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 204 OF 216 · NEWEST FIRST

• RNOther2026Feet in Peril: Assessment of Feet in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis.Journal of renal careIn 75 haemodialysis patients, 70.6% had at least one foot problem, most often dry/cracked skin, fungal nails, callus, and diabetic foot ulcers. Foot problems were more common in patients aged 51 or older, with diabetes, or hypertension.
• RNCohort2026Factors associated with the interruption of exclusive breastfeeding and weaning in premature infants after hospital discharge: a prospective cohort study.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemPreterm infants' exclusive breastfeeding fell from 71.7% at discharge to 64.6% by 15-30 days. Not being exclusively breastfed at discharge was associated with 6.13 times higher later weaning risk. Nurses can prioritise support before discharge.
• OTRNSurvey2026Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Bathing Care Among Patients with a Stoma and Their Correlations With Quality of Life: A Cross-sectional Study.Advances in skin & wound carePatients with a stoma had moderate bathing knowledge but more affected attitudes and practices. Bathing knowledge, attitude, and practice were linked to quality of life, especially timing, products, leakage, and confidence.
• RNOther2026How Does Symptom Management Affect Quality of Life in Palliative Care Patients? A Descriptive and Correlation Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesPalliative care inpatients had high symptom scores and low quality of life. Pain, breathlessness, fatigue, anxiety, depression and feeling unwell were common. Higher symptom scores were linked to lower quality of life, but no treatment was tested.
• RNRCT2026The Effect of Mandala Colouring on Spiritual and Psychological Well-Being in Family Members Caring for Palliative Care Patients: Experimental Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesFamily carers of palliative care patients who took part in weekly mandala colouring reported higher spiritual and psychological well-being than carers who received no additional intervention.
• OTRNOther2026Healing Steps on Country-Exploring Care Pathways for Aboriginal People in the Kimberley With Diabetes-Related Foot Disease.The Australian journal of rural healthRemote Aboriginal patients with diabetes foot disease had many acute foot-care visits and hospital admissions, but little preventive care. They valued local Aboriginal health services, support people, and self-care, while hospital discharge left some under-informed and under-equipped.
• RNQualitative2026Addressing Older Adults' Sexual Health Needs in Regional Primary Care: A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Enablers.The Australian journal of rural healthSexual health is important to older adults in regional Australia, but conversations with clinicians remain rare and ad-hoc. Patients and clinicians both prefer GPs over nurses for these discussions. Barriers include stigma, lack of privacy in small towns, and time constraints.
• RNOther2026Defining diagnostic disclosure in the acute care setting: A concept analysis.International journal of nursing studiesFull diagnostic disclosure in acute care means a clinician names the diagnosis and explains it to the hospitalized adult. Partial or euphemistic talk is not enough. Nurses can check patient awareness and advocate for a clear disclosure conversation.
• RNQualitative2026Building Research Capacity to Enroll Spanish-Speaking Patients and Families in a Traumatic Brain Injury Transitional Care Intervention.Western journal of nursing researchProviders and interpreters emphasized that transitional care managers must act as cultural brokers, not just translators. They recommended respecting family networks, faith, and regional language nuances to improve engagement for Spanish-speaking patients with traumatic brain injury.
• RNOther2026The development of a situation-specific theory of dynamic interactions for multimorbid dyads in Chinese family culture.International journal of nursing sciencesMultimorbid dyads in Chinese families face a 'double burden' of managing their own and their partner's chronic conditions, but also develop 'double resilience' through mutual empathy. Care must treat the pair as a unit where patient and caregiver roles constantly shift.
• RNSurvey2026Exploring the Patient Engagement in the Healthcare Decision-Making Process and Its Association With Patients' Satisfaction.Nursing openAmong 302 chronic clinic patients, feeling involved in care decisions did not predict satisfaction. Satisfaction was neutral, and dissatisfaction was linked to access, waits, costs and rushed consultations.
• RNSurvey2026Determination of Ontological Well-Being and Self-Compassion Levels in Patients with Mastectomy: A Cross-Sectional Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesIn 96 patients after mastectomy, self-compassion and how positively patients feel about their past, present, and future were only weakly linked. Scores differed by perceived health, family problems, and support. The study cannot show that one caused the other.
• RNQualitative2026Experiences of orthopaedic patients referred from regional hospitals to an intermediate hospital in Namibia: A qualitative study.CurationisPatients referred long distances for orthopaedic care valued the specialist treatment but suffered from isolation and transport stress. Those without local family felt alone, while cramped vehicles and unclear communication added anxiety. Pre-referral information and better transport support were key requests.
• RNNarrative Review2026Exploring the Intersection of Rare Diseases and Mental Health Within the Diagnostic Odyssey: A Narrative Review and Thematic Synthesis.Nursing openPeople living with rare diseases described distress, stigma and fragmented care during the diagnostic odyssey, alongside resilience and hope. Nurses should ask about mental health, explain uncertainty, and coordinate care rather than leaving it to patients.
• RNSystematic Review2026Effectiveness of nurse-led hypertension self-management interventions: A mixed-methods systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of nursing sciencesNurse-led hypertension self-management lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure versus usual care. The reductions were still seen at later follow-up. It also improved knowledge and some health behaviours.
• RNCohort2026Triggers, Responses, and Outcomes for Patient Related Violence and/or Aggression Events During Acute Hospitalisation: A Documentary Analysis.Journal of clinical nursingAcute ward Code Grey calls for patient aggression were often triggered by agitation, wanting to leave, wandering and confusion. Physical and chemical restraint were common responses, while reported injuries were few.
• RNOther2026Association of dietary energy and protein intake with frailty among patients with cirrhosis and implications for nursing practice.International journal of nursing sciencesHigher energy, protein, and animal-protein intake were linked to lower frailty in patients with cirrhosis. Thresholds were 30 kcal/(kg·d) energy and 0.83 g/(kg·d) protein. This is association only, not proof diet prevents frailty.
• RNRCT2026Mindfulness and communication intervention for mothers of children with developmental disabilities in Yangon: A randomized controlled trial on parental stress and problem-solving communication.International journal of nursing sciencesMothers of children with developmental disabilities who added a mindfulness and communication program, including home practice and phone follow-up, to routine daycare services reported lower stress through 12 weeks. Their problem-solving communication did not clearly improve more than routine services over time.
• RNOther2026Application of the best evidence for preventing central venous catheter-related thrombosis in patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy.International journal of nursing sciencesIn ICU patients on continuous renal replacement therapy, an evidence-based catheter-maintenance program was followed by catheter-related thrombosis falling from 28.46% to 15.33%. The study was a before-after, non-synchronous control study, so the drop may reflect several concurrent changes.
• RNQualitative2026Prognostic communication preferences of cancer patients: A hybrid concept analysis.International journal of nursing sciencesCancer patients wanted prognosis talks scheduled, private, understandable, and emotionally supportive. Preferences covered timing, information detail, hope, family involvement, and treatment costs.
• RNQualitative2026Responding to Older Adult Maltreatment: Interdisciplinary Geriatric Care Provider Experiences and Training Needs.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresProviders recognized abuse well but hesitated to report it due to fear of being labeled whistleblowers or losing jobs. They lacked clear knowledge of where to report and felt unsupported by supervisors and large caseloads.
• RNOther2026Oxygen Stewardship in Adult Critical Care: A Quality Improvement Initiative.Nursing in critical careIn an adult ICU, an oxygen weaning and monitoring programme reduced the proportion of patient-days outside target oxygen saturation from 63% to 20%, sustained over 12 months, with lower oxygen use; no clinical outcomes were measured.
• RNRCT2026The Effect of Progressive Relaxation Exercises Applied to Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes on FATIQUE Level and Sleep Quality: A Randomised Controlled Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesPeople with type 2 diabetes who did progressive relaxation reported less fatigue and better sleep over four weeks, but those who received no exercises improved similarly, so the relaxation effect was not clear.
• RNCase-Control2026Predicting Falls With the Morse Fall Scale: A Retrospective Assessment at the Veterans Health Administration.Clinical nursing researchThe Morse Fall Scale poorly identified Veterans who would fall in hospital. Adding comorbidity and mortality scores improved prediction only slightly and still did not separate fallers well.
• RNOther2026Incidence and Risk Factors of Delayed Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting Among Adult Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing openAmong 326 chemotherapy patients, 34.7% reported delayed nausea or vomiting; anxiety, motion sickness and high-emetogenicity chemotherapy were significant risk factors.
• RNQualitative2026Adherence to Self-Management for Chronic Diseases Among Unemployed Jobseekers in Finland-A Qualitative Study.Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesUnemployed jobseekers with chronic illnesses said being heard by professionals, clear instructions, regular nurse follow-up and help with daily routines made managing their conditions easier. Pain, fatigue, money problems, medication fears, long waits and record problems made it harder.
• RNOther2026Time toxicity in chronic disease comorbidity care: A concept analysis using Walker and Avant's approach.International journal of nursing sciencesTime pressure from appointments, medications, travel and costs was described as a persistent burden for patients with multiple chronic conditions, linked to poorer adherence, mood, caregiver strain and quality of life. No tested intervention is shown.
• RNOther2026Effects of family-based nursing interventions on mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy related to stunting prevention in Indonesia: A quasi-experimental study.International journal of nursing sciencesA seven-week family-based nursing program significantly improved mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding stunting prevention. These gains persisted three months after the program ended, suggesting the intervention effectively empowered caregivers within the family context.
• RNSurvey2026Stigma, Perceptions, and Parental Responses to Children's Head Lice Infestation in Greece.The Journal of school healthGreek parents feared peer mockery, school judgment, and shame from head lice. Some linked it to hygiene or biology, but cultural prejudice was low. How often lice occurred was not closely tied to these concerns.
• RNNarrative Review2026Implementing Pain Management Approaches Among Patients With Dementia in an Acute Hospital Setting: A Scoping Review.Nursing openValid pain assessment tools exist for dementia, but using them alone does not reduce pain. Nurses often miss pain-related agitation despite high knowledge scores. Effective care requires embedding assessment in person-centred protocols with training and managerial support.
• RNRCT2026Effects of Early Mobilization Training on Mobility, Pain, Comfort, and Sleep Quality in Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Clinical nursing researchPreoperative early mobilization training increased mobilization time, improved mobility, reduced pain, and enhanced comfort and sleep quality in laparoscopic abdominal surgery patients compared to routine care.
• RNSurvey2026Correlates of Patient and Nurse Missed Care: A Multi-Hospital Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of clinical nursingSurgical inpatients reported missed oral care, body care and mobilization. Nurses reported missed vital sign checks, emotional support and repositioning. Patients with vascular access events reported higher missed care.
• RNSystematic Review2026Updates of the Status Quo of Situation-Specific Theories (2015-2025).Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingThe mapped nursing theories cover heart failure self-care, miscarriage care, end-of-life communication, and other patient transitions. They offer frameworks for nurses, not tested evidence that any care improves patient outcomes.
• RNSurvey2026Discharge Learning Needs and Associated Factors Among Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of clinical nursingCardiac surgery patients rated treatment complications, daily activities, quality of life and medications as the highest discharge learning needs. Women, less-educated and non-working patients reported more needs; men and uninsured patients reported lower needs.
• OTRNQualitative2026Self-Care Experiences and Support Needs of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Multimorbidity: A Qualitative Study Informed by the Caring Life-Course Theory.Journal of clinical nursingEighteen older adults with multimorbidity said self-care was learned through trial and error, not clinic education. They felt emotional needs were overlooked in healthcare and relied on family, peers and online groups.
• RNCohort2026Patterns of Daily Administration of Psychoactive Drug Classes for Distress Behavior in Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn nursing home residents with dementia, antipsychotic and benzodiazepine administration rose sharply around documented distress behavior incidents and persisted 30 days; antidepressant and anti-epileptic classes did not show the same pattern.
• RNRCT2026Exploring older adults' tolerance of uncertainty in colorectal cancer screening decisions.Patient education and counselingNeither tolerance of ambiguity nor tolerance of complexity was linked to older adults' intentions to follow through with colorectal cancer screening. Higher ambiguity tolerance was linked to greater perceived benefit, and tolerance of both types was linked to lower concern about harms.
• SLPRNOther2026Enhanced Moisture-Focused, Nurse-Led Oral Care Improves Oral Health and Suppresses Bacterial Overgrowth in Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study.Nursing in critical careIncreasing moisturising frequency based on oral health scores preserved oral moisture and reduced bacterial overgrowth in intubated patients. This nurse-led, chlorhexidine-free protocol was associated with fewer swallowing problems after extubation and shorter ICU stays compared to standard care.
• RNSystematic Review2026Mental Health Promotion Through Nursing Interventions Focused on Anxiety, Sleep and Well-Being: A Scoping Review.International journal of mental health nursingNursing anxiety and sleep interventions were mapped across 64 studies. Sleep improvement appeared in 32 included studies and anxiety reduction in 25 included studies, but this scoping review cannot show effectiveness.
• RNRCT2026Transition to Virtual Diabetes Self-Management Education Delivery in the Setting of Health Care Disruption for Adults With Diabetes and Their Support Persons.The science of diabetes self-management and careVirtual and hybrid diabetes education allowed continued group participation during pandemic, but care-management call completion fell and support-person attendance rose in the family-focused arm.
• RNOther2026Using Natural Language Processing to Improve Fall Documentation in VA Nursing Home Residents.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn VA nursing homes, a text-mining tool found more falls and exact dates than MDS reports, and found chart-documented falls that MDS missed. Use MDS fall counts cautiously.
• OTRNCohort2026Stage of Disease Among Hospitalized Persons Living With Dementia: A Multisite Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationMost hospitalized dementia patients had moderate dementia, not severe. They were more likely to be older, Black, admitted to general medicine, and diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Severe dementia was rare and may be missed because palliative or hospice patients were excluded.
• RNOther2026Consensus-Based Safety Recommendations for Informal Home Care: A Mixed Methods Study.Research in nursing & healthExperts generated 288 safety recommendations for informal home care, covering tasks like medication storage and fall prevention. These are consensus-based suggestions for future testing, not proven interventions, and have not yet been evaluated for real-world effectiveness or caregiver usability.
• RNQualitative2026Advancing Knowledge Translation Through Cultural Adaptation of an Intervention for Latino Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia Using Participatory Action Research.International journal of nursing practiceLatino family caregivers described learning dementia care by trial and error and lacking Spanish-language training. Adaptation recommendations added dementia education, self-care, hospice concerns, and family participation to a caregiver training programme. It does not test whether the adapted programme works.
• RNCohort2026Enhancing Community-Based Nursing Decision Support: Machine Learning Models for Diabetes Risk Prediction Using Home Health Nursing Notes.Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)A machine learning model analyzing home health nursing notes predicted diabetes risk with high accuracy. Hyperlipidemia, dysuria, and dressing care were strong indicators, offering nurses a potential tool for early detection in home settings.
• RNSystematic Review2026Communication and Medication-Related Deprescribing for Healthcare Professionals: A Rapid Review of the Literature.Worldviews on evidence-based nursingExisting deprescribing tools for older adults rarely give nurses explicit communication guidance. Five strategies were found embedded in frameworks: encouraging participation, active listening, feedback, adapting communication, and shared decision making.
• RNRCT2026Effect of Online Infant Care Education Based on Meleis's Transition Theory on Breastfeeding Success and Discharge Readiness: A Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of nursing practiceFirst-time mothers who received online infant care education during pregnancy had higher postpartum breastfeeding success and discharge readiness scores than controls. The control group also received the materials, and both groups received postpartum breastfeeding training.
• RNCohort2026The Effect of Family Voice Interventions on Delirium Incidence and Duration in Adult ICU Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nursing in critical careFamily voice messages were associated with fewer delirium cases and shorter delirium by 0.90 days. Nurses can consider involving trusted family voices, but dose is unclear and some voices may distress.
• RNNarrative Review2026Indigenous Culture and Health in UDRH Research: An Indigenous-Led Narrative Review.The Australian journal of rural healthCultural safety was central in rural and remote Indigenous health papers, but community engagement and feedback were often missing. Clinicians should ask how care can be community-led, culturally grounded, and reported back to Indigenous patients and families.
• RNNarrative Review2026The Evidence Informing Hypoglycaemia Treatment Thresholds in Asymptomatic, Term, Well Newborns: A Review of Literature and Critical Appraisal of Methodological Challenges.Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant AssociationPublished evidence does not clearly support the commonly used newborn blood glucose treatment threshold for asymptomatic term babies in the first day. Follow-up studies found no clear neurodevelopmental differences, but testing methods and study quality were inconsistent.