A strong nursing project begins with a well-defined problem. If you frame the problem correctly, the rest of your paper falls into place. If you don’t, you might get lost.
In this guide, you will learn exactly how to write one. We will look at 30 Nursing Problem Statement Examples, give you a simple 5-step method, and provide a fill-in-the-blank template to save you time.
What is a Nursing Problem Statement?
A nursing problem statement is a short, fact-based summary of an issue. It isn’t just a complaint; it is a clear description of something that needs fixing.
It communicates three things:
- The Problem: What is going wrong in patient care?
- The Significance: Why does it matter? (Safety, cost, or ethics)
- The Scope: Who is hurting, and where is it happening?
Think of this statement as your “North Star.” It guides your entire research project and keeps you on track.
Template for a Nursing Problem Statement
Before we break down each step, here is a simple template you can follow. Seeing the structure first helps you understand how each part fits together.
[Specific problem] among [population] in [setting] has resulted in [impact/outcome], as evidenced by [data/evidence].
Here is an example using the template:
“Hospital-acquired pressure injuries among immobile post-op patients in the Surgical Unit have increased by 12%, as evidenced by incident reports, resulting in longer recovery times.”
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Nursing Problem Statement
Writing a strong nursing problem statement is not about complicated wording—it’s about clarity, focus, and evidence. These 5 steps help you build a precise, academically sound statement that guides your entire project.
Step 1: Identify the Core Problem (Using Real Evidence)
Start with verified facts, not assumptions. Your problem must be supported by measurable data such as incident reports, hospital metrics, or national benchmarks.
Example:
“Medication errors in the pediatric unit increased from 4.2 to 6.8 per 1,000 patient days.”
Why this works:
Numbers demonstrate that the issue is real, not just perceived.
A solid problem statement begins with evidence. Data tells you whether a problem truly exists and how serious it is.
Step 2: Define the Population Clearly
Avoid broad labels like patients or staff. Be specific about who is experiencing the problem.
Example:
“Postpartum women with gestational diabetes at Riverside Health Center.”
Clear population definitions help sharpen the focus of your analysis and interventions.
Naming a clear population keeps the problem targeted and prevents your project from becoming too broad or unfocused.
Step 3: Explain the Setting and Impact
Describe where the problem is happening and why it matters. This may include safety concerns, increased costs, patient dissatisfaction, or delays in care.
Example:
“Delayed wound care in the rural Pine Valley Clinic has led to a 25% increase in amputations.”
This information shows urgency and establishes the real-world implications of the issue.
Context + consequences demonstrate the significance of the problem and justify why it must be addressed.
Step 4: Avoid Jumping to Solutions
A common mistake is proposing the fix too early. At this stage, focus only on describing the problem, not solving it.
Bad:
“We need a telehealth program to improve adherence.”
Good:
“Medication adherence is below 50%, causing preventable complications.”
Staying neutral keeps your problem statement academically sound and aligned with EBP standards.
The problem statement should define the issue—not prescribe an intervention. Solutions come later in your PICOT or project design.
Step 5: Make the Statement Measurable and Concise
A strong problem statement is typically one or two sentences and includes measurable elements you can evaluate later.
If you can’t measure it, you can’t prove improvement.
Example (Using the Template):
“Hospital-acquired pressure injuries among immobile post-operative patients in the Surgical Unit have increased by 12%, as evidenced by incident reports.”
A good problem statement is short, specific, measurable, and evidence-driven. It sets the foundation for a focused capstone, QI project, or research question.
Now that you understand the structure of a nursing problem statement and how to write one, the next step is seeing how this looks in real clinical settings. The following examples are organized by specialty to help you visualize how the same template applies across different areas of nursing practice—medical-surgical, pediatrics, mental health, community health, and more.
30+ Nursing Problem Statement Examples
General Nursing Research Examples
These examples focus on big-picture issues like staffing, safety, and hospital rules.
1. Nurse Staffing & Safety
High nurse-to-patient ratios among medical-surgical nurses in the inpatient unit have resulted in increased medication errors, as evidenced by a 22% rise in errors over the past six months.
2. Hand Hygiene
Low hand hygiene compliance among emergency department staff in the ER has resulted in higher infection rates, as evidenced by a 68% compliance rate compared to the 90% national benchmark.
3. Fatigue-Related Errors
Extended night-shift hours among night-shift nurses in the inpatient units have resulted in increased medication administration errors, as evidenced by a 17% rise in reported mistakes.
4. Documentation Gaps
Incomplete patient documentation among surgical unit nurses has resulted in delays in care transitions, as evidenced by a 25% increase in incomplete chart entries.
Capstone & Quality Improvement (QI) Examples
If you are working on a Capstone or EBP project, these Nursing Problem Statement Examples are perfect templates. They focus on fixing a specific process.
5. Patient Falls
Increased fall events among adults over age 70 in the rehabilitation unit have resulted in longer hospital stays, as evidenced by a 15% rise in fall-related injuries.
6. Poor Pain Control
Inadequate pain management among orthopedic surgery patients in the post-operative unit has resulted in uncontrolled pain levels, as evidenced by 40% of patients reporting pain scores of 7/10 or higher.
7. Readmissions After Discharge
Unclear discharge instructions among heart failure patients in the cardiology unit have resulted in higher readmission rates, as evidenced by a 35% 30-day readmission rate.
8. Pressure Injuries
Increased pressure injury incidence among long-term care residents in the skilled nursing unit has resulted in worsening wound severity, as evidenced by rates nearly doubling over the past year.
Mental Health Nursing Examples
These statements look at behavioral health issues like depression screening and crisis care.
9. Early Readmissions
High relapse frequency among adults with severe depression in the outpatient mental health clinic has resulted in elevated readmission rates, as evidenced by a 28% 30-day readmission rate.
10. Missed Suicide Screenings
Low suicide-risk screening compliance among adolescents in the inpatient psychiatric unit has resulted in missed high-risk cases, as evidenced by a screening rate of 62% compared to the 90% goal.
11. Medication Nonadherence
Poor medication adherence among patients with bipolar disorder in the behavioral health program has resulted in increased relapse episodes, as evidenced by adherence levels slightly above 50%.
12. Crisis Wait Times
Extended wait times for crisis evaluation among walk-in mental health patients have resulted in increased agitation and delayed stabilization, as evidenced by an average wait time of 2.5 hours compared to the 60-minute safety threshold.
Pediatric Nursing Examples
13. Asthma Exacerbations
Increased asthma-related ER visits among children aged 5–12 in the pediatric emergency department have resulted in higher rates of acute exacerbations, as evidenced by an 18% rise in visits within one year.
14. Rising Childhood Obesity
Increasing obesity prevalence among children aged 6–10 in the Brookfield School District has resulted in higher long-term health risks, as evidenced by rates rising from 15% to 19% over five years.
15. Low Vaccination Rates
Incomplete vaccination status among toddlers in the clinic’s service area has resulted in greater vulnerability to preventable diseases, as evidenced by a 74% vaccination rate compared to the 91% national average.
16. Neonatal Hypothermia
Temperature instability among newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit has resulted in increased hypothermia incidents, as evidenced by a 12% occurrence rate compared to the 5% safety target.
Maternity & OB Nursing Examples
These examples look at safety for moms and babies during and after pregnancy.
17. Postpartum Hemorrhage
Rising postpartum hemorrhage rates among women delivering vaginally in the maternity unit have resulted in increased maternal complications, as evidenced by rates increasing from 2.5% to 4.1% over 18 months.
18. Missed Prenatal Visits
Low prenatal visit adherence among pregnant women in the Southside community clinic has resulted in increased pregnancy-related risks, as evidenced by only 68% attending required visits.
19. Gestational Diabetes Knowledge Gaps
Insufficient diet education among postpartum women with gestational diabetes in the maternity clinic has resulted in poor blood sugar control, as evidenced by a 40% knowledge gap on dietary requirements.
20. Post-C-Section Infections
Elevated surgical site infections among women recovering from C-sections in the obstetric unit have resulted in delayed recovery, as evidenced by a 3.5% infection rate exceeding national benchmarks.
Community Health Examples
Community nursing looks at the big picture outside the hospital walls.
21. Rural Immunization Gaps
Low childhood immunization rates among children in rural Lakeview communities have resulted in increased outbreak risk, as evidenced by a vaccination rate of 72%.
22. Undiagnosed Hypertension
High rates of undetected hypertension among adults screened by the mobile outreach clinic have resulted in delayed treatment initiation, as evidenced by 46% of screened individuals being previously unaware of their condition.
23. Persistent Smoking Rates
Continued tobacco use among adults in Maple County has resulted in elevated community health risks, as evidenced by a 21% smoking rate exceeding national averages.
24. Waterborne Illness
Increased exposure to contaminated water among residents in the Riverside region has resulted in higher rates of waterborne illness, as evidenced by a 30% increase following the rainy season.
ICU & Critical Care Examples
In the ICU, small errors can have huge consequences.
25. Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Rising pneumonia incidence among ventilated patients in the ICU has resulted in prolonged hospitalization, as evidenced by rates increasing from 1.5 to 3.2 cases per 1,000 ventilator days.
26. ICU Delirium
High delirium prevalence among mechanically ventilated patients in the surgical ICU has resulted in extended hospital stays, as evidenced by a 35% delirium rate.
27. Sepsis Mortality
Elevated sepsis mortality among surgical ICU patients has resulted in poorer clinical outcomes, as evidenced by a 28% mortality rate exceeding the 21% national average.
Oncology Nursing Examples
Cancer care is complex, and timing is everything. These Nursing Problem Statement Examples highlight issues with delays and infection control.
28. Chemotherapy Delays
Medication supply shortages among breast cancer patients in the oncology infusion center have resulted in delayed chemotherapy treatments, as evidenced by 20% of sessions being postponed.
29. Port-a-Cath Infections
Increased central line infections among leukemia patients using port-a-caths in the oncology unit have resulted in greater infection-related complications, as evidenced by infection rates rising from 0.9% to 2.4%.
30. Delayed Palliative Care Referrals
Late palliative care referral among eligible cancer patients in the oncology program has resulted in delayed symptom management, as evidenced by only 58% receiving referrals within three months of diagnosis.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Nursing Problem Statement
Even strong nursing students slip into predictable patterns that weaken their problem statements. Recognizing these mistakes early helps you write a clear, evidence-based foundation for your capstone, QI, or research project.
1. Being Too Vague or Broad
Statements like “patients are not receiving proper care” do not tell the reader what, where, who, or how often. They are too general to guide a focused project.
A strong problem statement is specific and measurable.
- Weak: “Nurses are overwhelmed in the hospital.”
- Stronger: “Nurse-to-patient ratios in the medical-surgical unit frequently exceed 1:7, leading to a 22% increase in medication errors.”
If your reader cannot see who, where, and how big the problem is, your statement is too vague.
2. Identifying More Than One Problem at a Time
Sometimes students try to pack everything into one sentence—falls, infections, staffing shortages, and communication issues.
This confuses the purpose of the research and makes the project impossible to manage.
A problem statement should focus on one central issue.
Choose one primary problem. Related issues can go in the background section, not the statement itself.
3. Including the Solution in the Problem Statement
This is one of the most common errors. Students often jump straight to what they think will fix the issue.
- Incorrect: “Telehealth follow-ups are needed because patients don’t understand discharge instructions.”
- Correct: “Thirty-five percent of heart failure patients are readmitted within 30 days due to unclear discharge instructions.”
Solutions belong later—in your PICOT question, intervention plan, or project design.
The problem statement describes the issue; the PICOT and project describe the solution.
4. Missing Evidence or Data
Without evidence, the statement becomes a personal opinion instead of an academic claim.
Academic nursing writing requires proof that the issue is:
- real
- measurable
- significant
Use incident reports, QI dashboards, EMR data, or credible national benchmarks.
If you cannot show data, your “problem” may just be a perception.
5. Using Emotional or Judgmental Language
Avoid wording that sounds like blame, such as:
- “Nurses don’t care enough to complete documentation.”
- “Patients refuse to cooperate.”
A problem statement must remain neutral and fact-based.
Use objective descriptions instead:
- “Incomplete documentation increased by 25%.”
- “Medication adherence is below 50%.”
Stick to facts and numbers, not emotions or blame.
6. Missing the Population or Setting
A problem without a clear population and location is incomplete.
- Weak: “Infection rates are increasing.”
- Strong: “Catheter-associated infections among older adults in the medical-surgical unit increased by 15% last year.”
Your reader should instantly know who is affected and where this is happening.
Always include population + setting + trend or impact.
7. Using Unmeasurable Language
Avoid vague words like “many,” “often,” “a lot,” or “frequently.” They cannot be evaluated in a QI or research project.
Instead, use measurable language:
- “Increased by 18%…”
- “Below the national benchmark of 90%…”
- “Readmission rate is 35%…”
If you cannot count it, you cannot track improvement.
Once you clearly identify the problem, the next step in evidence-based practice is transforming that problem into a researchable question. The most common tool for doing this is the PICOT framework. PICOT helps you move from identifying a clinical issue to designing a study or intervention that can address it.
PICOT and the Nursing Problem Statement
A great problem statement and a PICOT question are best friends. You can turn one into the other easily.
Why does this matter? PICOT is the gold standard for creating research questions in Evidence-Based Practice (EBP).
What does PICOT stand for?
- P – Population (Who?)
- I – Intervention (What do you want to do?)
- C – Comparison (What are you doing now?)
- O – Outcome (What result do you want?)
- T – Timeframe (How long will it take?)
Transforming a Problem into a PICOT
The Problem Statement: Catheter infections (CAUTIs) in the medical-surgical unit increased by 15% last year.
The PICOT Conversion:
- P: Adult patients with catheters.
- I: Daily checks to see if the catheter is still needed.
- C: No daily checks (current practice).
- O: Lower infection rates.
- T: Over 6 months.
The Resulting Question: “In adult patients with catheters (P), how does checking necessity daily (I) compared to no checks (C) affect infection rates (O) over 6 months (T)?”.
Problem Statement vs. NANDA vs. Research Question
Many nursing students mix up a problem statement, a NANDA diagnosis, and a research question because they all describe “problems” in different ways. However, each serves a very different purpose in clinical reasoning and academic writing. The chart below clarifies how these three elements relate to one another.
| Element | Purpose | Focus | Example |
| Problem Statement | Identifies a real clinical/system issue requiring investigation | Population, setting, impact | “Pressure injuries increased by 12%…” |
| NANDA Diagnosis | Guides individual patient care | Patient-based needs | “Risk for infection related to catheter” |
| Research Question | Directs the study or project | Intervention + outcome | “How does… affect… over 6 months?” |
Conclusion
Writing a nursing problem statement isn’t just busy work. It is the foundation of your entire project. A clear, data-driven statement ensures your work is focused and credible.
With the five-step method, the template, and the 30 examples we covered, you now have the tools to turn a vague idea into a solid research topic in minutes. Whether you are writing a capstone paper or a grant proposal, remember: make it specific, back it with evidence, and the rest of your project will follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long should a nursing problem statement be? Keep it short! One or two sentences is perfect. It needs to be punchy but include the population and the impact.
2. Can it be a question? No. A problem statement is a declaration (a statement of fact). The research question is the part that asks something.
3. Do I need citations? Yes! If you mention statistics, benchmarks, or past studies, you need to cite your source. This proves the problem is real.
4. Can I reuse an old problem statement? You can, but you must update the data. A problem from two years ago might not be a problem anymore.
