NURSING

Research for nursing

Papers a nurse can act on, across critical and emergency care, medical-surgical, mental health, paediatrics and neonatal, maternity, older adults, community and primary care, and oncology and palliative care. Each is read in full rather than from its abstract.

10,756 PAPERS · PAGE 150 OF 216 · NEWEST FIRST

• RNSurvey2024The Association Between an Electronic Health Record (EHR)-Embedded Frailty Index and Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Patients with Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer on Immunotherapy: A Brief Report.The American journal of hospice & palliative careAmong patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer on immunotherapy, pre-frail and frail patients reported more pain and worse physical function than fit patients. Overall quality of life, treatment goals, and palliative care referrals did not differ by frailty.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2024The meaning of health to persons aging with longstanding multiple sclerosis.Research in nursing & healthPeople aging with MS valued health as function and adaptation more than absence of disease. Over 26 years, agreement with both definitions declined slightly, but self-rated health remained largely stable. Wellness-focused views linked to more health behaviors.
• RNQualitative2024Uncovering Patient and Caregiver Goals for Goal-Concordant Care in Kidney Therapy Decisions.The American journal of hospice & palliative careOlder kidney patients and caregivers prioritized current quality of life, feared dialysis burdens, and often deferred decisions. Many patients had not discussed hopes, goals, or fears with nephrologists, primary care physicians, spouses or partners, or clergy.
• RNOther2024Palliative Care for the Elderly With Heart Diseases in Tertiary Health care: A Concept Analysis.The American journal of hospice & palliative carePalliative care for elderly heart failure patients is often delayed until end-of-life, missing the opportunity to improve symptom control and quality of life earlier in the disease trajectory. Nurses and teams should integrate palliative care alongside cardiac treatment from diagnosis.
• RNSurvey2023Self-disclosure in Adult Patients With Cancer: Structural Equation Modeling.Cancer nursingIn adults with cancer, more disclosure of cancer information and feelings was associated with greater perceived support and better well-being. Negative cancer beliefs were associated with less disclosure and lower support.
• RNSystematic Review2023A Systematic Review of Interventions for Obesity Among Adults With Food Insecurity.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingOnly five trials tested weight loss interventions in adults with obesity and food insecurity, and results were mixed. Counseling helped some, but food subsidies alone did not reliably cause weight loss. Clinicians cannot yet recommend a specific effective strategy for this population.
• RNQualitative2023The Complexity of Being a Parent in the Hospital and a Patient at Home: A Qualitative Study on Parenting Concerns and Challenges Among Parents With Cancer.Cancer nursingParents with cancer put children first, hid distress, felt guilt when fatigue blocked parenting, and feared missing their children's futures. Ask about parenting role, communication with children, and who can help at home.
• RNSurvey2023Dignity, Resilience, and Quality of Life in Patients With Cardiac Disease: A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling Approach.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingDignity and resilience were linked to health-related quality of life in 101 patients with heart disease. Resilience was partly involved in the association between dignity and quality of life.
• RNSurvey2023Identification of Core Symptom Cluster in Patients With Digestive Cancer: A Network Analysis.Cancer nursingDistress was the most common and most connected symptom in patients with digestive cancer, linked with sadness and numbness. Poor appetite was the most severe. Higher stage and concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy were linked to worse overall symptoms.
• RNOther2025Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Testing of the Portuguese Version of the Iceland-Family Illness Beliefs Questionnaire.Journal of family nursingA Portuguese questionnaire for parents of children with chronic illness was acceptable and consistent over time. It can help nurses ask families about beliefs that shape coping.
• RNPilot2025Implementation of the e-IPOS in Home Palliative Cancer Care: A Quasiexperimental Pilot Study.The American journal of hospice & palliative careAdvanced cancer patients at home completed 82.5% of planned weekly electronic symptom assessments, and 96.9% were complete. In the intervention group, symptom scores decreased over 4 weeks and unscheduled visits were fewer, but quality of life did not change.
• RNOther2025Nursing staff adherence to guidelines on nutritional management for critically ill patients with cancer: A service evaluation.Nursing in critical careMost patients in this ICU did not receive enteral nutrition within 48 hours, often because surgeons preferred parenteral feeding. Nurses interrupted feeds for reasons not supported by guidelines. This is a service evaluation of one centre, not evidence of a treatment effect.
• RNOther2025A Mixed Methods Analysis of Standardized Documentation of Serious Illness Conversations Within an Electronic Health Record Module During Hospitalization.The American journal of hospice & palliative careFirst standardized documentation of a serious-illness conversation was recorded for 59 hospitalized patients with mean age 82; 49 listed other physical suffering as a worry, 36 listed pain, 52 hoped for comfort, 27 for home, and 18 died within 6 months.
• RNQualitative2024Resident and Caregiver Dyads Talk About Death and Dying in Assisted Living: A Typology of Communication Behaviors.The American journal of hospice & palliative careOnly 4 of 15 assisted-living resident-caregiver dyads talked openly about death. Others blocked, avoided, or could not discuss it. Some residents tried to open talks, such as by reading obituaries, but were shut down.
• RNNarrative Review2024Pediatric Oncology Hospice: A Comprehensive Review.The American journal of hospice & palliative carePediatric oncology hospice lacks standardized guidelines, creating uncertainty in care delivery. Nurses are identified as central to daily management, but staffing shortages directly reduce family quality of life. Home-based care is preferred but often inaccessible due to financial and cultural barriers.
• RNSystematic Review2024The Perspective of Cancer Patients in Palliative Care on Unmet Needs: A Qualitative Synthesis Using Meta-Ethnography.The American journal of hospice & palliative carePalliative cancer patients feared pain more than death, wanted clear information, continuity, help without pity, spiritual support, and accessible out-of-hours care. Ask directly about these unmet needs.
• PTRNCohort2024Worse Depression Profiles Are Associated With Higher Symptom Burden and Poorer Quality of Life in Patients With Gynecologic Cancer.Cancer nursingWorse depression profiles were associated with higher anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain, and poorer quality of life among patients with gynecologic cancer receiving chemotherapy. Nurses can use these patterns to target screening and referrals.
• PTOTRNQualitative2024Qualitative Description of Exercise Perceptions and Experiences Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the High-Intensity Exercise to Attenuate Limitations and Train Habits Study.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingMost older adults with HIV stopped exercising due to practical life changes like relocation or cost, but their current barriers were physical pain, fatigue, and medication side effects. Providers often encouraged activity, but participants frequently perceived this advice as pressure rather than support.
• RNOther2024Changes in Symptom Clusters Among Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors in Technology-Based Coaching Intervention.Cancer nursingAsian American breast cancer survivors kept three symptom clusters over 12 weeks, but the symptoms inside them changed. Nurses should screen for mood, nervousness, dry mouth, cough, fatigue, and skin changes, not assume one fixed cluster.
• RNCohort2024The Impact of Hospice Care Structures on Care Processes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.The American journal of hospice & palliative careHospices with palliative reasoning documentation or structured multidisciplinary meetings had more documented care processes for end-of-life patients, especially in the first 72 hours. This reflects documentation, not proof of better patient outcomes.
• RNCohort2024Higher Levels of Multiple Types of Stress Are Associated With Worse State Anxiety and Morning Fatigue Profiles in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.Cancer nursingPatients with high anxiety and morning fatigue had higher stress, lower resilience, and more trauma history than those with low symptoms. Nurses should screen for adverse childhood experiences and cancer-related distress to identify patients needing psychosocial support.
• RNMeta-Analysis2024Risk Factors for Postoperative Delirium in Patients Undergoing Major Head and Neck Cancer Surgery: A Meta-analysis.Cancer nursingMale sex, age older than 70 years, smoking history, psychiatric history, higher ASA score, higher preoperative albumin, postoperative insomnia, and greater intraoperative fluid intake were linked with more postoperative delirium; operative time, hemoglobin, and pain were not.
• RNOther2024Diet Quality Mediates the Relationship Between Chronic Stress and Inflammation in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingIn metabolic syndrome, higher chronic stress was linked to worse diet quality and, through diet quality, to higher inflammation. Stress itself was not linked to inflammation once diet quality was considered.
• RNCohort2025Automating sedation state assessments using natural language processing.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingTranscribed speech from 82 sedated radiology patients was sorted into pain and movement states. The best model still made errors. This points to a documentation prompt that needs nurse confirmation, not a complete record.
• RNOther2025Prevalence, risk factors and impact of delirium in adult inpatients in a tertiary care hospital: A point prevalence study.Journal of clinical nursingOn one day, 27 of 390 adult inpatients had delirium. ICU and intermediate care were highest at 28.0%. Only 19 of 27 identified cases were coded. Older age, many medications and diagnoses were common in delirium.
• RNCohort2025Inter-rater reliability in the assessment of consciousness in patients receiving palliative care in intensive care: A prospective cross sectional observational study.Nursing in critical careThe nurses' total GCS scores only partly matched researchers' scores in 42 palliative ICU patients. A single bedside consciousness rating may not be interchangeable.
• RNCohort2024Examining suicide risk in sexual and gender minority youth: A descriptive observational study on depressive symptoms, social support and self-esteem.Journal of clinical nursingSexual minority youth had higher suicide-risk scores than heterosexual cisgender peers. Bullying, anxiety and depression were also linked to suicide risk, while family support was lower.
• RNPilot2024Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Wireless Limited Polysomnography to Capture Sleep Before, During, and After Hospitalization for Patients With Planned Cardiothoracic Surgery.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingA wireless head-mounted sleep monitor captured high-quality signals before, in the ICU, and after cardiothoracic surgery. Patients and ICU staff found it acceptable, and staff reported no interference with care.
• RNOther2024Integrating genomics into Canadian oncology nursing policy: Insights from a comparative policy analysis.Journal of advanced nursingUS and UK nursing genomics policies rely on strong leadership, interdisciplinary networks, and government funding. Canada lacks this infrastructure, creating a gap in preparing oncology nurses for genomic care, equity issues, and ethical legal risks.
• RNOther2024Design of a Multiple-Behavior Change Intervention for Supporting Self-management in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: An Intervention Mapping Approach.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingDevelopment testing found a nurse-delivered heart failure programme targeting medication and physical activity feasible and acceptable, but it has not been shown to improve patient outcomes.
• RNSurvey2024Implications of Cardiac Scarring on Body Image Disturbance Among Young Adults With Congenital Heart Defects.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingYoung adults with congenital heart disease and cardiac surgery scars reported low body image concern on average, but higher concern was linked to more anxiety and depression and was greater in women.
• RNSurvey2024Social Support Is Protective Against the Effects of Discrimination on Parental Mental Health Outcomes.Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses AssociationPerinatal parents' discrimination scores were not linked to each other's stress or depression. Each parent's own discrimination was associated with more stress and depression; emotional support was the strongest social support factor linked to lower symptoms.
• RNSystematic Review2024Psychosocial Distress Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Scoping Review.Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health servicesStigma, discrimination, violence, incarceration and money problems were linked to distress in young men who have sex with men, and distress was linked to risky behavior, lower medication adherence and detectable viral load.
• RNSurvey2024Empowerment Moderates the Relationship Between Partner Abuse and Suicidal Ideation for Immigrant Women.Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health servicesAfter including background factors, empowerment did not clearly buffer the link between partner abuse and suicidal thoughts in 293 immigrant women. Still, 62.8% reported suicidal thoughts, and higher empowerment was linked to fewer thoughts.
• RNRCT2024Perceived family-centered care and post-traumatic stress in parents of infants cared for in the paediatric cardiac intensive care unit.Nursing in critical careParents who felt nurses consistently delivered family-centred care during their infant's cardiac ICU stay reported fewer post-traumatic stress symptoms four months later. Higher perceptions of care were linked to less severity and fewer symptoms, suggesting consistent nurse engagement may protect parental mental health.
• RNSurvey2024Indonesian nurses' awareness and application of reasonable adjustments when caring for people with intellectual disability and/or autism.International nursing reviewMost Indonesian nurses surveyed were unfamiliar with reasonable adjustments for patients with intellectual disability or autism, and nearly half never applied them. Nurses with specific education or clinical experience in these conditions were significantly more likely to use adjustments.
• RNSystematic Review2024Experiences of postpartum Chinese women undergoing confinement practices: A qualitative meta-synthesis.International journal of nursing practicePostpartum Chinese women often saw confinement as essential, but restrictions, caregiver conflicts and motherhood duties were described as stressors. They wanted spousal, peer, family and professional support, especially from nurses who understood the practice.
• RNCohort2024Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Quality Mediate the Relationship Between Race and Quality of Life Among Patients With Heart Failure: A Serial Multiple Mediator Model.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingRace itself showed no direct link to quality of life, but Black patients with heart failure reported higher depressive symptoms and poorer sleep quality, and both were linked to worse quality of life.
• RNQualitative2024Parkinson's Disease Carepartners' Perceptions of the Challenges and Rewards of Caregiving.The American journal of hospice & palliative careFamily carepartners of people with Parkinson's disease said unpredictability was hardest, but many rejected "burden," saw caregiving as partnership, and found satisfaction, joy, and personal growth.
• RNQualitative2025Being Seen as a Unique Person is Essential in Palliative Care at Home and Nursing Homes: A Qualitative Study With Patients and Relatives.The American journal of hospice & palliative carePatients and relatives in palliative care identified three essentials: being seen as a unique person, receiving proactive information, and ensuring continuity. They valued personal attention and a consistent point of contact over purely clinical tasks.
• RNNarrative Review2025Best practices for iatrogenic anaemia prevention in the intensive care unit: Blood-sparing techniques.Nursing in critical careICU blood-sparing devices reduce blood lost during testing, but did not clearly prevent anaemia or reduce transfusions. Closed sampling systems may be easier than small tubes, so use them with protocols limiting unnecessary tests.
• RNOther2025Documentation of social determinants of health across individuals from different racial and ethnic groups in home healthcare.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingHome health nurses and therapists documented more social risks for Black, Hispanic, and Native American patients than for White patients. Differences were largest for housing, economic status, and access to care. The study does not show whether this reflects real disparities or documentation bias.
• RNQualitative2025'I've just got to take that risk and have faith . . .': The challenge of gaining and maintaining trust in patients undergoing knee surgery with a regional anaesthetic.Journal of perioperative practicePatients having knee surgery under regional anaesthetic often trusted the hospital and profession more than the surgeon they had not met. That trust helped them consent. Standard protocols and mismatched explanations could weaken it.
• RNQualitative2025"Dual Pandemics": Intersecting Influences of Anti-Black Racism and the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Black Youth.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresBlack youth in Canada described repeated media exposure to police violence and racism as tied to grief, trauma, fear and anger. They said pandemic isolation and these events together worsened stress, and that short-lived online support felt inadequate.
• RNCohort2024The Association of Unmet Palliative Care Needs and Physical Frailty With Clinical Outcomes: A Prospective Study of Adults With Heart Failure.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingHigher patient-reported palliative care needs and physical frailty were each linked with worse heart failure quality of life and more 6-month hospitalizations or deaths. The combination identified the lowest quality-of-life group.
• RNOther2024Evaluation of different screening tools for detection of malnutrition in hospitalised patients.Journal of clinical nursingUsing the ESPEN malnutrition definition, 20.2% of hospitalised patients were malnourished. MUST was the best overall screen, but it required usual weight; MNA-SF caught nearly all older patients but flagged many false alarms.
• RNQualitative2024The Involvement of Caregivers in the End-of-life Care of an Older Adult Living in a Long-term Care Home: A Qualitative Case Study with Nurses and Relatives.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresCare partners and nurses described end-of-life involvement as more than decisions: visits, monitoring symptoms, mouth care, mobilizing, and receiving clear updates. Preferences varied widely, and nurses often inferred wishes rather than asking.
• RNQualitative2024Pursuit of Equity: Women on a Low Income Navigating Access to Health and Social Services in Canada.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresFive low-income women described health and social services as a maze: providers dismissed pain and needs, while community agencies and pets gave practical help, emotional support, and belonging.
• RNQualitative2024The Construction of Peer Support Among Recently Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients.Cancer nursingNewly diagnosed breast cancer patients said they needed someone who had been through it to listen, without burdening family. They described peer support as making them feel understood and safer, but timing and trust were fragile.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2025Inpatients' experiences of falls: A qualitative meta-synthesis.Journal of advanced nursingPatients who fell in hospital often misjudged their balance, avoided calling nurses, and could not find or reach the call bell. They then feared walking independently. Ask why they did not call for help.