediating Effects of Positive Thinking on Compassion Fatigue, Compassion Satisfaction, and Resilience in Nurse Leaders , Jay Randall Gottschalk

Exploring Relationships Between Depression Self-stigma and Trust in Primary Care Provider on Willingness to Seek Help , Tana Karenke

The Impact of Nutrition Literacy and Neighborhood on Diet Quality in the Mexican Origin Population , Sylvia Pena

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Experiences of Exclusively Expressing Breast Milk for Term Infants: A Qualitative Analysis , Lisa Anders

Examining the Relationship of Physical Activity, Inflammation & Adiposity on Physical Function with Gender Differences , Jeanne Hlebichuk

Securing Nasogastric Tubes in Children , Julie Ann Lavoie

Exploring Culture of Safety and Failure to Rescue , Holly Lynn Losurdo

Processes Used by Mothers in Opioid Recovery to Manage the Needs of the Maternal-Infant Dyad: A Grounded Theory Study , Nicole M. Mattson

Pregnant Women's Experiences with Gastrointestinal Discomforts and Strategies They Use to Cope , Heidi Jo Paquette

Examining Social Factors in Self-Management for Older Adults Living Alone , Margaret Salinas

Effectiveness of a Postpartum Breastfeeding Protocol for Avoiding Pregnancy and Descriptive Analysis of the Physiology of the Postpartum Transition , Mary Schneider

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Modeling Heart Failure Predictive Mortality in Skilled Nursing Facilities , Stephen Charles Biondi

Understanding the Requisite Content for Interprofessional Education on Sentinel Injuries, A Qualitative Study , Elizabeth A. Cleek

Leading Rural Nurse Academic Progression , Cynthia Jean Larsen

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

The Influence of Continuity of Nursing Care in the Acute Care Setting on Readiness for Discharge and Post-Discharge Return to Hospital , Sarah J. Bahr

Understanding Baccalaureate Nursing Education Progression from the Student Perspective Using a Grounded Theory Approach , Jennifer Jean Dahlman

Identifying a History of Nonfatal Strangulation: What Impacts Screening by Healthcare, Law Enforcement and Advocates? , Jennifer Delwiche

Healthcare Provider Influence on Health Behavior Modification in Gestational Diabetics , Denise K. Fryzelka

Measuring Polyvictimization Among Vulnerable Children: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis , Kelli J. Jones

Toward Quality Preceptorship: A Dyad Sudy , Laurie Ann Kunkel-Jordan

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Qualitative Exploration of the Perceptions of Nursing Undergraduates Regarding Family Care at End-of-Life , Penny A. Alt-Gehrman

Evaluation of Clinical Growth and Nursing Student Motivation in the Traditional Clinical Learning Environment , Jessica Barkimer

United States Born Mexican Origin Women's Descriptions About Their Eating Patterns , Juanita Teresa Garcia

Comparing Interprofessional Socialization in Mixed Discipline and Nursing Student only Cohorts , Kara Groom

Chronic Stress and Reproductive Function in Female Childhood Cancer Survivors , Theresa Marie Hardy

Understanding Relationships Between Early Life Toxic Stress, Childhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage, and Allostatic Load in Adolescence , Amanda King

Pre-Death Grief, Resourcefulness and Perceived Stress Among Care Givers of Partners with Young Onset Dementia , Karie Kobiske

Home Health Care Effect in Post-Discharge Return to Hospital , Danielle M. Siclovan

The Impact of Advance Directives on the Intensity of Care Received in the Acute Care Setting in Older Adults , Marsha Helen Tyacke

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

The Mediating Effects of Positive Thinking and Social Support on Suicide Resilience Among Undergraduate Students , Denise Marie Matel-Anderson

The Development and Psychometric Analysis of the MU- Fertility Knowledge Assessment Scale , Qiyan Mu

Pediatric Oncology Nurses' Experiences with Prognosis-Related Communication , Amy Rose Newman

Relationship of Exposure to Heart Failure Discharge Teaching to Readmission Within 30 Days , Becky Ann Pogacar

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Effect of Sequence of Simulated and Clinical Practicum Learning Experiences on Clinical Competency , Jamie Hansen

Experiences of Registered Nurses Who Were Not Initially Successful on the NCLEX-RN, Then Subsequently Passed , Tammy L. Kasprovich

Racially and Ethnically Underrepresented Students’ Completion of RN BSN Program: Factors Affecting Success , Patricia Ann Varga

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Role of Shared Care in the Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Self-Care in Patients with Heart Failure , Susan Cole

Diffusion of Inclusion: Measuring Willingness , Janet A. Levey

Effects of Spiritual Care Education on Pediatric Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Competence , Cheryl Lynn Petersen

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Relationships among Uncertainty, Coping, and Psychological Distress in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment , Jennifer Sjostedt Avery

Spirituality And Religiosity In Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease: A Descriptive Qualitative Study , Dora L. Clayton-Jones

A Feminist Perspective On Listening To Women: Birth Stories Of Vaginal Birth Following Previous Cesarean Delivery , Elizabeth Hill-Karbowski

The Influence Of Patient Activation And Social Facilitation On Engagement In Postpartum Weight Self-Management Behaviors , Jennifer Marie Ohlendorf

Hispanic Mothers' Normative Beliefs and Intentions about the Discussion of Sex-Related Topics with Their Adolescent Daughters , Dana M. Rodriguez

Antecedents of Regular Exercise among Women Who Do and Do Not Achieve Weight Loss Over Six Months , Heather Vartanian

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

The Relationships Between Nurse Attributes, Site Characteristics, And Labor Support Attitudes And Behaviors Among Intrapartum Nurses , Ann Prenger Aschenbrenner

Patient Perceptions of Patient-Empowering Nurse Behaviors, Patient Activation, and Functional Health Status After Surgery , Teresa Arline Jerofke

Self-Care Behaviors of African Americans with Heart Failure: A Photovoice Project , Aimee A. Woda

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

Academic Success Factors Influencing Linguistically Diverse and Native English Speaking Associate Degree Nursing Students , Josie Lynn Veal

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

Associate Degree Nursing Students' Thoughts, Feelings, and Experiences of Short Study Abroad in a Low-Income Country , Cynthia Foronda

A Narrative Analysis of Perinatal Hospice Stories , Anthony Adams Lathrop

The Transition from Hospital to Home in Parents of Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Recipients , Stacee M. Lerret

The Lived Experience of Hispanic new Graduate Nurses in the United States , Esther Morales

Pushing Techniques Used by Midwives When Providing Second Stage Labor Care , Kathryn Osborne

The Association of Spirituality, Religiosity, Depression, Anxiety, and Drug Use Among Persons Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Therapy , Linda B. Piacentine

Parenting Behaviors and Their Relationship with a Child's Weight Status , Michele L. Polfuss

African American Women's Infant Feeding Choices: Analyzing Self-Efficacy and Narratives from a Black Feminist Perspective , Karen Marie Robinson

More than S.K.I.N. Deep: Decreasing Pressure Ulcer Development in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit , Christine A. Schindler

Theses/Dissertations from 2009 2009

Efficacy of a behavioral intervention to decrease medication transcription errors among professional nurses , Kathleen Ann Becker

Quality of Life: The Humanbecoming Perspective, A Descriptive Exploratory Study , Barbara J. Johnson Farmer

Factors Associated with Nurses' Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture in One University Hospital in China , Xianqiong Feng

The Meaning of Spirituality in Elders with Dementia , Lesley Boaz Gardiner

Understanding Relationships in Health Related Quality of Life for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Norah Louise Johnson

Loneliness, Self-Esteem, Cognition, Physical Functioning, and Nursing Home Satisfaction As Predictors of Depression , Lynn Rose Maloney

The Impact of Health Literacy and Patient Trust Glycemic Control , Josephine M. Mancuso

Investigating Relationships Among Collaborative Behavior, RN Experience and Perceptions of Discharge Teaching Quality , Jane Morgan Nosbusch

Is a School Based Educational Program Effective in Changing Knowledge Regarding the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome? , Margaret Kay Stelzel

Effects of Beta Blockade on Physiologic Regulation, Depressive Symptoms and Heart Failure Severity , Kimberly A. Udlis

Theses/Dissertations from 2008 2008

Self-Efficacy, Outcome Expectation, Self-Care Behavior and Glycosylated Hemoglobin Level in Persons with Type 2 Diabetes , Kathryn B. Kott

Oppression in 21st Century Nursing , Linda K. Matheson

Predictors of success and failure on the NCLEX-RN for Baccalaureate graduates , Christine L Vandenhouten

Predictors of Success and Failure on the NCLEX-RN for Baccalaureate Graduates , Christine L. Vandenhouten

Theses/Dissertations from 2007 2007

Being-With Dying: Tacit Wisdom Embedded in the Experiences of Nurses Who Attend to Dying , Virginia L. Burton

Theses/Dissertations from 1999 1999

An Organizational Case Study of Shared Leadership Development in Nursing , Vicki George

Submissions from 1971 1971

NURSES' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR HOSPITAL'S ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS , AUDREY MABEL STENVALL DE BLOCK

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What is a dissertation.

Final year students are required to complete a large piece of work for their degree or professional qualification. For undergraduates this is known as a dissertation, final year project or major independent study. Postgraduates will normally complete a thesis.

These pages will tell you how the Library can support you in writing your dissertation, as well as finding past dissertations.

Support for dissertations and projects

Independent study.

• The Skills for Learning  Dissertations and Literature Reviews webpage explains their structure and content as well as providing guidance on dissertation proposals. There are worksheets and interactive tasks available.
• The Research Skills pages look at the research process, including research design , research ethics and analysing and presenting data .
• The Finding Information and Reading page explains search strategies and techniques and provides worksheets on evaluating search results.
• The Library's Subject Guides have information on finding high quality information in each subject area for use in literature reviews and dissertations.
• The Academic Integrity Tutorial in MyBeckett is a complete guide to referencing and avoiding plagiarism for LBU students: this FAQ explains how to enrol.

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Digital Commons @ USF > College of Nursing > Theses and Dissertations

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Psychological Distress, Resilience, and the Impact on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors With Taxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy , Lauren Schwab

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Medication-Assisted Treatment Versus 12-Step Group Therapy: A Comparative Analysis of Adherence and Abstinence In Patients With Opioid Use Disorder , Derrick C. Glymph

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Quality of Life of Older Adults with Complicated Grief Receiving Accelerated Resolution Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study , Tina M. Mason

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

In Post-Extubated Patients What are the Preferred Methods of Communication During Their Experience of Endotracheal Intubation with Mechanical Ventilation , Lanette Dumas

The Effect of Hope on the Relationship between Personal and Disease Characteristics and Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer , Sharon B. McNeil

Predictors of Nonadherence to Radiation Therapy Schedules Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients , Jennifer Lynn Miller

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Perceived Discrimination and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Blacks: A Secondary Data Analysis of the Heart SCORE Study , Marilyn Aluoch

Exploration of Gratitude in Cardiovascular Health: Mediators, Medication Adherence and Psychometrics , Lakeshia A. Cousin

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Fatigue-related Symptom Clusters and their Relationship with Depression, and Functional Status in Older Adults Hospice Patients with Cancer. , Suzan Fouad Abduljawad

Genetic Moderation of Pain and Fatigue Symptoms Resulting from the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Breast Cancer Program , Carissa Bea Alinat

The Moderating Effect of Religion on Death Distress and Quality of Life between Christian Cancer patients in the United States with Muslim cancer patients in Saudi Arabia , Doaa Almostadi

Prevention of Post Intensive Care Syndrome-Family with Sensation Awareness Focused Training Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial Pilot Study , Paula L. Cairns

Assessing Abstinence in Infants Greater Than 28 Days Old , Genieveve J. Cline

The Relationship Between Sleep Quality and Motor Function in Hospitalized Older Adult Survivors of Critical Illness , Maya N. Elías

The Role of Migration-Related Stress in Depression Among Haitian Immigrants in Florida: A Mixed Method Sequential Explanatory Approach , Dany Amanda C. Fanfan

The Effect of Depression, Inflammation and Sleep Quality on Risk for Cardiovascular Disease , Catherine L. O'Neil

Adapting SafeMedicate (Medication Dosage Calculation Skills software) For Use In Brazil , Samia Valeria Ozorio Dutra

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

The Relationship Between Total Neuropathy Score-reduced, Neuropathy Symptoms and Function. , Ashraf Abulhaija

Validation of the Electronic Kids Dietary Index (E-KINDEX) Screening Tool for Early Identification of Risk for Overweight/Obesity (OW/OB) in a Pediatric Population: Associations with Quality of Life Perceptions , Patricia A. Hall

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

The Effectiveness of an Intervention Designed to Improve Chlorhexidine (CHG) Bathing Technique in Adults Hospitalized in Medical Surgical Units , Janette Echemendia Denny

Levels of Distress Among Women Veterans Attending a Women’s Health Specialty Clinic in the VA Healthcare System , Debbie T. Devine

Examination of the Use of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) in the Treatment of Symptoms of PTSD and Sleep Dysfunction in Veterans and Civilians , Marian Jevone Hardwick

Investigating the Mutual Effects of Depression and Spiritual Well-being on Quality of Life in Hospice Patients with Cancer and Family Caregivers Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model , Li-Ting Huang

The Change in Nutritional Status in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Retrospective Descriptive A Retrospective Descriptive Study , Dina A. Masha'al

Exploring the Relationship Between Severity of Illness and Human Milk Volume in Very Low Birth Weight and Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants Over Six Weeks , Shannon Leigh Morse

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Scores and Novel Risk Factors in Relation to Race and Gender , Johanna Wilson

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

A Comparative Evaluation of the Learner Centered Grading Debriefing Method in Nursing Education , Marisa J. Belote

Sleep, Depressive Symptoms and Cognition in Older Adults and Caregivers of Persons with Dementia , Glenna Shemida Brewster

The Relationship between Hearing Status and Cognitive Performance and the Influence of Depressive Symptoms in the Older Adult , Julie A. Daugherty

Basal Salivary Oxytocin and Skin to Skin Contact among Lactating Mothers of Premature Infants , Jessica Marie Gordon

The Relationship Between Nurses' Emotional Intelligence and Patient Outcomes , Mary Kutash

Sexual Functioning and Body Image in Younger Breast Cancer Survivors , Carly Lynn Paterson

Cognitive Load of Registered Nurses During Medication Administration , Sarah Faith Perron

A Comparison of Quality of Life between Intense and Non-Intense Treatment for Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome , Sara Marie Tinsley

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Acculturation, Self-Efficacy and Breastfeeding Behavior in a Sample of Hispanic Women , Ivonne F. Hernandez

Knowledge and Acceptance of HPV and the HPV Vaccine in Young Men and Their Intention to be Vaccinated , Brenda Renee Jasper

The Relationships Between Sleep Disturbances, Depression, Inflammatory Markers, and Sexual Trauma in Female Veterans , Ellen Marcolongo

Examination of Possible Protective Effect of Rhesus D Positive Blood Factor on Toxoplasma-related Depressive Symptoms in Pregnancy , Lisa Lynn Parnell

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Primary Care Nurse Practitioners Regarding Skin Cancer Assessmnets: Validity and Reliability of a New Instrument , Debra Michelle Shelby

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

Knowledge and Practice of Reproductive Health among Mothers and their Impact on Fetal Birth Outcomes: A Case of Eritrea , Winta Negusse Araya

Race/Ethnicity, Subjective and Objective Sleep Quality, Physical and Psychological Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors , Pinky H. Budhrani

Factors Predicting Pap Smear Adherence in HIV-infected Women: Using the Health Belief Model , Crystal L. Chapman Lambert

The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Body Mass Index on Vitamin D Levels in African American Women with and without Diabetes Living in Areas with Abundant Sunshine , Shani Vann Davis

Predictors of Quality of Life in Patients with Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma , Darcie Marie Deaver

Relationship between dysphoric moods, risk-taking behaviors, and Toxoplasma gondii antibody titers in female veterans , Allyson Radford Duffy

Prenatal Stress, Depression, and Herpes Viral Titers , Pao-Chu Hsu

Factors Associated with Fear of Breast Cancer Recurrence Among Survivors , Jean Marie Lucas

Sickle Cell Disease: The Role of Self-Care Management , Nadine Matthie

Factors Influencing Vaccination Decisions in African American Mothers of Preschool Age Children , Chauntel Mckenzie Mcnair

The Strong Black Woman, Depression, and Emotional Eating , Michelle Renee Offutt

Development of an Investigator-designed Questionnaire Concerning Childbirth Delivery Options based on the Theory of Planned Behavior , Chun-Yi Tai

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

The Mediating Effect of Distress Caused by Constipation on Predictors of Quality of Life of Hospice Patients with Cancer. , Abdel Alkhalouf

Testing a Model of Bacterial Vaginosis among Black Women , Jessica Brumley

The Effect of Tight Glycemic Control on Surgical Site Infection Rates in Patients Undergoing Open Heart Surgery , Sierra Gower

Development of a Tool for Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment and Preventive Interventions in Ancillary Services Patients , Monica Shutts Messer

Hospice Nurses- Attitudes and Knowledge about Pain Management , Amie Jacqueline Miller

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

Literacy and Hazard Communication Comprehension of Employees Presenting to an Occupational Health Clinic , Christine Bouchard

A Meta-Analysis of Cultural Competence Education in Professional Nurses and Nursing Students , Ruth Wilmer Gallagher

Relationship Between Cancer-Related Fatigue and Depression: A Pilot Study , Gloria Michelle Guess

A Comparison of Oncology and Non-Oncology Nurses in Their Knowledge of Cancer Pain Management , Nicole Houle

Evaluating Knowledge and Attitudes of Graduate Nursing Students Regarding Pain , Eric Bartholomew Jackson

Bone Marrow Transplant Nurses' Attitudes about Caring for Patients Who are Near the End of Life: A Quality Improvement Project , Leslie Lauersdorf

Translation and Adaptation of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) Scale Into Tigrigna Language for Tigrigna Speaking Eritrean Immigrants in the United States , Mulubrhan Fisseha Mogos

Nurse Manager Emotional Intelligence as a Predictor to Registered Nurse Job Satisfaction and RN Perceptions of the Practice Environment and the Relationship to Patient, Nursing and Hospital Outcomes , Jacqueline Cecilia Munro

The Relationship of Mid-Pregnancy Levels of Cytokines, Stress, and Depression with Gestational Age at Delivery , Melissa Molinari Shelton

Prophylactic, Risk-Reducing Surgery in Unaffected BRCA-Positive Women: Quality Of Life, Sexual Functioning and Psychological Well-Being , Sharon Tollin

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

The Relationship Between FAM5C SNP (rs10920501) Variability, Metabolic Syndrome, and Inflammation, in Women with Coronary Heart Disease , Jennifer L. Cline

Women’s Perceptions of Postpartum Stress: A Narrative Analysis , Nancy Gilbert Crist

Lived Experience: Near-Fatal Adolescent Suicide Attempt , Phyllis Ann Dougherty

Exploring the Relationships among Work-Related Stress, Quality of Life, Job Satisfaction, and Anticipated Turnover on Nursing Units with Clinical Nurse Leaders , Mary Kohler

A Comparative Study of Knowledge of Pain Management in Certified and Non-Certified Oncology Nurses , Sherrie A. LaLande

Evaluating Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Nursing Students Regarding Pain Management , Jessica Latchman

Evaluation of Oncology Nurses' Knowledge, Practice Behaviors, and Confidence Specific to Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy , Rebecca Denise McAllister

Moderating the Effectiveness of Messages to Promote Physical Activity in Type 2 Diabetes , Rachel E. Myers

Factors Affecting the Process of Clinical Decision-Making in Pediatric Pain Management by Emergency Department Nurses , Teresa A. Russo

The Correlation Between Neuropathy Limitations and Depression in Chemotherapy Patients , Melissa Thebeau

Theses/Dissertations from 2009 2009

Fatigue Symptom Distress and Its Relationship with Quality Of Life in Adult Stem Cell Transplant Survivors , Suzan Fouad Abduljawad R.N., B.S.N.

Nursing Advocacy and the Accuracy of Intravenous to Oral Opioid Conversion at Discharge in the Cancer Patient , Maria L. Gallo R.N., O.C.N.

Transitional Care for Adolescents with HIV: Characteristics and Current Practices of the Adolescent Trials Network Systems of Care , Patricia Gilliam

The Effect of Ethical Ideology and Professional Values on Registered Nurses’ Intentions to Act Accountably , Susan R. Hartranft

Falls in Bone Marrow Transplant Patients: A Retrospective Study , Lura Henderson R.N., B.S.N.

Predictors of cancer caregiver depression symptomatology , Henry R. Rivera

Psychosocial outcomes of weight stigma among college students , Sabrina Joann Robinson

The Experience of Fatigue and Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer , Andrea Shaffer

The Relationship Between Uncertainty in Illness and Anxiety in Patients With Cancer , Naima Vera

Shifting Paradigms: The Development of Nursing Identity in Foreign-Educated Physicians Retrained as Nurses Practicing in the United States , Liwliwa Reyes Villagomeza

Theses/Dissertations from 2008 2008

Prostate Cancer Screening Intention Among African American Men: An Instrument Development Study , Susan Anita Baker

The Geriatric Cancer Experience in End of Life: Model Adaptation and Testing , Harleah G. Buck

Communication Systems and HIV/AIDS Sexual Decision Making in Older Adolescent and Young Adult Females , Rasheeta D. Chandler MS, ARNP, FNP-BC

Relationship of Anger Trait and Anger Expression to C-Reactive Protein in Post-Menopausal Women , Rosalyn Gross

Identifying Patients with Cancer at Risk of Experiencing a Fall While Hospitalized , Joann M. Heaton

Modulation of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cell Maturation and Function by Cigarette Smoke Condensate in a Bronchial Epithelial Cell Co-Culture Model , Alison J. Montpetit

Cancer Patients with Pain: Examination of the Role of the Spouse/Partner Relationship In Mediating Quality of Life Outcomes for the Couple , Mary Ann Morgan

Development of an Ecological Model to Predict Risk for Acquisition of Clostridium difficile -Associated Diarrhea During Acute Care Hospitalization , Susan Elaine Steele

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool , Cindy S. Tofthagen

Health Decision Behaviors: Appropriateness of Dietary Choice , Daryle Hermelin Wane

Theses/Dissertations from 2007 2007

The Relationship Between Sleep-Wake Disturbance and Pain in Cancer Patients Admitted to Hospice Home Care , Marjorie Acierno

Wheelchair Positioning and Pulmonary Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy , Lee Barks

Structural Equation Model of Exercise in Women Utilizing the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms and Social Cognitive Variables , Sarah Elizabeth Cobb

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Home > Nursing > Elaine Marieb College of Nursing Dissertations Collection

Elaine Marieb College of Nursing Dissertations Collection

Current students, please follow this link to submit your dissertation.

Dissertations from 2023 2023

Mental Health Burden and Attitudes and Intention to Seek Mental Health Services in Saudi Women Living in the United States , Wjdan A. Almutairi, Nursing

THE MEANINGS OF DAILY ACTIVITIES AND ATTITUDES OF OLDER BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: A CASE STUDY RESEARCH , Wadha Alquraini, Nursing

A Grounded Theory of Patient Flow Management within the Emergency Department , Ellen Benjamin, Nursing

Care With Honor And Dignity In A Long-Term Care Facility For Veterans , Sabine Clasen, Nursing

Tablet-based Cognitive Behavioral Group Intervention to Improve Step Count, Fatigue, Self-efficacy and Quality of Life in Arthritis Patients , Sarah M. Fiske, Nursing

Patterns of Substance Use and Buprenorphine Utilization to Predict Treatment Utilization for Opioid Use Disorder , Nicole M. Kent, Nursing

A Mixed Methods Comparative Case Study of the Relationship Between Community Engagement Practices, Maternal and Neonatal Health Services Utilization, and Health Outcomes , Tegemea P. Mwalingo, Nursing

AN EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER IN A MEDICATION TREATMENT PROGRAM: WITH A FOCUS ON PREGNANT WOMEN , kristy pereira, Nursing

THE FEASIBILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STRENGTHS-BASED RESILIENCE PROGRAM FOR NURSES , Cynthia Peterson, Nursing

Dissertations from 2022 2022

Intravenous Smart Infusion Pump Safety and Flow Rate Accuracy , Jeannine Blake, Nursing

Physical Activity, Daily Step Counts and Functional Ability in Older Adults: Using NHANES Database , Chunfang(Maggie) Chen, Nursing

The Experiences and Needs of Individuals With a Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS) on Genetic Tests for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: A Grounded Theory Study , Danielle Gould, Nursing

Use of a Checklist as a Decision Support Aid for Heart Failure Assessment and Management , MaryAnn Hogan, Nursing

A Plant-Based Culinary Intervention to Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk and Improve Self-Efficacy in Latino/a/x Adults , Linda M. Koh, Nursing

THAI NOVICE NURSES’ LIVED EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES OF BREASTFEEDING AND HUMAN MILK IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU) , Tippawan Srichalerm, Nursing

Dissertations from 2021 2021

NURSE-DELIVERED SHOE-LACING INTERVENTION: EFFECT ON COMFORT AND TOE PRESSURES FOR ACTIVE COMMUNITY-DWELLING ADULTS (AGE 65+) , Mary C. Clayton-Jones, Nursing

LOST IN TRANSLATION: A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE ON NURSE PEER RELATIONSHIPS , Maud B. Low, Nursing

Young Adult Cancer Survivors and Physical Activity: An Expert Consensus Study , Ann Marie Moraitis, Nursing

Perseverance: A Focused Ethnographic Study of the Emergency Triage Nurse , Ellen C. Smithline, Nursing

Examining a Fatigue Management Model That Identifies Risk Factors and Consequences of Fatigue in Older Individuals , Maral Torossian, Nursing

Hospital Assessment and Response to Environmental Pollution as a Population Health Need: Identifying Prevalence and Predictors in Community Benefit Practices , Sarah Valentine, Nursing

Dissertations from 2020 2020

DEVELOPING A HANDHELD APPLICATION: A TABLET-BASED CLINICAL EVALUATION TOOL (TABCET) FOR NURSING STUDENT EVALUATION BY CLINICAL INSTRUACTORS , Mohammed Alghenaimi, Nursing

Geographical Disparity of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Chronic Diseases in Saudi Arabia , Fahad Alhowaymel, Nursing

Mediation and Moderation of Sleep in Arthritis Fatigue , Jean L. Cody, Nursing

Dietary Transition, Food Choice Process, and Food Practices in Sub-Saharan African Pregnant Women Living in Massachusetts , Favorite Iradukunda, Nursing

Older Women’s Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence: A Phenomenological Study , Lourdes Irene, Nursing

PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF ADOPTING A TECHNOLOGY BASED INTERVENTION FOR ALCOHOL SCREENING AND REFERRAL TO TREATMENT IN PRIMARY CARE , Sonya L. Lachance, Nursing

The Impact of Psychosocial Treatment on Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder , Tara Mariolis, Nursing

CORE CONTENT ITEMS AND CONSTRUCTS TO INFORM STUDENT NURSE HANDOFF COMMUNICATION , Kelley McAfee, Nursing

USE OF STAY S.A.F.E. STRATEGY DURING MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION IN REDUCING ERRORS , Cidalia J. Vital, Nursing

Dissertations from 2019 2019

Transgender Young Adults, Sibling Relationships, and Mental Health , Jordon Bosse, Nursing

Social Factors that Exacerbate Features of Borderline Personality Disorder in Young Adult Women Between 25 and 35 years of age Living in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , Erika M. Carrasquillo, Nursing

MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE: ADOLESCENT CAREGIVER EXPERIENCES IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS , Renee Crizer, Nursing

Cultural and Family Challenges in Type Two Diabetes Self-care for Puerto Rican Identified Hispanic Adults , Jalil Johnson, Nursing

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS ABUSE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN MALAWI , Nellipher Lewis Mchenga, Nursing

THE SOCIAL PROCESS OF DYING IN THE HOSPITAL: A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY , Alyson Prokop, Nursing

THE IMPACT OF PTSD AND HISTORY OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ON MEDICATION TREATMENT SUCCESS IN OPIOID USE DISORDER , Kirk Sanger, Nursing

Use of a Checklist to Facilitate the Recognition of a Transfusion Associated Adverse Event , susan scott, Nursing

Dissertations from 2018 2018

IPMTC- AN EMERGING NURSING THEORY ON TRANSITIONING INDIVIDUALS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FROM LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY UNDER MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS , Sylvia Abbeyquaye, Nursing

Exploring How Nurse Beliefs and Attitudes Influence End-of-Life-Care Practice , Cara Chandler, Nursing

“Tell Me A Story®”: Promoting Resiliency in Military Children , Katherine-Marie Conover, Nursing

MATERNAL OUTCOMES OF WOMEN WHO PREFER TO COMMUNICATE IN ENGLISH COMPARED TO WOMEN WHO PREFER TO COMMUNICATE IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH IN NEW ENGLAND , Katharine Green, Nursing

The Experience of Living With Breast Cancer: Puerto Rican Women Tell Their Stories , Madeline Hernández-Ramirez, Nursing

Using Motivational Interviewing to Increase Walking and Functional Ability in Older Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Study , Erin Lamoureux, Nursing

The Effect of Social Networks on Self-Care Behaviors and Health Outcomes among Older People Living with Multiple Chronic Conditions , Raeann G. LeBlanc, Nursing

The lived experience and factors affecting disclosure of pregnant victims of domestic violence , Pedro Vargas Ortiz, Nursing

Dissertations from 2017 2017

Relational-Cultural Perspectives of African American Women with Diabetes and Maintaining Multiple Roles , Ayesha Ali, Nursing

Tablet-based Self-management Intervention for Diabetes Mellitus Type II Patients: Usability and Efficacy of The ASSISTwell Tool , Mohammad Alkawaldeh, Nursing

COMPARISON OF THE EFFICACY OF ARV MEDICATIONS ALONE AND IN COMBINATION WITH HERBAL MEDICATIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF HIV AMONG NIGERIAN HIV+ PATIENTS , Abdulfattah Durojaiye, Nursing

CANCER PAIN PROCESSES IN THE HOSPICE CARING TRIAD: A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY , Olga Ehrlich, Nursing

RELATIONAL COORDINATION: A PREDICTOR OF NURSE JOB SATISFACTION, ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT, AND TURNOVER INTENTION , Rawaih Falatah, Nursing

Lesbian Veterans Experiences in the Military: A Case Study , Carolyn Gustason, Nursing

EXPLORING THE BALANCE: A Path Analysis Examination of the Maintaining the Balance Model , Sheila Pennell, Nursing

Group Process, Communication, and Relating as a Core Phenomenon in an Older Adult Support and Learning Group on Aging and Health , Lisa Rose White, Nursing

Influence of Work Environment Conditions on the Ability of Critical Care Nurses to Provide Efficacious Nursing Care in Puerto Rico , Yolanda M. Torres, Nursing

Dissertations from 2016 2016

Motivations and Barriers for Saudi Nurses to Pursue a Doctoral Degree , Abdualrahman Alshehry, Nursing

Knowledge Development in Undergraduate Clinical Nursing Education , Nancy A. Craig-Williams, Nursing

Acute Pain Symptom Assessment and Management in Nonverbal Puerto Rican Patients in the Early Postoperative Period , Sherily Pereira, Nursing

Dissertations from 2015 2015

Injection Drug Users’ Perceptions of Received Nursing Care: A Case Study , Kimberly Dion, Nursing

Cup Feeding In the Neonatal ICU: The Influence of Country, Belief, Preference, and Past Behavior , Sameh Ghareeb, Nursing

A Grounded Theory Study of Social Process that Influence a Child being Overweight in Thailand , Jumpee Prasitchai, Nursing

Dissertations from 2014 2014

A Preliminary Model of Dignity Management in Hospice , Qiaohong Guo, Nursing

NEEDS OF PATIENT’S FAMILIES IN THE HOSPITAL TELE-INTENSIVE CARE UNIT , Mary L. Jahrsdoerfer, Nursing

Relational Coordination: The Perception and Experiences of Student Nurses and Nursing Faculty in a Hospital Setting , Clare Lamontagne, Nursing

Dissertations from 2012 2012

The Theory of Compromised Eating Behavior , Ellen Frances Furman, Nursing

Dissertations from 2011 2011

Nurse clinician self-disclosure: A qualitative study , Kathryn Rising Baldor

Nurse Clinician Self-Disclosure: A Qualitative Study , Kathryn Rising Baldor, Nursing

Puerto Rican Teens' Perceptions of Teen Pregnancy and Births in Holyoke, Massachusetts , Nancy J. Gilbert, Nursing

Living With a Depressed Partner , Bridget Logan, Nursing

Characteristics of patients on telehealth that influence their heart failure outcomes in the home-care setting , Kavita Radhakrishnan

Characteristics Of Patients On Telehealth That Influence Their Heart Failure Outcomes In The Home-Care Setting , Kavita Radhakrishnan, Nursing

Healing experiences of Chinese Americans with cancer illness in the United States , Jui-Wen Wu

Healing Experiences Of Chinese Americans With Cancer Illness In The United States , Jui-Wen Wu, Nursing

Dissertations from 2010 2010

The Lived Experience of College Sudents Who have Been Medicated with Antidepressants , Pamela Joan Aselton, Nursing

Transition to Fatherhood: A Puerto Rican Perspective , Suzanne Barenski, Nursing

What Women Want to Know: Assessing the Value, Relevance, And Efficacy of a Self-Management Intervention for Rural Women with Coronary Heart Disease , Holly Evans Madison, Nursing

Familiar Physical Activity to Familiar Music: The Effects on Apathy, Agitation, Eating Ability, and Dietary Intake in Institutionalized Older Adults with Dementia , Janet Ruth Moore, Nursing

Dissertations from 2009 2009

Contentment In “Songs Of The Gorilla Nation: My Journey Through Autism”: A Humanbecoming Hermeneutic Study , Susan A Bonis, Nursing

Contentment in “Songs of the Gorilla Nation: My Journey through Autism”: A humanbecoming hermeneutic study , Susan A Bonis

Feasibility of Family Participation in a Delirium Prevention Program for the Older Hospitalized Adult , Deborah Rosenbloom-Brunton, Nursing

Dissertations from 2008 2008

Nurse decision making and the prevention of adverse events , Priscilla K Gazarian

The cycle of substance misuse and victimization , Karen A Kalmakis

Qi Gong exercise to improve balance for Parkinson fall prevention , Sheree Loftus Fader

Dissertations from 2007 2007

Maternal prenatal attachment in women who conceive through in vitro fertilization , Jean Evelyn Pelski

Pain management documentation: The effects of the perception of the practice environment and clinical expertise , Joanne Goodman Samuels

Participatory action research among Thai women and girls involved in prostitution , Nicharee Thiemklin

Dissertations from 2006 2006

Transcendence in successful aging: A grounded theory of older women's strategies to age successfully , Kristal Imperio

The role of professional nursing in the origin of the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 from a feminist perspective, 1981–1996 , Jan-Louise Leonard

Dissertations from 2005 2005

The effects of a walking program on older Chinese American immigrants with hypertension , Chun-Ying Chiang

Recovery from bulimia nervosa: A transformational journey to the sacred space within , Kathryn A Proulx

Dissertations from 2004 2004

Practitioner characteristics associated with psychosocial care for patients with fibromyalgia , Patricia M Bruckenthal

Self -selected distraction for acute procedural pain in adolescents: An intervention feasibility study , Debra A Jeffs

Stolen adolescence: The experience of adolescent girls with endometriosis , Karen M Plotkin

Health impact of intimate partner violence and abuse among Puerto Rican women living in shelters in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico , Yadira Regueira

Work empowerment, work relationships and expertise in experienced acute care nurses , Joan P Roche

Predictors of capacity to direct attention in cardiac surgery patients , Marilyn S Stapleton

Dissertations from 2003 2003

Family functioning, hope, and quality of life of school -age children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis , Thomas William Connelly

Somatic awareness, uncertainty, and delay in care -seeking in acute heart failure , Corrine Yvonne Jurgens

Building a story: Word patterns in writing and quality of life in women with advanced breast cancer , Margaret Saul Laccetti

One thousand words of luck: Narratives and analysis of United States resident Chinese immigrants with metastatic cancer , Hung-Ru Lin

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• Dissertation

How to Write a Dissertation | A Guide to Structure & Content

A dissertation or thesis is a long piece of academic writing based on original research, submitted as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

The structure of a dissertation depends on your field, but it is usually divided into at least four or five chapters (including an introduction and conclusion chapter).

The most common dissertation structure in the sciences and social sciences includes:

• An introduction to your topic
• A literature review that surveys relevant sources
• An explanation of your methodology
• An overview of the results of your research
• A discussion of the results and their implications
• A conclusion that shows what your research has contributed

Dissertations in the humanities are often structured more like a long essay , building an argument by analysing primary and secondary sources . Instead of the standard structure outlined here, you might organise your chapters around different themes or case studies.

Other important elements of the dissertation include the title page , abstract , and reference list . If in doubt about how your dissertation should be structured, always check your department’s guidelines and consult with your supervisor.

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Table of contents

Acknowledgements, table of contents, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, introduction, literature review / theoretical framework, methodology, reference list.

The very first page of your document contains your dissertation’s title, your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date. Sometimes it also includes your student number, your supervisor’s name, and the university’s logo. Many programs have strict requirements for formatting the dissertation title page .

The title page is often used as cover when printing and binding your dissertation .

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The acknowledgements section is usually optional, and gives space for you to thank everyone who helped you in writing your dissertation. This might include your supervisors, participants in your research, and friends or family who supported you.

The abstract is a short summary of your dissertation, usually about 150-300 words long. You should write it at the very end, when you’ve completed the rest of the dissertation. In the abstract, make sure to:

• State the main topic and aims of your research
• Describe the methods you used
• Summarise the main results
• State your conclusions

Although the abstract is very short, it’s the first part (and sometimes the only part) of your dissertation that people will read, so it’s important that you get it right. If you’re struggling to write a strong abstract, read our guide on how to write an abstract .

In the table of contents, list all of your chapters and subheadings and their page numbers. The dissertation contents page gives the reader an overview of your structure and helps easily navigate the document.

All parts of your dissertation should be included in the table of contents, including the appendices. You can generate a table of contents automatically in Word.

If you have used a lot of tables and figures in your dissertation, you should itemise them in a numbered list . You can automatically generate this list using the Insert Caption feature in Word.

If you have used a lot of abbreviations in your dissertation, you can include them in an alphabetised list of abbreviations so that the reader can easily look up their meanings.

If you have used a lot of highly specialised terms that will not be familiar to your reader, it might be a good idea to include a glossary . List the terms alphabetically and explain each term with a brief description or definition.

In the introduction, you set up your dissertation’s topic, purpose, and relevance, and tell the reader what to expect in the rest of the dissertation. The introduction should:

• Establish your research topic , giving necessary background information to contextualise your work
• Narrow down the focus and define the scope of the research
• Discuss the state of existing research on the topic, showing your work’s relevance to a broader problem or debate
• Clearly state your objectives and research questions , and indicate how you will answer them
• Give an overview of your dissertation’s structure

Everything in the introduction should be clear, engaging, and relevant to your research. By the end, the reader should understand the what , why and how of your research. Not sure how? Read our guide on how to write a dissertation introduction .

Before you start on your research, you should have conducted a literature review to gain a thorough understanding of the academic work that already exists on your topic. This means:

• Collecting sources (e.g. books and journal articles) and selecting the most relevant ones
• Critically evaluating and analysing each source
• Drawing connections between them (e.g. themes, patterns, conflicts, gaps) to make an overall point

In the dissertation literature review chapter or section, you shouldn’t just summarise existing studies, but develop a coherent structure and argument that leads to a clear basis or justification for your own research. For example, it might aim to show how your research:

• Addresses a gap in the literature
• Takes a new theoretical or methodological approach to the topic
• Proposes a solution to an unresolved problem
• Advances a theoretical debate
• Builds on and strengthens existing knowledge with new data

The literature review often becomes the basis for a theoretical framework , in which you define and analyse the key theories, concepts and models that frame your research. In this section you can answer descriptive research questions about the relationship between concepts or variables.

The methodology chapter or section describes how you conducted your research, allowing your reader to assess its validity. You should generally include:

• The overall approach and type of research (e.g. qualitative, quantitative, experimental, ethnographic)
• Your methods of collecting data (e.g. interviews, surveys, archives)
• Details of where, when, and with whom the research took place
• Your methods of analysing data (e.g. statistical analysis, discourse analysis)
• Tools and materials you used (e.g. computer programs, lab equipment)
• A discussion of any obstacles you faced in conducting the research and how you overcame them
• An evaluation or justification of your methods

Your aim in the methodology is to accurately report what you did, as well as convincing the reader that this was the best approach to answering your research questions or objectives.

Next, you report the results of your research . You can structure this section around sub-questions, hypotheses, or topics. Only report results that are relevant to your objectives and research questions. In some disciplines, the results section is strictly separated from the discussion, while in others the two are combined.

For example, for qualitative methods like in-depth interviews, the presentation of the data will often be woven together with discussion and analysis, while in quantitative and experimental research, the results should be presented separately before you discuss their meaning. If you’re unsure, consult with your supervisor and look at sample dissertations to find out the best structure for your research.

In the results section it can often be helpful to include tables, graphs and charts. Think carefully about how best to present your data, and don’t include tables or figures that just repeat what you have written  –  they should provide extra information or usefully visualise the results in a way that adds value to your text.

Full versions of your data (such as interview transcripts) can be included as an appendix .

The discussion  is where you explore the meaning and implications of your results in relation to your research questions. Here you should interpret the results in detail, discussing whether they met your expectations and how well they fit with the framework that you built in earlier chapters. If any of the results were unexpected, offer explanations for why this might be. It’s a good idea to consider alternative interpretations of your data and discuss any limitations that might have influenced the results.

The discussion should reference other scholarly work to show how your results fit with existing knowledge. You can also make recommendations for future research or practical action.

The dissertation conclusion should concisely answer the main research question, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of your central argument. Wrap up your dissertation with a final reflection on what you did and how you did it. The conclusion often also includes recommendations for research or practice.

In this section, it’s important to show how your findings contribute to knowledge in the field and why your research matters. What have you added to what was already known?

You must include full details of all sources that you have cited in a reference list (sometimes also called a works cited list or bibliography). It’s important to follow a consistent reference style . Each style has strict and specific requirements for how to format your sources in the reference list.

The most common styles used in UK universities are Harvard referencing and Vancouver referencing . Your department will often specify which referencing style you should use – for example, psychology students tend to use APA style , humanities students often use MHRA , and law students always use OSCOLA . M ake sure to check the requirements, and ask your supervisor if you’re unsure.

To save time creating the reference list and make sure your citations are correctly and consistently formatted, you can use our free APA Citation Generator .

Your dissertation itself should contain only essential information that directly contributes to answering your research question. Documents you have used that do not fit into the main body of your dissertation (such as interview transcripts, survey questions or tables with full figures) can be added as appendices .

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• Our Process

How to Write a Nursing Dissertation – Tips & Examples

Published by Alvin Nicolas at November 24th, 2022 , Revised On February 1, 2024

Nurses are primarily seen as someone who care for and ensures the best treatment and support for the patients. So it is no surprise that many nursing students struggle to write a flawless nursing dissertation and fail to achieve their desired grade.

If you are a nursing student learning to write a nursing dissertation, you have landed on the right page.

Writing a nursing dissertation can be laborious if one is not adequately prepared. The nursing profession focuses on providing health care services and doesn’t involve a lot of research and writing.

As a result, writing a solid dissertation for nursing students can often become challenging. This article teaches nursing students how to produce an exceptional nursing dissertation.

Students must complete their nursing dissertations before the deadline provided by their department and to a high academic quality standard. When writing a nursing dissertation, you must ensure that whatever you write is precise, clear, and intelligible.

A strong nursing dissertation is a way to showcase your research and writing skills. You may find these skills useful at some point in your professional career. A logical methodology is necessary for writing an excellent nursing dissertation.

Without further ado, let’s look at the most critical steps of writing a nursing dissertation.

When you Need to Write a Nursing Dissertation

You will need to produce a proposal and a dissertation if you are a nursing student pursuing an undergraduate, Master or a PhD programme. Undergraduate students must complete and submit the dissertation project in their final year. On the other hand, Master’s and PhD students must successfully complete and defend their dissertation research to be awarded the degrees. For nursing students, completing a dissertation of high quality is of utmost importance. Be mindful of the following when starting to write your thesis paper.

• You will need to be adept at combining data from many sources.
• You should demonstrate the ability to blend analysis with description.
• You must discuss theoretical ideas and concepts in detail.

13 Steps to Write a Nursing Dissertation

Step 1: begin your dissertation with topic selection.

The first step of the process is selecting a suitable nursing dissertation topic . Make sure you don’t rush this process because the idea you are investigating is the foundation for your dissertation. It must be something you are interested in, relevant to the discipline you chose to study and going to add value to the existing literature.

Step 2: Introduction

You acquaint your readers with the nursing dissertation topic in the introduction chapter. Here, you provide the rationale and history, set up the hypothesis or research questions, and present the background information and fundamental concepts relating to your thesis topic. A strong introduction can enable you to achieve a high score. Use a consistent format and ensure clarity and coherence because the introduction is the first line of the nursing dissertation.

Step 3: Obtaining and Combining Proof from Reliable Sources

Every dissertation, particularly a nursing dissertation, requires supporting data from peer-reviewed journals like “Advances in Neonatal Nursing,” “Clinical Nurse Specialist,” and similar journals. Aside from books and newspapers, aim to use journal articles by reputable authors and academics. You must make sure, among other things, that the evidence you use for your Master’s nursing dissertation is reliable.

Step 4: Critically Evaluate the Evidence

Without thoroughly evaluating the evidence, you will not be able to develop a first-class dissertation that other academicians can rely on. Giving your supervisor a glimpse of the evidence using the spectacle of critical appraisal tools is a great technique to show them the extensive study you conducted for your dissertation.

Step 5: Review of Literature

Here’s where you perform a comprehensive review of the existing literature. This chapter discusses fundamental theories surrounding your research topic and concludes with the outcomes of this secondary data review. Write this section while maintaining objectivity, and only include what you read.

Step 6: Outlining the Significance of the Dissertation

Finding a pertinent passage from previously published works is the next stage in determining the topic’s applicability in the present day.

For instance, if you are writing a dissertation on evidence-based nursing practice, you can access a variety of papers on the subject that have been produced by numerous nursing academics from all over the world. You could strengthen your work by doing this.

Step 7: Employing Clinical Standards for Audit and Inspection

Regardless of the research area you are exploring, mentioning relevant nursing policies and frameworks is crucial. Others will only use your work as a resource and future reference material if you have employed clinical standards, audit, and inspection guidelines.

Step 9: Choose the Methodology

A nursing dissertation isn’t done until you have developed a coherent and tangible nursing research methodology . Depending on your research topic, you could choose qualitative, quantitative, or a mix of both. Typical nursing dissertations involve a lot of data and analysis, and you may probably have to use some statistical analysis tool as part of the methodology.

Step 9: Results

Always reflect the actual outcomes. Write down anything unusual you notice while exercising the research.

The results chapter is where you present the findings of your study. The results and methodology chapter are often regarded as the most critical components of the dissertation paper. If you are basing your dissertation on quantitative research, consider including graphs and tables to provide evidence for your claims. You can, however, seek outside nursing assistance if you feel that writing the complete thesis paper would be too stressful for you.

Step 10: Recommendations

Presenting recommendations based on your experience is the last step in a nursing master’s dissertation. These serve as potential fixes for the shortcomings in the current study that can be applied in the future.

Step 11: Appropriate Format and List of References

You will lose important marks if your dissertation’s bibliography and references are not in proper order. Make sure your paper uses the format and style as instructed in your dissertation handbook.

Step 12: Structure

Forging a persuasive structure is another nursing dissertation requirement. The dissertation will stay on topic with logical organisation and order building. The exact structure you must follow varies from one nursing programme to another. We recommend that you check with your supervisor or read the handbook in detail to determine the structure you must follow.

Step 14: Proofreading

Any writing task becomes tedious after a while, and students are more likely to make mistakes when working with more extensive academic papers such as a dissertation. Under any circumstance, proofreading is required. Due to the strain of work and satisfying academic obligations, some students make mistakes in their dissertations even after reading them repeatedly.

These errors are typically modest and don’t seem noticeable to everyone. The process of proofreading ensures that every step, from the introduction to the appendices section, has been appropriately arranged.

Proofreading makes the writing process much more organised and clutter-free. Proofreading makes up the remaining two-thirds of the fight after writing and can make you succeed.

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Closing Remarks!

As a future nurse, you are aware that you must submit a solid dissertation to receive your professional qualification. Certainly, submitting a high-calibre nursing paper improves your chances of graduating with honours.

You may have a lot of academic and extracurricular commitments, making it tough to focus on writing your research.

The good news is that you still have room to work on your research, even though you only have a little time left before the deadline. Following the simple but exceptional tips presented in this article, you can produce an excellent dissertation swiftly.

We hope that this comprehensive guide to writing your nursing dissertation has helped you comprehend the critical components of a nursing dissertation.

How to write a nursing dissertation?

Writing a nursing dissertation can be complicated for a few students, but by following the given steps, you will be able to write a good nursing dissertation.

• Start by choosing an intriguing topic.
• Write a catchy introduction. 
• Collect proof and citations from reliable sources
• Critically evaluate the gathered evidence 
• Perform literature review
• Outline the significance of your nursing dissertation 
•  Mention the relevant nursing policies and frameworks 
• Choose the right methodology 
• Reflect on the actual outcomes 
• Provide recommendations for the future. 
• Use the appropriate format and referencing style. 
• Review the structure of your nursing dissertation. 
• Make sure to proofread before sending. 

Where do I find the trending nursing dissertation topics?

If you are looking for trending nursing dissertation topics, you can check 100s of amazing and professional topics here . If you cannot find a topic that interests you in the list, you can place your order at Essays UK and get a Free nursing dissertation topic recommendation.

What is the difference between a nursing essay and a dissertation?

A nursing essay and a nursing dissertation are two different types of academic writing. They differ in many aspects, including:

• Length: A nursing essay is typically shorter than a dissertation. An essay may be several pages long, while a dissertation is usually several hundred pages.
• Depth of research: A dissertation requires original research and analysis of a particular topic, while an essay may be based on existing literature or research.
• Level of complexity: A dissertation is generally more complex and in-depth than an essay. It requires a higher level of critical thinking and analysis.
• Format: A dissertation typically follows a specific format, with chapters dedicated to the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. An essay may be more flexible in its format.
• Purpose: A dissertation is often required to obtain a doctoral degree, while an essay is typically an assignment for a nursing course.

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An organised list of the chapters, sections, and subsections that help the reader navigate through your dissertation or thesis is called the table of content.  For the reader to jump to any part or section of their interest, the structure and the sections should clearly be labelled with the correct page numbers. 

Medicine and nursing have remained popular fields of study for centuries because of their applications. It is no surprise that nursing is one of the most popular professions in the UK today.

The acknowledgements page in a thesis or dissertation is positioned between the title page and the abstract. Its length should be one A4 page at maximum.

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The future of MSc nursing dissertations – a victim of its own success?

In our blog this week, Dr Nicola Roberts (@DrNRoberts) and Mr Ben Parkinson (@ParkinsonBen1) from Glasgow Caledonian University discuss the current changes affecting student research in the NHS and the future for MSc dissertations in nursing.

The Masters of Sciences degree (MSc) is becoming increasingly popular with nurses and provides a useful stepping stone into advanced nursing roles and/or Doctoral level study (e.g. PhD or Professional Doctorate). For nursing students, the most daunting and time consuming part of their MSc is often the dissertation component. Students usually do a structured literature review or undertake a small piece of research. However, the rules around student research in the NHS are changing and may affect some nursing students completing MSc dissertations.

What is a nursing dissertation? The nursing dissertation usually involves a large written piece of coursework (6-16,000 words) based on an independent study at the end of a University MSc programme. Students are supported during their dissertation by an academic supervisor to undertake research or a review. For nursing students, the MSc dissertation is an opportunity to focus on a particular area of interest and to study the topic in great detail. The MSc dissertation is a demanding assessment and can involve many months of effort and a high level of independent study. Some of the challenges faced by students include working independently, effectively working with their supervisor, having to meet deadlines, and producing high quality academic material. In addition, many students also have other commitments (e.g. employment, child care) and/or have additional support needs (e.g. dyslexia). These factors can make the MSc dissertation both demanding, but also extremely rewarding.

Student research in the NHS Nursing students often want to undertake a research study in their place of work, but all research needs to have ethical approval and students working in the NHS will have to make sure they are eligible to complete their research in the NHS. The guidance on student research in the NHS changed and the new guidance is available online via the Health Research Authority (HRA) . The HRA changes came into effect in September 2021 and affect those completing research for the main purpose of achieving an educational qualification (e.g. Degree, Masters, or Doctorate). The main changes include new eligibility criteria, which changes the type of students who can complete research in the NHS. The new guidance states undergraduate students, for example, will no longer be able to complete research involving the NHS and that Doctoral students studying Health and Social Care related topics will be able to complete research in the NHS ( full guidance ).

The guidance is slightly more confusing for MSc nursing students. Not all MSc students will be able to apply for NHS ethical approval and some types of student MSc students will not be allowed to do research in the NHS. Fortunately, nurses will be one group of students who can conduct research in the NHS, but certain rules apply, nurses need to be studying a Health and Social Care course and the University department supporting the student also needs to be active in Health and Social Care research. The HRA have produced a helpful toolkit for students or supervisors , to help them determine whether their research will be eligible to apply for NHS Research Ethics approval under the new guidance.

Alternatives to student research in the NHS Given the complexity of nursing dissertations and the challenges faced by many nursing students, it is prudent to consider the different options available when completing an MSc dissertation. Being flexible and creative will give nursing students the greatest chance of success when completing their MSc dissertation.

Dissertation options. • Research involving the NHS (check eligibility using student research toolkit ) • Non-research activity in the NHS (e.g. service evaluation, audit, a discussion with R&D may still be needed). • Research activity not involving NHS patient, staff, or resources – student participant study or using organisations or charities, social media. • Literature review (e.g. systematic review). • Write research protocol for future study. • Produce anonymous case report (consent/approval needed).

Other challenges for nursing dissertations Another challenge is the increasing numbers of students completing MSc qualifications. Each year more nurses are seeking MSc qualification, which is excellent for patient care and the nursing profession. However, increasing student numbers and the needs to complete a dissertation can create pressure on the NHS and make it difficult to provide the necessary support for growing numbers of students. With increasing numbers, nursing students can find themselves struggling to come up with an original idea and some popular topics can become over-researched. For example, recently the number of students wanting to study COVID-19 has grown rapidly.

It is also common for nursing students to focus on particular groups of people and/or recruitment pathways. For example, the growth of MSc dissertations has led to an increase in the amount of research being conducting on students, which raises concerns about whether students are being overly burdened by invitations to participate in research. The growth in the numbers of nursing students studying MSc qualifications has also put pressure on finding appropriate academic supervisors, who can support students during their studies. It is important Universities balance the increased demand for MSc study, whilst also maintaining quality for students. Innovative strategies used by Universities include flexible academic supervision, using online methods, incorporating group supervision, and also changing the format of dissertations to better reflect journal publications. It is clear that traditional dissertations may need to adapt in the near future to be fit for purpose and to support the large number of students and the changes to research ethics in the NHS.

Dr Nicola Roberts is a Senior Lecturer and Mr Ben Parkinson is a Lecturer in the Department of Nursing and Community Health (@GCUNursing) at Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom (@GCUSHLS, @GCUReach). 

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