Research Essay Planning Tool | Report

RESEARCH ESSAY PLANNING TOOL
I. Addressing the Essay Task
A. Write down the essay task in full. The essay will cover essential information on assessing , preventing and managing individuals who are living with mental
illness, with a special emphasis on those with aggressive or violent behaviours.
B. What is the relevant content? Where can you find it?
What do I know? What do I need to know?
 Mental health status must be
assessed in patients using
appropriate assessment
tools.
 Nurses must work
collaboratively with
appropriate health
professionals to address
positive mental health
outcomes across the
affected populations
 Nurses must practice care
for mental health patients
keeping in mind appropriate
ethical considerations.
 Assessment of mental
health status with respect
to the lived experiences of
the patients.
 Role of social factors, that
is, a biopsychosocial
assessment must be
undertaken.
 Perspectives of
consumers regarding
expected care due to their
lived experiences.
 Ethical dilemmas or any
barriers to care which may
be present.
 Prevalence and risk
factors of mental illness in
the nation
 Treatment guidelines or
best practice methods for
mental health management
in consumers.
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C. If your essay topic is too broad, limit it by using more specific words/concepts covered in subject:
Prevalence, risk factors, consumer perspectives, ethical or practice standards to be maintained by nurses, possible barriers to treatment, best practice approaches or
guidelines.
D. If your task is phrased in terms of a statement, turn that statement into a question:
1. What are the appropriate methods of assessment for individuals living with mental health assessment?
2. What is the role of the nurse in managing such patients? What may be the possible barriers?
3. What are the best practice guidelines for treatment of mental health illness in individuals?
II. Developing your Argument
A. What is your main answer to the essay question (D above), supported by about 3 main reasons?
1. A holistic, comprehensive assessment must be undertaken, covering individual’s lived experiences, social, personal or familial factors.
2. Nurses must administer patient and family centred interventions. Ethical dilemmas must be addressed after discussion. Compassion fatigue must be addressed
by self care techniques.
3. There is no single best practice guideline and multidisciplinary approach to treatment must be administered considering the patient’s comprehensive needs.
III.
Introductio
n
(usually 5-10%
of the paper)
 Set the context
 Narrow the focus
 State your argument (your answer including the 3 key reasons/points)
 (Provide an overview)
IV. Body:
A.
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