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 198 OF 216 · NEWEST FIRST

• RNMeta-Analysis2025Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on sleep quality and insomnia severity index in women with menopausal insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Women's health nursing (Seoul, Korea)Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia significantly improved sleep quality and reduced insomnia severity in menopausal women. Remote delivery was as effective as face-to-face sessions, and benefits persisted for more than 25 weeks after treatment ended.
• RNQualitative2026Sensitive listening of women-mothers caring for children with cancer about self-care.Revista brasileira de enfermagemSixteen mothers caring for children with cancer described neglecting their own health, feeling anxious, exhausted, and financially strained. They valued faith, family, support networks, and wanted staff to listen and offer psychological support.
• OTRNSystematic Review2026How Housing Influences Nursing Home Utilization in the United States: An Integrative Review.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHousing cost, ownership, and accessibility were associated with long-term nursing home use in U.S. studies. Renters were more likely to enter nursing homes than homeowners. Affordable housing and home modifications were associated with community transitions.
• RNCohort2026Intermittent Catheters With Integrated Features Designed to Reduce the Risk of Urinary Tract Infection: Findings From the Continence Care Registry, a Multinational, Observational, Longitudinal Study.Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses SocietyIn 32 adults using intermittent self-catheterization, catheters with integrated protective features were associated with significantly lower UTI risk, better quality of life, and higher satisfaction than standard catheters without these features.
• RNQualitative2026Parents' Perspectives of Child-Centred Care: A Qualitative Study With Parents After Paediatric Intensive Care Units Discharge.Nursing in critical careParents after paediatric intensive care discharge said safety came from timely, clear information, continuity with nurses, and a welcoming place to stay. When they felt safe, they could be mentally present and partner in their child's care.
• RNNarrative Review2026'Aint We Women?' A Narrative Review of Intensive and Acute Care Experiences of Black Women Through an Intersectional Lens.Nursing in critical careBlack women in US acute and critical care studies reported delayed access, dismissed pain, mistrust and worse outcomes. Nurses should ask about identity, culture and family concerns, and check whether standard assessments may not recognise their expressions.
• PTOTRNQualitative2026Identifying Candidate Predictors of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries among Adult, Medical-Surgical Patients Using Clinical Expert Knowledge: A Delphi Study.Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses SocietyA panel of 16 clinicians agreed that 132 of 205 concepts are important for assessing pressure injury risk. Activity, age, mobility, moisture, skin condition, friction and shear, and repositioning reached 100% agreement. These are expert opinions on what to look for, not tested predictors.
• RNQualitative2026Nurses' Experiences of Caring for Children on Long-Term Mechanical Ventilation.Nursing in critical careNurses on general paediatric wards felt insecure managing children on long-term home ventilation due to unfamiliar equipment and high parental expectations. They relied on parents' expertise to build trust, but struggled when support from specialist teams was unavailable.
• RNOther2026Impact of the 'Reserved Therapeutic Space' Nursing Intervention on Acute Mental Health Inpatients' Perceptions of the Therapeutic Relationship, Quality of Care, Perceived Coercion and Length of Stay: A Multicentre Quasi-Experimental Trial.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursingNurses using a 'Reserved Therapeutic Space' intervention saw patients report stronger therapeutic relationships, higher perceived quality of care, and less coercion. Length of stay also decreased, with patients in the intervention group discharged faster than those in usual care units.
• RNOther2026The Sense of Security and Associated Factors Among Older Home Care Clients: A Register Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesAmong 5,759 older Finnish home care clients, 23% lacked a sense of security. Younger age, male gender, no recent falls, no housing deficiencies and strong family support were linked to feeling more secure.
• RNSurvey2026Positive Experiences of Seriously ill Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Persons and Their Partners With Healthcare Providers: Project Respect.The American journal of hospice & palliative careSeriously ill LGBTQ+ patients and partners described good care as providers who were easy to talk with, used correct pronouns, included partners respectfully, and used inclusive intake forms. Virtually all who reported positive care also reported disrespectful or inadequate care.
• RNCohort2026Chronic adrenocortical activity and onset of Takotsubo syndrome.European journal of cardiovascular nursingHair cortisol was twice as high in 59 Takotsubo patients than in historical controls, but it did not track reported triggers or predict post-discharge psychological distress.
• RNQualitative2026Using Complex Interventions to Develop Programme Theory for a Family-Focused Model of Telepalliative Care.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesPatients, families and palliative care staff described video consultations as flexible and useful for including distant relatives, but many preferred face-to-face visits for first meetings, bad news or serious treatment decisions. It is theory-building, not evidence that video care improves outcomes.
• RNCohort2026Self-care and fatigue in individuals hospitalized with decompensated heart failure during the covid-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemHeart failure self-care scores were not linked to how tired patients felt or how much fatigue limited them among 132 patients hospitalized for decompensated heart failure. Most had inadequate self-care maintenance and management before admission and were very or extremely tired last week.
• RNMeta-Analysis2026The Effect of Reflexology on Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Open Heart Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.The journal of nursing research : JNRPostoperative reflexology was associated with lower self-reported anxiety across 8 randomized trials in 485 open-heart surgery patients, but trials varied widely and some were medium quality, so it cannot be treated as proven relief.
• RNCohort2026Emergency Department Presentations for Mental Health Crisis: Comparing ED-Only Care With Transfer to a Crisis Stabilisation Unit.International journal of mental health nursingAdults transferred to a crisis stabilisation unit spent less time in the emergency department before transfer, but they did not return to the emergency department less often than adults who stayed there.
• RNCohort2026Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in cancer patients: an observational study at an Oncology reference hospital from southeastern Brazil.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemBefore first chemotherapy, 84 cancer patients had baseline risk signs: high C-reactive protein in 30, abnormal ECG tracing in 10, and high troponin in 1. Links between drug combinations, inflammation, and tracing changes were mostly absent.
• RNMeta-Analysis2026An Examination of Factors Affecting Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy: A Meta-Analysis.The American journal of nursingPatients with chronic constipation, diabetes, or who used opioids were far more likely to have inadequate bowel prep. A non-watery last stool and a delay over five hours before the procedure also strongly predicted poor cleansing.
• RNNarrative Review2026Narrative Review of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Impact on American Indian/Alaska Native Communities.Nursing openTelehealth and take-home methadone were reported as increasing access for some patients, but AI/AN people were rarely identified and technology, housing and state implementation gaps remained.
• RNSystematic Review2026A mixed methods systematic review of cancer treatment decision-making in vulnerable populations.Patient education and counselingPatient decision aids improved knowledge and reduced decisional conflict for vulnerable cancer patients, but self-administered tools alone were less effective than those integrated into consultations with staff support or visual formats.
• RNCase-Control2026Risk Factors for Pressure Injury in ICU Patients.Nursing openICU patients with co-morbidities, MEWS score of 5 or more, sedative use, Braden nutrition score, skin oedema or faecal incontinence were identified as at higher risk for hospital-acquired pressure injury. Nurses can use these markers to prioritise skin checks and repositioning.
• RNSystematic Review2026Beyond Satisfaction: Person-Centred Care and the Physical Environment Revisited-An Integrative Review.Nursing openHospital design often adds comfort and satisfaction. Safety and staff workflow can override autonomy. Clinicians should look for layouts that support shared decisions, family presence, and equal access to information.
• PTRNQualitative2026Understanding Barriers and Facilitators to Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Participation Among Rural Residents With Cardiovascular Disease in Brazil.Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)Rural patients with heart disease or risk factors lacked knowledge about cardiac rehabilitation; 15 named it as a barrier, 20 reported no referral, and 16 struggled with phones or apps. They also feared exercising alone.
• RNOther2026Patient and clinician engagement with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI): A scoping review of implications for patient-centered communication.Patient education and counselingGenAI may save clinicians documentation time and help patients understand test results, but its answers vary in accuracy, relevance and reading level. Patients may expect clinicians to check AI output, so use it cautiously.
• RNSurvey2026Assessing Discharge Readiness and Influencing Factors Among Patients with Aortic Dissection: A Cross-Sectional Study.The American journal of nursingPatients recovering after aortic dissection surgery reported only moderate discharge readiness. Older adults, lower education, rural residence, lower family income, and recurrent dissection were associated with lower readiness.
• RNCohort2026Hair Cortisol as a Biomarker of Chronic Stress in Community-Dwelling Adults With Longstanding Multiple Sclerosis.Western journal of nursing researchMailed hair samples were returned by 59.6% of consenting adults with longstanding MS; 84.4% were eligible for cortisol analysis, but cortisol did not track reported stress.
• RNOther2026Caregiver outcomes related to sleep disturbances in persons living with cognitive impairment.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Caregivers of people with cognitive impairment had more depression when they reported poorer sleep quality in the person they cared for. Reported sleep-related impairment was linked to worse mastery, and less daytime sleepiness to more burden.
• RNSystematic Review2026Patient Engagement Interventions to Improve Medication Management of Older Patients Across Transitions of Care: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review.Journal of clinical nursingMedication support interventions for older adults during transitions of care reduced readmissions in pooled trials, but most interventions only informed patients rather than involving them as partners.
• RNOther2026Association of Emergency Department and Medical-Surgical Nurse Staffing on Patient Departures Against Medical Advice.Journal of emergency nursingEach additional patient per ED nurse was associated with a higher likelihood of patients leaving against medical advice. Each additional medical-surgical patient was associated with higher likelihood as well. Staffing load may contribute to patients leaving before recommended care.
• RNSystematic Review2026Advance Care Planning Interventions for Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review.Journal of renal careSome nurse-led ACP conversations with education or peer support increased completed advance directives and surrogate decision-maker identification in adults with CKD. Effects varied across studies, and no single best method was shown.
• RNRCT2026Assessing Electronic Health Record-Derived Outcomes in a Pragmatic Weight Gain Prevention Trial: Effects, Variability, and Implications for Future Trials.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingA digital weight gain prevention program did not show sustained effects on cardiometabolic outcomes. At 6 months, systolic blood pressure was 3.4 mm Hg lower and diastolic blood pressure 2.4 mm Hg lower than usual care, but these differences faded.
• RNSystematic Review2026Barriers Encountered by Migrant Farm Workers When Accessing Health Care Services in Canada: A Scoping Review.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresMigrant farm workers in Canada avoid care due to fear of repatriation, language barriers, and lack of transport. They often self-medicate or delay treatment to keep their jobs, as health coverage is tied to employment status.
• RNOther2026Health Needs and Challenges in Preventing Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Rural Adolescents: Implications for Innovative Health Education.The journal of nursing research : JNRAfter a nurse-led school program, 46.9% of rural adolescents living with smokers reported advising family members, but only 8.1% reported success such as family members smoking outside or quitting.
• RNQualitative2026Menstrual health: an analysis of experiences among school-aged adolescents.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PMost menstruating students in this small school sample felt insecure and missed school during their period, despite having access to pads. They reported shame and stigma from peers, particularly boys, as the main barriers to participation and comfort at school.
• RNQualitative2026Adapting mainstreaming genetic education and clinical communication materials for cancer patients of varying backgrounds.Patient education and counseling61 cancer patients helped adapt genetic testing education materials. They needed cost, timing, plain terms, and clear result types. Haitian Creole speakers found materials effortful. Use patient-reviewed materials and check understanding; standard materials are not assumed adequate.
• RNOther2026The Arabic Control Attitudes Scale-Revised: Method Effect (Negatively Worded Items) and Measurement Invariance as Threats to Its Construct Validity Are Remedied in a 5-Item Version With Improved Performance.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingIn Arabic-speaking patients with heart failure, a 5-item control questionnaire gave a clearer picture of perceived control than the 8-item version. Dropping two negatively worded items and removing another item made scores easier to compare across groups.
• RNSystematic Review2026Factors Associated with Delays in Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Scoping Review.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyAcross 60 studies in low- and middle-income countries, delayed breast cancer diagnosis was linked to distance, cost, scarce mammography, low symptom awareness, fear, stigma, competing priorities, and provider misdiagnosis.
• RNOther2026Anticipated Stigma in Nursing: A Concept Analysis Informed by Cannabis Use Disclosure.Journal of advanced nursingAnticipated stigma is the fear of being judged if cannabis use is disclosed. Nurses may see patients hide use during assessments, risking unsafe medication reconciliation and pain management.
• RNSurvey2026Vaccination Coverage and Factors Associated With Incomplete Vaccination Schedules in Children Under 5 in a Peripheral Area of the Federal District of Brazil.Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)19.75% of children had incomplete schedules, and 82.09% had at least one late dose. Incomplete schedules were more common in children under 2, when vaccines were not all given at the same site, and when caregivers reported pandemic barriers.
• PTOTRNQualitative2026Lived Experience of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Survivors: A Phenomenological Study.Nursing in critical careSome ECMO survivors described lasting weakness, trouble walking, emotional distress and financial burden. Participants wanted clearer rehabilitation advice, and some wanted simpler follow-up and regular contact.
• RNQualitative2026What Do Mothers Want during a High-risk Pregnancy? A Qualitative Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyMothers with high-risk pregnancies wanted to have children, keep daily and marital routines, receive responsive support, and get comprehensive, confidential care without repeated appointments for separate tests.
• RNQualitative2026Iranian men's Perception toward Preconception Care: A Qualitative Content Analysis.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyMen attending Iranian community health centers for preconception care said they knew little, felt services targeted women, and wanted couple-based counseling, trusted information, insurance coverage, and social acceptance.
• RNOther2026Clinical validation of ICNP® Terminological Subset for people with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PHemodialysis patients were grouped into low, moderate and high risk profiles by a nursing terminology set, with matching nursing diagnoses, outcomes and interventions. It supports standardized nursing records, but does not prove better patient care.
• RNQualitative2026Humanization of care in Primary Health Care: social representations of people with pulmonary tuberculosis.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PPeople with pulmonary tuberculosis in primary care described humanized care as being listened to and treated without arrogance. Small spaces, few chairs, and missing resources were seen as obstacles, and disrespectful care could make them abandon treatment.
• RNQualitative2026Lived Experiences of Thai Children Applying Five Love Languages to Promote Emotional Well-Being of Rural Bedridden Older Adults: A Phenomenological Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyChildren described becoming more aware of bedridden older adults' loneliness, offering comfort through touch, presence, and small gestures, and feeling valued through repeated visits. These are their experiences, not evidence that love languages improve older adults.
• RNCohort2026The Prognostic Value of Capillary Refill Time in Patients With Sepsis: A Prospective Cohort Study.Nursing in critical careA nurse-measured capillary refill time after fluid resuscitation may help flag sepsis patients at higher risk of death. It worked as a bedside warning sign, not proof that changing treatment based on it improves outcomes.
• RNCohort2026Exploring the Evolution of Heart Failure Symptoms After Hospitalization and Associations With Social Determinants of Health and Demographic Characteristics.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingDyspnea, fatigue, and anxiety improved by 1 month after discharge and stayed stable through 6 months. Sleep, pain, and depression did not improve overall, so ask about them separately after discharge.
• RNOther2026Identifying Factors Associated With Loneliness in Older United States Veterans: An Ecological Systems Approach.Research in gerontological nursingLoneliness in hospitalized older Veterans is driven by community vulnerability and lack of emotional support, not military history. Widowed Veterans and those living alone had significantly higher odds of loneliness. Clinical care should prioritize assessing perceived emotional support and social isolation over service-connected diagnoses.
• RNPilot2026Feasibility and Acceptability of a Co-Designed Self-Management Programme for People Living With Kidney Failure.Journal of renal careA 12-week nurse-led, co-designed kidney self-management programme was feasible and acceptable: 97% retention, 100% adherence, and 90% rated it valuable. Mean patient activation did not improve, so effectiveness remains unproven.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2026Geriatric Models of Surgical Care: A Scoping Review.Journal of advanced nursingMost models shortened hospital stays, but mortality results were inconsistent. Nurse practitioners performed comprehensive geriatric assessments and coordinated care in 38% of studies. Allied health input appeared in 58% of models, yet functional outcomes and quality of life were rarely measured.