Pediatric Nursing Research: Special Considerations
Research involving children requires careful attention to developmental appropriateness, family dynamics, and ethical protections. Pediatric nursing dissertations must navigate these complexities while contributing meaningful knowledge to child health.
This guide organizes topics by age group and clinical focus, helping you identify areas aligned with your practice experience and career goals.
IRB Note: Research with children is considered involving a vulnerable population. Build extra time for IRB review and consider assent processes for children alongside parental consent.
Neonatal and Infant Care
DNP Capstone Topics
- Skin-to-Skin Care: Implementation of kangaroo care protocol in NICU with parental satisfaction and infant outcomes
- Breastfeeding Support: Evaluation of lactation consultant intervention on NICU breastfeeding rates at discharge
- Developmental Care: Implementation of NIDCAP principles in level III NICU
- Parent Education: Development of structured parent education program for NICU discharge readiness
- Pain Management: Evaluation of non-pharmacological pain management protocol for procedural pain in neonates
- Safe Sleep: Implementation of safe sleep education program for NICU and well-baby nursery families
- Late Preterm: Development of enhanced monitoring protocol for late preterm infants
PhD Dissertation Topics
- Parental Stress: Parental stress trajectories during NICU hospitalization: A longitudinal mixed-methods study
- Neurodevelopment: Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of NICU developmental care interventions
- Mother-Infant Bonding: Impact of NICU hospitalization on mother-infant attachment: A phenomenological study
- Decision-Making: Parental decision-making in neonatal palliative care: Perspectives and processes
- NICU Environment: Effects of NICU environmental modifications on infant and parent outcomes
Early Childhood (1-5 Years)
DNP Capstone Topics
- Developmental Screening: Implementation of ASQ-3 developmental screening in pediatric primary care
- Immunization Rates: Evaluation of reminder/recall system on childhood immunization completion
- Obesity Prevention: Implementation of obesity prevention program in early childhood settings
- Autism Screening: Evaluation of M-CHAT screening implementation in 18-24 month visits
- Oral Health: Implementation of fluoride varnish application in pediatric primary care
- Lead Screening: Evaluation of lead screening and follow-up protocol enhancement
- Food Insecurity: Implementation of food insecurity screening and referral in pediatric practice
PhD Dissertation Topics
- Early Adversity: Impact of early childhood adversity on health outcomes: Mediating and moderating factors
- Parent-Child Interaction: Nurse-facilitated parent-child interaction interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Healthcare Transition: Toddler healthcare experiences and later health behavior development
- Chronic Illness: Quality of life in young children with chronic conditions: Measurement and intervention
School-Age Children (6-12 Years)
DNP Capstone Topics
- Asthma Management: Implementation of school-based asthma action plan program
- Diabetes Management: Evaluation of type 1 diabetes school management training for staff
- Mental Health Screening: Implementation of anxiety and depression screening in pediatric primary care
- Bullying Prevention: Evaluation of nurse-led bullying prevention program in elementary schools
- Physical Activity: Implementation of structured physical activity intervention for overweight children
- ADHD Care: Development of nurse-led ADHD medication monitoring clinic
- Vision/Hearing: Evaluation of enhanced vision and hearing screening follow-up protocol
PhD Dissertation Topics
- Chronic Illness Experience: School-age children's lived experiences of chronic illness management
- Health Literacy: Development and validation of child health literacy assessment tool
- School Nurse Role: School nurses' roles in chronic condition management: A grounded theory
- Peer Relationships: Impact of chronic illness on peer relationships and school functioning
- Self-Management: Development of self-management skills in school-age children with asthma
Adolescent Health (13-18 Years)
DNP Capstone Topics
- Depression Screening: Implementation of PHQ-A screening in adolescent well visits
- Substance Use Prevention: Evaluation of SBIRT for adolescents in primary care
- Sexual Health: Implementation of confidential reproductive health services in school-based health
- HPV Vaccination: Evaluation of HPV vaccination promotion strategies for adolescents
- Suicide Prevention: Implementation of Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale in pediatric practice
- Sleep Health: Evaluation of sleep hygiene education for adolescents
- E-cigarette Prevention: Implementation of vaping prevention program in high schools
- Transition Planning: Development of healthcare transition program for adolescents with special needs
PhD Dissertation Topics
- Risk Behavior: Adolescent risk behavior decision-making: A qualitative exploration
- Chronic Illness Transition: Transition to adult care for adolescents with chronic conditions: Barriers and facilitators
- Mental Health Help-Seeking: Factors influencing mental health help-seeking in adolescents
- Social Media: Social media influence on adolescent health behaviors and body image
- Self-Management: Development of adolescent chronic illness self-management intervention
- Healthcare Autonomy: Adolescent perspectives on healthcare decision-making autonomy
Adolescent Research Tip: Consider assent processes carefully. Many adolescents can provide meaningful input on study design. Youth advisory boards can strengthen research relevance and recruitment.
Acute and Critical Care
DNP Capstone Topics
- Family Presence: Implementation of family presence during procedures policy in PICU
- Pain Assessment: Evaluation of age-appropriate pain assessment tool implementation in pediatric ED
- Delirium Screening: Implementation of pediatric delirium screening in PICU
- Early Mobility: Evaluation of early mobilization protocol in pediatric intensive care
- Sepsis Bundle: Implementation of pediatric sepsis screening and treatment bundle
- Communication: Development of handoff communication tool for pediatric unit transfers
- Discharge Teaching: Evaluation of teach-back method for pediatric discharge education
PhD Dissertation Topics
- PICU Experience: Parents' experiences of having a child in pediatric intensive care
- Post-ICU Outcomes: Long-term psychological outcomes of pediatric critical illness
- End-of-Life: Pediatric palliative care nursing: Experiences and moral distress
- Technology-Dependent: Family adjustment to caring for technology-dependent children at home
- Sibling Impact: Impact of pediatric chronic illness on healthy siblings
Chronic Conditions
DNP Capstone Topics
- Asthma Education: Implementation of comprehensive asthma education program with outcomes evaluation
- Diabetes Technology: Evaluation of CGM/pump education protocol for pediatric type 1 diabetes
- Sickle Cell: Implementation of comprehensive sickle cell disease management in primary care
- Epilepsy: Development of seizure action plan program for schools
- Cystic Fibrosis: Evaluation of adherence intervention for CF treatment regimens
- Obesity: Implementation of family-based obesity treatment program
- Cancer Survivorship: Development of pediatric cancer survivorship care program
PhD Dissertation Topics
- Self-Management: Development of self-management model for pediatric chronic illness
- Family Impact: Impact of childhood chronic illness on family functioning and resilience
- Quality of Life: Quality of life in children with multiple chronic conditions
- Symptom Clusters: Symptom cluster science in pediatric populations
- Care Coordination: Effectiveness of care coordination models for children with complex medical conditions
Special Populations
Children with Special Healthcare Needs
- Medical Home: Implementation of medical home principles for CSHCN (DNP)
- Care Coordination: Evaluation of nurse care coordinator role for medically complex children (DNP)
- Transition: Healthcare transition preparation program for youth with special needs (DNP)
- Family Navigation: Family navigator intervention for CSHCN: Development and testing (PhD)
- School Integration: Experiences of children with complex medical needs in mainstream schools (PhD)
Foster Care and Child Welfare
- Health Screening: Implementation of comprehensive health screening for children entering foster care (DNP)
- Trauma-Informed: Evaluation of trauma-informed care training for foster care nurses (DNP)
- Mental Health: Mental health needs assessment and service coordination for foster children (DNP)
- Health Outcomes: Health outcomes disparities in foster care alumni: A longitudinal study (PhD)
- Nurse Role: The role of nursing in child welfare health services: An ethnography (PhD)
Child Health Disparities
DNP Capstone Topics
- Access: Implementation of mobile health clinic for underserved pediatric population
- Screening Disparities: Evaluation of strategies to improve developmental screening in low-income families
- Culturally Responsive: Implementation of culturally tailored asthma education for Latino families
- Social Determinants: Development of SDOH screening and referral pathway in pediatric primary care
- Immigrant Health: Evaluation of healthcare navigator program for immigrant families
PhD Dissertation Topics
- Structural Factors: Structural factors contributing to pediatric health disparities: A critical analysis
- Neighborhood Effects: Neighborhood factors and child health outcomes: A multilevel analysis
- Cultural Perspectives: Cultural perspectives on child health and healthcare among refugee families
- Interventions: Systematic review of interventions addressing pediatric health disparities
Need Support With Your Pediatric Nursing Dissertation?
Our pediatric nursing specialists can help you navigate IRB requirements, develop age-appropriate study designs, and produce scholarship that advances child health. Get expert guidance from professionals who understand pediatric research challenges.
Get Dissertation Support