| Course | NUR 318 Nursing Research and Evidence Translation |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 2 |
| Paper type | Discussion post with peer response |
| Length | About 514 words |
| Format | Discussion post with APA 7 citations |
| School | Arizona State University |
| Program | RN to BSN |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for NUR 318 Module 2
Discussion Board: Clinical Practice Problem and Initial PICO(T) Idea
Nausea in the Last Hour Before Discharge: A Practice Problem and a First Try at a PICOT Question
Initial Post
I work in phase II recovery at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center with ten recovery bays, where most patients have laparoscopic gynecology, orthopedic scope or breast procedures and go home within two hours. The practice problem I want to follow through this course is nausea that starts or continues in that last stretch before discharge. When it happens, the patient waits for an antiemetic order, the bay stays occupied, and some patients still leave feeling sick with a long car ride ahead of them.
To see whether this was a real problem or only a memorable one, two of us kept a simple tally for two weeks. Of 212 adults discharged from phase II, 31 (about 15%) reported nausea there, and 22 of those received at least one rescue dose. The tally is ours and informal, but it matches what the literature describes: nausea after anesthesia is common, and some patient groups carry much higher risk than others (Gan et al., 2020). Our current practice is medication only. Nurses sometimes coach slow breathing, but nothing is written down, and nobody uses inhaled agents even though alcohol prep pads are in every bay.
My early PICOT idea: In adults who report nausea in phase II recovery after ambulatory surgery (P), does inhaling isopropyl alcohol from a prep pad (I), compared with rescue antiemetic medication alone (C), reduce nausea severity and the number of rescue doses (O) within 30 minutes of the first complaint (T)?
I already see some weaknesses. The comparison may be unrealistic, since nobody would withhold medication from a patient who wants it, so the comparison may need to be "medication when requested" rather than medication alone. I also need to decide whether nausea severity will be measured with a 0 to 10 scale or a verbal scale. I found one older nursing study that compared alcohol inhalation with standard antiemetic treatment and reported similar effectiveness at lower cost (Merritt et al., 2002), so the question seems answerable, but I have not yet looked for newer trials or reviews.
Reply to a Classmate
Your problem of missed fall risk reassessment after a patient's medications change is one I recognize from my own unit, and your tally of 9 missed reassessments in 40 charts makes it concrete. One suggestion for your PICOT: the outcome you list is "fewer falls," but on a single unit falls are rare enough that you might not see a change for months. You could keep falls as the long-term outcome and add a process outcome you can measure quickly, such as the percentage of patients reassessed within four hours of a new sedating medication. Polit and Beck (2022) point out that outcomes should be measurable within the time frame you choose, and a process measure gives you that. I also wonder whether your intervention is the reassessment itself or an electronic prompt that triggers it, because the evidence you search for will differ depending on which one you mean.
References
Gan, T. J., Belani, K. G., Bergese, S., Chung, F., Diemunsch, P., Habib, A. S., Jin, Z., Kovac, A. L., Meyer, T. A., Urman, R. D., Apfel, C. C., Ayad, S., Beagley, L., Candiotti, K., Englesakis, M., Hedrick, T. L., Kranke, P., Lee, S., Lipman, D., ... Philip, B. K. (2020). Fourth consensus guidelines for the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 131(2), 411-448. https://doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0000000000004833
Merritt, B. A., Okyere, C. P., & Jasinski, D. M. (2002). Isopropyl alcohol inhalation: Alternative treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Nursing Research, 51(2), 125-128. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006199-200203000-00009
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2022). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice (10th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Reading the NUR 318 Module 2 assignment instructions
According to the class syllabus, this board opens the semester's EBP project: you describe a clinical practice problem from your own work, explain why it matters, and post your best early thinking about a PICO(T) question, then respond to at least one classmate. The board is worth 5 points, so it is short, but the problem you choose here carries through the search strategy, the evidence alignment worksheet, the evaluation table and the final presentation. Pick a problem you can see in your own setting, one that nurses can influence, and one narrow enough to search. Canvas sets the word range and due dates for the initial post and the reply, and most instructors want the post to cite a peer-reviewed article or the course text.
Inside the NUR 318 Module 2 example
The sample post starts in a real-feeling place, a ten-bay recovery area at a composite surgery center, and states the problem in one paragraph. It then shows a quick local tally with both numbers, 31 of 212 patients, so the problem has a size. The post names current practice and the gap, drafts a PICOT with each element labeled, and then critiques its own draft, which is exactly what an early-thinking post should do. One source supports how common the problem is and another shows the question has been studied. The reply to a classmate is specific and useful: it suggests a measurable process outcome and asks the peer to separate the intervention from its trigger.
Where the marks sit in the NUR 318 Module 2 rubric
This discussion is usually graded on three things: whether the practice problem is clear and relevant to nursing, whether the PICOT draft contains each element in a sensible form, and whether the peer reply adds something of substance. Instructors also look for at least one scholarly citation in APA format and for posts that meet the minimum length and deadlines. A post that names a problem without showing its size or its effect on patients tends to lose points on relevance. A reply that only says "great post" earns little or nothing. Since the points are few, timeliness matters: a late initial post often costs more than a weak sentence.
NUR 318 Module 2 help with common mistakes
Many students write a PICOT that already contains the answer, such as "does hourly rounding reduce falls," without asking whether the comparison is realistic on their unit. Others choose a problem that belongs to physicians or pharmacy, leaving nothing for nursing to change. A third mistake is an outcome that cannot be measured in a short project, such as mortality. Keep the population specific, make the comparison what actually happens now, and pick an outcome you could count. If your instructor wants a different format or a specific number of sources, adjust before posting. The desk can draft a version of this post around your own unit and problem if you send the board prompt.
Write yours, or have the desk draft it
This paper is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Arizona State University document. Read it for the moves, then write your own to the instructions in your classroom. If you want one built to your exact prompt and rubric, the first custom sample is free and arrives in 24 to 48 hours.
More NUR 318 and RN to BSN sample papers
- NUR 318 Module 1: Qualitative Research Critique
- NUR 318 Module 3: Search Strategy for the EBP Question
- NUR 318 Module 4: Quantitative Research Critique
- NUR 318 Module 5: PICOT and Research Evidence Alignment
- NUR 318 Module 6: Evidence Evaluation Table and Appraisal
- NUR 318 Module 7: EBP Presentation on Postoperative Nausea
- NUR 440 Module 1: Health Resources Scavenger Hunt
- NUR 391 Module 4: Cultural Advocacy Discussion
- NUR 464 Module 2: Nursing Practice Project Discussion
- NUR 445 Module 7: Financial Impacts Group Discussion
NUR 318 Module 2 questions, answered
Where can I find a free NUR 318 Module 2 sample paper?
The full discussion post is on this page: an initial post on nausea before discharge from ambulatory surgery with a first PICOT draft, and a reply to a classmate about fall risk reassessment, with references.
What makes a good practice problem for the NUR 318 EBP project?
Choose a problem you see in your own work that nurses can change, that affects patients in a way you can describe with numbers, and that is narrow enough to search. Medication timing, comfort measures, education and assessment practices usually work well.
Does my PICOT in the NUR 318 discussion have to be final?
No. The board asks for early thinking, and later assignments let you refine it. Showing that you noticed weaknesses in your own draft, such as an unrealistic comparison, often reads better than a polished question.
Do I need sources in the NUR 318 practice problem post?
Most instructors expect at least one scholarly source that shows the problem is real or has been studied. Check the Canvas prompt, since some sections require two.
How should I reply to a classmate's PICOT in NUR 318?
Offer one specific suggestion tied to the PICOT elements, such as a measurable outcome, a narrower population or a realistic comparison, and explain why. Cite the textbook or a study if it supports your point.