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.

8,077 PAPERS · PAGE 30 OF 162 · NEWEST FIRST

• RNOther2021Identifying Patterns of Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health at End of Life: A National Study.Journal of hospice and palliative nursing : JHPN : the official journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses AssociationFour patterns of mental health diagnoses were found among children dying in hospice. One group averaged 4.0 mental or behavioral health conditions and 28.8 medications. Nurses should expect detailed mental health assessment and medication review.
• RNQualitative2021Experiences of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A study at Ho Teaching Hospital, Ghana.Nursing openWomen treated with chemotherapy, plus surgery or radiotherapy, described weakness as the most worrying, stopping normal activities. They were told side effects might happen but not how to manage them at home, and financial strain made treatment hard.
• RNSurvey2021School Safety Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: Implications for Eating and Weight Control Behaviors.The Journal of school healthSexual and gender minority adolescents who felt safer at school reported fewer unhealthy weight control behaviors, binge eating, and eating to cope. The link held across identities, but the study cannot show that safety caused fewer behaviors.
• RNSurvey2021Pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional observational descriptive study.Nursing openPregnant women surveyed early in the pandemic reported fear: 95.2% had some fear, and 27.1% reported each specific fear: transplacental infection, loneliness during childbirth, and separation from the newborn after their own infection. Ask about these worries.
• RNPilot2021The impact of COVID-19 in an assisted living community.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Cognition fell one point on a 9-point nurse-assessment scale over 12 months of COVID restrictions in a memory-care assisted living community. Function and behavioral symptoms stayed about the same.
• RNCohort2021Continuous quality improvement of nutrition management during radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Nursing openIn patients receiving radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer, multidisciplinary nutrition management was associated with higher BMI, fewer severe malnutrition ratings, better albumin and prealbumin, and milder oral mucositis than routine care.
• RNOtherLatent Class Analysis of Symptom Burden Among Seriously Ill Adults at the End of Life.Nursing researchLower quality of life and multiple chronic conditions were linked to higher symptom burden in 287 seriously ill palliative-care patients. Older adults were less likely to report high burden, which may reflect underreporting rather than fewer symptoms.
• RNQualitative2022Advance Care Planning Needs in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Qualitative Study.The American journal of hospice & palliative carePatients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, caregivers and clinicians said advance care planning was too late and information was too scarce. They wanted early, open, honest conversations about breathlessness, dying, home and hospice options, with caregivers included.
• RNSurvey2022A survey on women's awareness of iron and folic acid intake during preconception period and its associated factors in Manna District, Oromia region, Southwest Ethiopia.Nursing openOnly 42 of 623 Ethiopian pregnant women had heard or read about iron or folic acid before pregnancy. Awareness was more common among women whose husbands had formal education, who made four or more antenatal visits, or lived under 30 minutes from a health facility.
• RNQualitative2022The experiences and needs of frail older people receiving home health care: A qualitative study.International journal of older people nursingFrail older home-care patients valued the same experienced nurse, predictable visits, and enough time to talk; they wanted advice, respect for daily activities, and a nurse who seemed caring.
• RNCohort2021Changing the model of care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Same-day discharge of patients undergoing elective invasive cardiac procedures in Hong Kong.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn carefully selected low-risk patients having invasive intracoronary procedures, the 106 patients discharged same day had no adverse events and lower 30-day readmission than after overnight stay; mortality was not different.
• RNProtocol2021COMPLETE (Communication Plan Early Through End of Life): Development of a Research Program to Diminish Suffering for Children at End of Life.Journal of pediatric nursingSmall pilots of a doctor-nurse goals-of-care program for parents of children with poor-prognosis cancers showed feasibility, more hospice enrollment, and less high-intensity care than national averages, but a randomized trial is still needed.
• RNCohort2021A Longitudinal, Clinical, and Spatial Epidemiologic Analysis of a Large COVID-19 Long-Term Care Home Outbreak.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationMost (84.5%) residents with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 had symptoms, not silent infection. Transmission clustered around roommates and direct care. Universal masking was followed by no further symptomatic staff cases, but the study cannot prove masking caused this.
• RNCohort2021Predictors of Caregiver Burden in Delirium: Patient and Caregiver Factors.Journal of gerontological nursingCaregivers reported more burden when the patient had severe delirium, lower cognitive scores, or needed help with daily activities, especially transfers. Sleep problems, pain, and toileting help were not linked to burden.
• RNQualitative2021The lived experiences of family members of Covid-19 patients admitted to intensive care unit: A phenomenological study.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careFamily members of ICU patients described fear, detachment, waiting for phone updates, guilt, and loneliness when visitation bans kept them from comforting relatives. These are themes from 14 family members, not evidence that any communication method helps.
• RNCohort2021Function-Focused Goal Attainment and Discharge Outcomes in Hospitalized Persons With Dementia.Journal of gerontological nursingAmong hospitalized people with dementia, achieving family-negotiated functional goals was associated with returning to baseline physical function and lower delirium at discharge. Mobility goals were most common, and 70% of patients had at least one goal attained.
• RNSurvey2021Patient Satisfaction with Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic.Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & PractitionersFifty of 281 surveys returned; 41 (82%) would use telehealth again and 37 (74%) were satisfied. Low response means this shows acceptability, not clinical benefit.
• RNQualitative2021A qualitative study of self-management experiences in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Nursing openPeople with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease said generic 'lose weight, exercise' advice left them guessing. They made their own rules, relied on family, and wanted clinicians to ask specifically how they were managing and give tailored, practical guidance.
• RNQualitative2021Women's experiences of maternity service reconfiguration during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative investigation.MidwiferyWomen described pandemic maternity changes as losing face-to-face antenatal and postnatal care, especially newborn checks and breastfeeding support. They felt phone or video care was often inadequate and wanted clearer communication and birth partners present.
• RNCohort2021Deceleration capacity is associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careLow deceleration capacity on an ECG Holter recording was associated with ARDS in 60 hospitalized COVID-19 patients: 3.2 ms vs 6.6 ms, and below 4.5 ms in 75.7% with ARDS versus 34.8% without.
• RNQualitative2021"I Think Parents Shouldn't Be Too Pushy": A Qualitative Exploration of Parent and Youth Perspectives of Youth Decision-Making Involvement in Starting Continuous Glucose Monitoring.The science of diabetes self-management and careFamilies described four ways youth decided to start CGM, from youth-led to parent-led without agreement. Ask youth directly, give balanced information, and let them handle the device.
• RNCohort2022Full Code to Do-Not-Resuscitate: Culturally Adapted Palliative Care Consultations and Code Status Change Among Seriously Ill Hispanic Patients.The American journal of hospice & palliative careIn this palliative care consultation service, Hispanic and Spanish-speaking patients were more likely to request DNR rather than remain full code, but the bundled service cannot be shown to cause that.
• RNPilot2022Describing cognitive function and psychosocial outcomes of COVID-19 survivors: A cross-sectional analysis.Journal of the American Association of Nurse PractitionersCognitive test scores were normal on average in 52 mostly mild to moderate COVID survivors, but 40% scored below the normal range for their age and education on at least one cognitive test. Some had more anxiety, depression, or sleep problems than the general population.
• RNPilot2022Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention (SCAI) for Adult Outpatients With Advanced Cancer and Caregivers: A Pilot Trial to Assess Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects.The American journal of hospice & palliative careChaplain-delivered spiritual care for advanced cancer outpatients and caregivers was feasible and acceptable, with high visit attendance and most visits by phone. Small pilot showed preliminary spiritual well-being and quality-of-life improvements, not proof of benefit.
• OTRNSurvey2022Preparedness for Serious Illnesses: Impact of Ethnicity, Mistrust, Perceived Discrimination, and Health Communication.The American journal of hospice & palliative careAdults with chronic illness who felt discriminated against because of income or insurance, or did not trust providers, were less likely to feel ready for worsening. Ask about trust and discrimination before assuming race explains preparedness.
• RNOther2022Cognitive Function and Sleep in Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia.Western journal of nursing researchFamily caregivers of people with dementia who had poor sleep had total cognitive scores no different from expected norms, but speed of thinking was lower, while knowledge and language were higher. Sleep diary measures were not linked to scores.
• RNOther2021Implementation and Evaluation of an Acute Care Multicomponent Intervention for Dementia-Related Behavioral Expressions.Journal of gerontological nursingNursing staff on an inpatient unit reported greater confidence and less stress after a nurse-led multicomponent approach for dementia-related behaviors. Historical patient comparisons included shorter stays, less one-to-one observation, and more acetaminophen; antipsychotic use did not differ.
• RNSurvey2021Appetite loss, death anxiety and medical coping modes in COVID-19 patients: a cross-sectional study.Nursing openAll 76 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 had appetite loss, and higher death anxiety was linked to worse appetite. Severe disease, married status, and lower education were also linked to poorer appetite.
• RNCohort2021Relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes: Retrospective analytical cohort study.MidwiferyPregnant women hospitalized with COVID-19 had higher ICU admission, fetal distress, preterm birth and NICU admission than women without COVID-19. Maternal death and Apgar scores showed no clear difference after adjustment.
• RNRCT2021Influence of Appetite and Perceived Ability to Control Cravings on Excessive Gestational Weight Gain.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNNPregnant women who reported being no hungrier or less hungry than before pregnancy were less likely to gain too much weight. Women confident they could avoid overeating when they had cravings also seemed less likely, but that link faded when appetite was included.
• RNCohort2021Performance of scores in the prediction of clinical outcomes in patients admitted from the emergency service.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemqSOFA ≥2 was associated with sepsis, septic shock, and hospital death in 122 emergency patients; SIRS >2 was associated with sepsis and septic shock.
• RNSurvey2021Jail as a Point of Contraceptive Care Access: Needs and Preferences Among Women in an Urban Jail.Journal of midwifery & women's health73% of women surveyed in a Utah jail wanted access to contraceptive care while incarcerated. Nurses can ask about preferences, provide voluntary education, and help with insurance after release.
• RNCohort2021Differences in metabolic syndrome indicators by body mass index of women with endometriosis.Nursing openIn 281,810 Korean women with endometriosis, abnormal waist circumference, high fasting sugar, and low HDL cholesterol all increased from 2009 to 2016, and every metabolic risk indicator became more common as BMI rose.
• RNCohort2021Covid-19 given opportunity to use ultrasound in the plaster room to continue secondary fracture prevention care: A retrospective Fracture Liaison Service study.International journal of orthopaedic and trauma nursingAdding an ultrasound bone test to plaster-room fracture education was associated with more patients receiving DXA/VFA scans and ruled out further scans in 69 women aged 50-70.
• RNSystematic Review2021Algorithmic approaches to ostomy management: An integrative review.Nursing openOnly one ostomy algorithm has been expert-validated, and its full treatment advice is not published; current tools mostly guide assessment and accessory use, not complete pouching decisions.
• RNOtherFactors Associated With the Quality of Staff-Resident Interactions in Assisted Living.Journal of nursing care qualityAssisted living residents with agitation had lower-quality staff interactions. For-profit facilities had higher interaction scores than nonprofit facilities. In this sample, functional status, depressive symptoms, resistiveness to care, and facility size were not associated.
• PTRNQualitativePain in Homebound Older Adults with Heart Failure after Hospital Discharge.Home healthcare nowHomebound older adults with heart failure reported pain averaging 5.2 out of 10 after discharge, with sleep and walking most affected. Patients often waited until pain was severe before taking medication and said providers did not always acknowledge it.
• RNRCT2022Disease Management in Skilled Nursing Facilities Improves Outcomes for Patients With a Primary Diagnosis of Heart Failure.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn skilled nursing facilities, a nurse-led heart failure program reduced 60-day hospitalization, emergency visits, or death in patients admitted primarily for heart failure. The intervention lowered mortality to zero compared to 14.7% in usual care. This was a small subgroup analysis.
• RNCohort2022Opportunities to Improve Palliative Care Delivery in Trauma Critical Illness.The American journal of hospice & palliative carePalliative care consults and goals-of-care notes were rarely documented in trauma ICU patients, including high-risk groups, and often occurred late.
• RNSurvey2022Impact of language preference and health literacy on health information-seeking experiences among a low-income, multilingual cohort.Patient education and counselingMost adults surveyed in English, Spanish, or Chinese reported negative health information-seeking experiences. Spanish-language respondents were more likely to report that information was hard to understand; Chinese-language respondents were more likely to report frustration; limited health literacy was associated with more negative experiences.
• RNOther2022Changes in health and health care utilization following eviction from public housing.Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)Evicted public housing heads of households had more diagnosed health conditions and more emergency and inpatient care after eviction. Nurses should ask about housing loss when health worsens and document it.
• RNSurvey2022Contraceptive literacy among school-going adolescents in Botswana.International nursing reviewMost of 233 adolescents knew a contraceptive existed, but fewer knew where to get one. Girls were less likely than boys to report correct condom use, and those willing to ask a health professional were more likely to know correct use.
• RNOther2022Association of Hypertension with Knee Pain Severity Among People with Knee Osteoarthritis.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesPeople with knee osteoarthritis and stage 2 hypertension reported worse knee pain over 7 and 30 days than those with normal blood pressure, even after accounting for age, body size, depression, activity, arthritis severity, and pain medicines. Elevated or stage 1 hypertension did not.
• RNCohort2021COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality Among Long-Term Care Facility Residents and Staff in South Carolina.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationLong-term care residents with COVID-19 had much higher infection and death rates than community-dwelling older adults. Staff had more cases early but lower death risk than comparable adults not in facilities. The authors suggest staff testing and protection.
• SLPRNSystematic Review2021Symptom Clusters in Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Model.Seminars in oncology nursingStudies found head and neck cancer patients often had symptom clusters: pain with fatigue and appetite loss, dry mouth with swallowing and mouth sores, and nausea with vomiting. Names varied, but these patterns can guide assessment.
• RNMeta-Analysis2021Comparative efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions on behavioural and psychological symptoms in elders with dementia: A network meta-analysis.Nursing openReminiscence therapy reduced neuropsychiatric symptoms compared with no specific non-pharmacological care. Individualized nursing reduced depression and anxiety and raised cognitive test scores, but many comparisons were not head-to-head and study quality was uncertain.
• RNOther2021Adherence to Guidelines for Managing Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Children.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesNine pediatric severe TBI protocols varied from 2019 guidelines: all included normothermia and AEDs, none included coagulopathy treatment, and tiered ICP therapies differed. It describes written protocols, not patient outcomes.
• RNSurvey2021Prevalence of pharmacological adherence in patients with coronary artery disease and associated factors.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemMost hospitalized patients with coronary artery disease did not take medications as prescribed, often forgetting. Nurses should ask about alcohol use, how complex the medication routine feels, and whether care is through public services.
• RNRCT2021Income-driven socioeconomic status and presenting illness severity in children with acute respiratory failure.Research in nursing & healthNeighborhood median family income was not associated with illness severity at intensive care admission for children with acute respiratory failure after accounting for age, gender, race, ethnicity and diagnosis.
• RNSurveyDecision-Making Involvement, Self-Efficacy, and Transition Readiness in Youth With Sickle Cell Disease.Nursing researchIn 50 young people with sickle cell disease and their caregivers, higher confidence in managing the disease and asking for information were linked to feeling ready for adult care. But expressing opinions more was linked to less readiness and more taking charge of care.