The Nursing Shortage is A Multifaceted Issue

What is a Discussion Paper
A discussion paper is a formal discourse or exposition on a topic in which there is an exchange of views culled from the literature. A discussion paper differs from a position paper in that a discussion paper consists of the reasoned defense of your recommendations. In order to offer your own recommendations on an issue, you must present a variety of opinions or recommendations based on the literature. Your goal in writing a discussion paper is to formulate and share your own opinions so that your recommendations are a natural extension of your paper.
Writing a Discussion Paper
There are a variety of things a discussion paper can aim to accomplish. Many features of good discussion writing invite comparison and contrast of specific authors, clinical practice, or different interpretations of a nursing issue, such as telehealth. Discussing the significance of both what is common and what is different will prompt you and the reader to new insights.
A good discussion paper is modest, and makes a small point, but it makes that point clearly and succinctly, and it offers good reasons in support of it. In other words, your paper must offer recommendations. It can't consist in the mere report of your opinions, nor in a mere report of the opinions of the authors you discuss.
A discussion paper usually begins by putting some thesis or argument on the table for consideration. Then it goes on to do one or two of the following:
Criticize that argument; or show that certain arguments for the thesis are no good
Defend the argument or thesis against someone else's criticism
Offer reasons to believe the thesis
Offer counter-examples to the thesis
Contrast the strengths and weaknesses of two opposing views about the thesis
Give examples which help explain the thesis, or which help to make the thesis more plausible
Argue that certain authors are committed to the thesis by their other views, though they do not come out and explicitly endorse the thesis
Discuss what consequences the thesis would have, if it were true
Revise the thesis, in the light of some objection
Your paper has to show some independent thinking. Try to come up with your own arguments, or your own way of elaborating or criticizing or defending some issue we looked at in this course. Merely summarizing what others have said won't be enough.
Proposed Outline of a Discussion Paper
Introduction
Briefly highlight the most salient points of your topic
State your main thesis on the topic for discussion
Background
Provide background information from the literature on your general topic area
Definition and Scope
Provide a definition of your topic Outline the scope of the topic-does this affect all of Canada, or just your province or your health care region? Explain.
How do nurses or the health care system factor into the topic?
Benefits and Challenges
Describe the benefits to nurses or the health care system
Describe the challenges that nurses [or other health care providers] face in this topic
What does the literature say about the benefits and challenges?
Impact and Implications
What is the impact on nurses or the health care system?
How will this affect human resource management?
What other implications do you foresee; what does the literature say about implications?
Recommendations
What do you think needs to be done next?
Who do you think should be involved?
What are the recommendations from the literature?
Would you agree or disagree with the literature and why?
Conclusion
Restate your thesis
Provide a summary of your recommendations
People very often attempt to accomplish too much in a discussion paper. The usual result of this is a paper that's hard to read, and which is full of inadequately defended and poorly explained claims. So don't be over-ambitious. Don't try to establish any earth-shattering conclusions in your paper.
[Reference: Pryor, J. (2004). Guidelines on writing a philosphy paper. Princeton University.]