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.

8,800 PAPERS · PAGE 32 OF 176 · NEWEST FIRST

• RNSystematic Review2021Scoping Review of the Associations Between Perinatal Substance Use and Perinatal Depression and Anxiety.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNNPerinatal substance use and depression or anxiety often occur together. Most included studies found that the two were linked, and polysubstance use, especially opioids plus other drugs, was linked with higher reported depression and anxiety. Nurses should assess both.
• RNSystematic Review2021Barriers to the management of children under five exposed to HIV in the rural areas of South Africa.CurationisBarriers to HIV-exposed child care in rural South Africa include clinic staff shortages, long travel distances, and stigma. Nurses sometimes lacked PMTCT knowledge or showed negative attitudes, causing mothers to avoid testing or skip follow-up visits.
• RNQualitative2021Women's Experiences With Palliative Care During Pregnancy.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNNWomen who had life-limiting fetal diagnoses valued memorabilia, ultrasound records, and program support to talk about death before birth. They described empathy and peer support as important during pregnancy.
• RNOther2021Impact of Maintenance Session Attendance and Early Weight Loss Goal Achievement on Weight Loss Success in a Community-Based Diabetes Prevention Program Intervention.The science of diabetes self-management and careAmong 238 adults in a community diabetes prevention program, those who had already lost 5% weight by 6 months were more likely to meet that goal at 12 months if they attended at least 4 maintenance sessions.
• RNCohort2021Vitamin D Levels and the Risk of Posttransplant Diabetes Mellitus After Kidney Transplantation.Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)Lower pre-transplant vitamin D was linked to more post-transplant diabetes in kidney recipients, but not every analysis showed a clear difference.
• RNQualitative2021The impact of COVID-19 on prenatal care in the United States: Qualitative analysis from a survey of 2519 pregnant women.MidwiferyPregnant women described prenatal care shifting to virtual visits, restricted support people, and rushed appointments, leading to fear and feelings of abandonment. Some women felt care quality was unchanged or improved, but many worried complications were being missed due to reduced in-person contact.
• RNSystematic Review2021Self-efficacy in caregivers of adults diagnosed with cancer: An integrative review.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing SocietyCancer caregivers who felt confident managing medications, symptoms, and communication often reported less distress and better quality of life. Some education did not improve confidence, so nurses should help caregivers practice caregiving tasks and give specific encouragement.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2021Post-treatment head and neck cancer survivors' approaches to self-management: A qualitative study.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing SocietyAfter treatment, head and neck cancer survivors managed symptoms in three fluid ways: building routines, accepting what could not be changed, or acting only when symptoms appeared. Their choice depended on the problem, certainty about cause, and daily burden.
• RNQualitative2021Identifying Needs and Barriers to Engage Family Members in Transplant Candidate Care.Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)Family members of kidney transplant candidates feel isolated and unprepared to help. They struggle with communication barriers, lack of knowledge about options, and patients' reluctance to be a burden. These insights highlight the need to integrate support networks into care planning.
• PTOTRNCohort2021The Adverse Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Home Resident Well-Being.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationNursing home residents' depression, unplanned weight loss, cognitive scores and incontinence worsened during the pandemic. Pressure ulcers and activities of daily living scores did not change. Some worsening occurred even in residents who never tested positive.
• RNPilot2021Communication of pain by school-age children with cancer using a game-based symptom assessment app: A secondary analysis.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing SocietyAll 19 school-age children with cancer receiving chemotherapy reported pain at least once on an app. Their free-text notes added details such as central line dressing discomfort, but 15 pain reports lacked severity and 13 lacked bother ratings.
• RNRCT2021Efficacy of a combination of hypnosis and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for chronic non-cancer pain: A randomized controlled trial.Journal of advanced nursingAdding nurse-delivered hypnosis to TENS did not reduce chronic non-cancer pain more than TENS alone at three months. Both groups had similar pain reduction.
• RNSurveyBarriers to Accessing Mental Health Care After a Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination.Journal of forensic nursingSexual assault survivors after a forensic exam reported more barriers to mental health care when PTSD symptoms were severe. Uninsured people reported more barriers but were more likely to seek free care. Students and people with problematic drinking were less likely to seek care.
• RNPilotAssociations Between Dysmenorrhea Symptom-Based Phenotypes and Vaginal Microbiome: A Pilot Study.Nursing researchCompared with mild localized pain, severe widespread period pain was associated with less Lactobacillus crispatus and more Atopobium, Gardnerella, and Prevotella during menstruation in 20 young women. Off-menses differences were absent. This pilot cannot change care.
• RNRCT2021Senior WISE intervention: Gender differences in bodily pain and trait anxiety.Archives of psychiatric nursingThe multi-component memory classes did not lower pain at end of study. At post-treatment they lowered pain by about 6 points. Anxiety fell mainly in men.
• RNRCT2021Machine-Based Hand Massage Ameliorates Preoperative Anxiety in Patients Awaiting Ambulatory Surgery.The journal of nursing research : JNRFifteen minutes of machine hand massage lowered anxiety scores compared with routine care only, but no significant between-group differences were found for mean changes in pulse, respiration, systolic pressure, or diastolic pressure.
• RNOther2021How long do nursing staff take to measure and record patients' vital signs observations in hospital? A time-and-motion study.International journal of nursing studiesRecording one patient's full set of vital signs takes about five minutes when including equipment preparation and interruptions. Electronic systems offered no time savings over paper charts, and staff grade did not change the duration.
• RNQualitative2021The Experiences of Family Members of Ventilated COVID-19 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Study.The American journal of hospice & palliative careFamilies of ventilated COVID-19 patients felt isolated and mistrustful because they could not see their loved ones or understand medical updates. Video calls often increased distress by showing unconscious patients, while inconsistent information from multiple providers fueled anxiety and suspicion about care quality.
• PTOTRNCohort2021Recovery from Coronavirus Disease 2019 among Older Adults in Post-Acute Skilled Nursing Facilities.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults recovering from COVID-19 in skilled nursing facilities generally regained function and returned home, with no significant difference in discharge rates compared to non-COVID patients. However, those with moderate-to-severe frailty started lower and ended with significantly less independence than non-frail peers.
• RNRCT2021Contribution of an instructional module for lymph node evaluation: An experiment.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemNursing students using a simulated lymph node palpation module identified characteristics like size, consistency, and mobility significantly better than a control group. The experimental group showed much higher odds of correct assessment, suggesting this tool effectively improves clinical examination skills.
• RNSurvey2021A survey of postpartum depression and health care needs among Chinese postpartum women during the pandemic of COVID-19.Archives of psychiatric nursingAmong 209 Chinese postpartum women surveyed during COVID, 56.9% screened positive for depressive symptoms; perceived stress, age 25-34 and history of abortion were linked to higher scores. Most wanted infant care and protection guidance.
• RNSurvey2021'The Woman Gives': Exploring gender and relationship factors in HIV advance care planning among African American caregivers.Journal of clinical nursingOnly 41% of African American caregivers of people living with HIV had discussed advance care planning. Sibling caregivers, less mutual support, and women familiar with advance care planning terms were linked to fewer discussions.
• RNOther2021Maintaining Maternal-Newborn Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Nursing for women's healthAfter a maternity hospital created a dedicated COVID-19 unit, screened visitors, and used PPE, no newborns tested positive from March to December 2020. Satisfaction scores reached 84.7% and 88.4%.
• PTRNQualitativePain Quality Among Hospitalized Postcraniotomy Brain Tumor Patients.Clinical nurse specialist CNSHospitalized post-craniotomy patients described pain as pressure, soreness, stabbing, throbbing, jarring, or itching. Asking what the pain feels like may reveal bothersome qualities, such as itching, that intensity scores alone can miss.
• RNQualitative2021Becoming a mother in the 'new' social world in Australia during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.MidwiferyAustralian women described becoming a mother during first-wave restrictions as isolating because they attended care appointments alone, support people were limited, and information was unclear. Some used online groups and self-advocacy, but these are experiences, not tested services.
• RNSurvey2021Descriptive survey of women's childbirth experiences in two state hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.CurationisPostpartum women rated midwife care highly, but felt least able to choose movement, position or pain relief. Most experienced labour pain; many reported fear, poor privacy and sanitation. Maternity teams should focus on communication, privacy and cleanliness.
• RNSurvey2021Family Members' Knowledge and Attitude Toward Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions for Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.Journal of hospice and palliative nursing : JHPN : the official journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses AssociationFamily members of ICU patients knew little about legal rules for stopping life support but supported patient self-determination. Nurses were seen primarily as educators. Better knowledge was linked to more positive attitudes toward withholding treatment.
• RNCohort2021Breastfeeding in the first six months of life for babies seen by Lactation Consulting.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemAmong 158 pairs followed to 180 days, only 12.7% of babies were still exclusively breastfed. Pacifier use, trouble breastfeeding after discharge, getting help for trouble, maternal age 35 or more, and smoking in pregnancy were linked with earlier stopping exclusive breastfeeding.
• RNSystematic Review2021A systematic review of human papillomavirus vaccination among US adolescents.Research in nursing & healthProvider recommendation was the clearest facilitator of HPV vaccine initiation and completion among US adolescents. Cancer prevention framing and schedule discussion were associated with higher completion.
• RNRCT2021Religious Involvement, Depressive Symptoms, and Burden in Caregivers of Terminally Ill Patients.Journal of hospice and palliative nursing : JHPN : the official journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses AssociationNearly half of caregivers of patients with ALS or advanced gastrointestinal cancer had a positive depression screen. Negative religious coping was linked with depression; positive religious coping was not.
• RNNarrative Review2021The incidence of pleural effusion in COVID-19 pneumonia: State-of-the-art review.Heart & lung : the journal of critical carePleural effusion was reported in 7.3% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients across 47 observational studies. It was usually unilateral, appeared later in illness, and was more frequent in critically ill or MIS patients, but causes and outcomes remain unclear.
• RNCohort2021Hospital Magnet Status Associates With Inpatient Safety in Parkinson Disease.The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience NursesParkinson inpatients in Magnet-designated hospitals were less likely to have unexpected death, pressure ulcers, or any tracked safety event. They were more likely to have post-operative bleeding, so the designation is not uniformly safer.
• PTRNSurvey2021Association of fear of falling with frailty in community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study.Nursing & health sciencesAmong 158 independent Chinese older adults, 81% feared falling and 60.1% were frail. Fear of falling was linked to being 7.2 times more likely to be frail after adjustment.
• RNSystematic Review2021The use of antimicrobial-impregnated fabrics in health services: an integrative review.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemAntimicrobial fabrics showed mixed results. Patient linens and clothing reduced microbial load and infection indicators, but worker uniforms did not, and the evidence cannot separate fabrics from other controls.
• RNOther2021Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults With Preclinical Cognitive Impairment With and Without Chronic Kidney Disease.Journal of gerontological nursingOlder adults with CKD and subjective cognitive decline were not significantly more sedentary than matched older adults without CKD. The without-CKD and CKD groups averaged 654.17 and 707.64 minutes of sedentary time per day.
• RNSurvey2021The Frequency and Perceived Effectiveness of Pain Self-Management Strategies Used by Individuals With Migraine.The journal of nursing research : JNROver-the-counter medications were used by 51% and rated most effective (70% mean relief), while 14% found all strategies ineffective. Many patients combine Western, traditional, and folk approaches, so ask about all treatments.
• RNSurveyInfluencing Factors of Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Fatigue: A Path Analysis Model.Nursing researchAmong adults with IBD, 56% reported fatigue bad enough to be clinically significant. In the model, worse social role satisfaction, sleep disturbance, pain interference, higher disease activity and age under 60 were linked to higher fatigue.
• RNRCTEffectiveness of Buffered Lidocaine for Local Anesthesia During Liver Biopsy.Gastroenterology nursing : the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and AssociatesPatients who received buffered lidocaine for liver biopsy reported less pain after injection than patients who received lidocaine plus sterile water. Anxiety did not differ between groups.
• RNRCTSelf-Efficacy, Outcome Expectations, Group Social Support, and Adherence to Physical Activity in African American Women.Nursing researchAverage confidence to overcome barriers fell from 72.84% at 6 weeks to 68.17% at 24 weeks in African American women in a 48-week activity program. Change in confidence was linked to device steps, and perceived benefits were linked to self-reported activity.
• RNCase ReportEvidence Collection and Analysis for Touch Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Groping and Sexual Assault Cases.Journal of forensic nursingForensic nurses successfully identified a stranger assailant in a groping assault by collecting touch DNA swabs from the victim's body and clothing after oral evidence was compromised. Subsequent cases showed 21% of touch-contact-only kits yielded probative DNA profiles.
• RNQualitative2021Perceived Supportive Paradox After Diagnosing Human Papillomavirus: A Qualitative Content Analysis.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyPeople diagnosed with HPV described receiving support and lack of support at the same time. They said reassuring information from providers eased fear, while stigma, blame, or mixed messages from providers and family increased anxiety.
• RNQualitative2021The Role of the Patients' Companion in the Transitional Care from the Open Heart Surgery ICU to the Cardiac Surgery Ward: A Qualitative Content Analysis.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyPatients and nurses described companions as helping cardiac surgery patients through transfer by giving emotional support, meeting basic needs, reporting warning signs and bridging language gaps, but nurses also said they could interfere with care or create tension.
• RNQualitative2021Follow-up care for premature children: the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemMothers of premature children reported suspended follow-up care and lack of contact from health services during the pandemic. They managed fever and respiratory symptoms at home, often relying on screen time for stimulation. Some children missed influenza vaccinations.
• PTOTRNSurvey2021Health Promoting Behaviors, Health Needs and Associated Factors among Older Adults in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyJordanian older adults scored low on exercise and nutrition but high on self-actualization. Those with chronic diseases, lower income, or who were unmarried had poorer health behaviors. Married and higher-income participants engaged more in physical activity and healthy eating.
• OTRNSystematic Review2021Tai Chi Interventions Promoting Social Support and Interaction Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review.Research in gerontological nursingGroup tai chi showed mixed social support results: four studies with social additions such as mentors, music, peer practice, or small-group attention and four without reported improvement, while two did not. Evidence was low.
• RNRCT2021Effectiveness of Theory-Based Health Information Technology Interventions on Coronary Artery Disease Self-Management Behavior: A Clinical Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingIn 60 patients with coronary artery disease, a 3-month home blood pressure monitoring and telephone education program lowered systolic blood pressure and improved self-management and quality of life over usual care.
• RNSurvey2021Effect of parental mutuality on the quality of life of mothers of children with special health needs.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemMothers of children with special health needs who felt their partner shared care decisions reported less pain, emotional and social interference in daily life. Vitality was not related. This is not proof that mutuality caused better quality of life.
• RNOther2021The cost of living with cancer during the second wave of COVID-19: A mixed methods study of Danish cancer patients' perspectives.European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing SocietyCancer patients described pandemic isolation and changes to care as negative, but most reported mild distress and high resilience. Family support mattered most during consultations, hospitalization and surgery.
• RNCohort2021Coronavirus Disease 2019 in French Residential Care Facilities: A Nationwide Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationDuring France's first wave, residential care facilities had far fewer COVID-19 cases and deaths per 100 beds than nursing homes: 1.10 vs 9.97 cases and 0.07 vs 1.29 deaths. This does not prove why.
• RNRCT2021Effects of Nursing Education Using Films on Perception of Nursing, Satisfaction With Major, and Professional Nursing Values.The journal of nursing research : JNRSecond-year nursing students who watched full films and discussed them showed significantly improved perceptions of nursing, satisfaction with their major, and professional values compared to controls. This suggests film-based education can help shape professional identity before clinical practice begins.