Nursing capstone project ideas oncology

DNP Capstone Project Help
4 min readMar 18, 2024

Nursing capstone projects serve as a culmination of a nursing student’s academic journey, allowing them to apply their knowledge and skills to address real-world healthcare challenges. In the field of oncology, where the complexities of cancer care and support are ever-evolving, nursing students have a unique opportunity to make meaningful contributions through their capstone projects. In this article, we will explore a variety of nursing capstone project ideas in oncology, aimed at enhancing care and support for cancer patients.

Nursing capstone project ideas oncology

Survivorship Care Plans

Survivorship care plans are essential for cancer patients transitioning from active treatment to post-treatment care. Nursing students can develop innovative survivorship care plans that address the physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of cancer survivors. Ideas for such projects may include creating personalized survivorship care plans tailored to different types of cancer, incorporating survivorship care education modules for patients and caregivers, or implementing survivorship care clinics within healthcare facilities.

Palliative Care Initiatives

Palliative care plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for patients living with cancer. Nursing students can focus their capstone projects on developing palliative care initiatives that provide holistic support for cancer patients and their families. Projects may involve establishing palliative care programs within oncology units, implementing pain management protocols, conducting symptom management workshops for healthcare providers, or enhancing communication skills training for nurses in delivering sensitive end-of-life care.

Symptom Management Interventions

Cancer patients often experience a range of distressing symptoms related to their disease and treatment. Nursing students can design capstone projects focused on developing innovative symptom management interventions to alleviate these symptoms and improve patient outcomes. Ideas may include creating educational resources on managing common cancer-related symptoms such as pain, nausea, fatigue, and anxiety, developing mobile applications for tracking and self-managing symptoms, or implementing integrative therapies such as acupuncture or massage therapy to complement conventional cancer treatments.

Supportive Care Programs

Supportive care programs offer valuable resources and services to help cancer patients cope with the physical, emotional, and practical challenges of their illness. Nursing students can undertake capstone projects aimed at enhancing existing supportive care programs or creating new initiatives to meet the evolving needs of cancer patients. Project ideas may include establishing support groups for patients with specific cancer types or treatment modalities, developing wellness programs focusing on nutrition and exercise, or implementing survivorship navigation services to guide patients through the survivorship journey.

Enhancing Communication in Oncology Care

Effective communication is essential for providing high-quality oncology care and promoting patient-centered outcomes. Nursing students can explore capstone projects that aim to improve communication between healthcare providers, patients, and their families in oncology settings. Ideas may include developing communication training modules for oncology nurses, implementing structured communication tools such as SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) in multidisciplinary cancer care teams, or conducting communication skills workshops for healthcare professionals to facilitate difficult conversations with patients about prognosis, treatment options, and end-of-life care preferences.

20 Nursing Capstone Project Ideas in Oncology

Improving Patient Outcomes

· The Impact of Music Therapy on Pain Management in Pediatric Oncology Patients.

· Exploring the Effectiveness of Telehealth Interventions for Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects in Adults.

· Developing a Nursing Education Program to Improve Early Detection of Pressure Injuries in Oncology Patients.

· The Role of Patient Navigation in Reducing Hospital Readmissions for Post-Operative Oncology Patients.

· Investigating the Effectiveness of Mindfulness Techniques for Reducing Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy.

Enhancing Communication and Support

· The Use of Age-Appropriate Communication Techniques to Improve Understanding of Treatment Options in Adolescent Oncology Patients.

· Developing a Support Group Program for Family Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancers.

· Evaluating the Effectiveness of Culturally Sensitive Care Strategies for Oncology Patients from Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds.

· The Role of Social Workers in Addressing Psychosocial Needs of Patients and Families Affected by Cancer.

· Investigating the Impact of Art Therapy on Emotional Expression and Coping Mechanisms in Oncology Patients.

Optimizing Care Delivery and Interventions

· Exploring the Use of Virtual Reality (VR) to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Pain Management During Medical Procedures for Oncology Patients.

· Developing a Mobile App to Enhance Medication Adherence and Self-Care Management in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML).

· The Effectiveness of Nurse-Led Skin Integrity Assessments in Preventing Skin Breakdown in Oncology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.

· Exploring the Benefits of Implementing a Fatigue Management Program for Oncology Nurses.

· Investigating the Impact of Shared Decision-Making Models on Treatment Satisfaction and Patient Engagement in Oncology Care.

Promoting Preventative Care and Health Literacy

· Developing a Community Outreach Program to Increase Cancer Screening Rates in Underserved Populations.

· The Role of Nurses in Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer Through Patient Education and Risk Assessment.

· Evaluating the Effectiveness of Educational Interventions to Reduce Risky Behaviors (e.g., smoking) in Young Adults at Increased Cancer Risk.

· Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities for Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choices in Oncology Survivors.

· The Role of Telehealth in Providing Nutrition Counseling and Support for Oncology Patients Undergoing Treatment.

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