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 48 OF 216 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTRNPilot2020Feasibility and acceptability of active for life with COPD, an intervention to increase light physical activity in people with COPD.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn 13 COPD patients, light activity did not increase significantly, though walking distance improved. The program was feasible and acceptable, but high attrition limits confidence.
• RNSurvey2020Prevalence of glue-sniffing among street children.Nursing open46 of 52 street children in Butwal sniffed glue, and 89.13% of glue sniffers did not know its effects.
• RNOther2020Evaluating person-centredness for frail older persons in nursing homes before and after implementing a palliative care intervention.Nursing openStaff education about palliative care did not improve older residents' ratings of person-centred care. In homes receiving the education, residents' sense of safety declined. Their accounts pointed to routines, short staff, and reliance on family.
• RNQualitative2020"The meal is an activity involving at least two people"-Experiences of meals by older persons in need of elderly care.Nursing openOlder persons described a meal as requiring at least two people and a calm atmosphere, not just food. In care settings, staff controlling seating, portion sizes, and cleanup times reduced enjoyment and autonomy.
• RNSystematic Review2020Guidelines for the nursing management of gestational diabetes mellitus: An integrative literature review.Nursing openEighteen guidelines for nurses and midwives covered GDM screening, pregnancy, labour and postnatal care, but recommendations differed and many did not address low-resource barriers.
• RNOther2020Validation of the instrument "Complexity of Nursing Care"-A mixed-methods study.Nursing openNurses can rate daily bedside assessments into a complexity score from low to high. Two raters generally agreed, but adapting care and predicting intervention effects were hardest to rate.
• RNSurvey2020Factors associated with subsequent diabetes-related self-care activities: The role of social support and optimism.Nursing openAmong adults with type 2 diabetes in China, practical support, using support, and optimism were linked to better self-care over three months. Feeling supported alone was not. This is an association, not proof that boosting them improves care.
• RNOther2020Implementation and evaluation of a primary diabetes prevention programme for young adult employees in Japan: A non-randomized controlled trial.Nursing openYoung adult employees who received six weeks of diabetes-prevention brochures and films knew more and felt diabetes was more personally relevant. Only two eating habits improved, exercise and waist size did not, and behaviour-change gains faded by 10 weeks.
• RNPilot2020Experiences, mental well-being and community-based care needs of fathers of late preterm infants: A mixed-methods pilot study.Nursing openFathers of late preterm infants felt overlooked and received conflicting advice. They watched feeding and breathing closely, yet no father had high overall stress; one reported depressive symptoms.
• RNOther2020Increasing self-efficacy and knowledge in carer training: Hispanic versus Caucasian.Nursing openAfter a 4-hour dementia guide workshop, carers reported greater confidence and knowledge. Hispanic carers' confidence rose more than Caucasian carers', but knowledge gains were similar; Hispanic knowledge scores remained lower.
• RNOther2020Children's self-reports of fear and pain levels during needle procedures.Nursing openChildren with cancer reported fear as high as pain during needle insertion in a port under topical anaesthesia. Fear and pain were related, and younger children reported more fear than pain. Assess fear as well as pain.
• RNCohort2020The association of patients' daily summarized self-rated "real-time" pain scores with physical recovery after major surgery - A repeated measurement design.Nursing openHigh daily median pain scores after major surgery are associated with worse physical recovery the next day. Nurses should use these scores to flag patients at risk for delayed recovery, prompting early discussions about mobility and symptom management rather than waiting for retrospective reports.
• RNOther2020Validation of the Chinese Non-pharmacological Therapy Experience Scale in persons with intellectual disability.Nursing openFor people with intellectual disability who may not report their experience, a 7-point observer-rated Chinese scale detected score changes during horticultural therapy better than the 4-point version. It is a monitoring tool, not proof that the therapy works.
• RNQualitative2020Experiences and needs of patients on the endovascular therapy pathway after acute ischaemic stroke: Being helpless and next to yourself.Nursing openStroke patients remembered little of the acute stroke treatment pathway except the nurse who stayed with them. They felt helpless and anxious, needed calm presence, and later wanted clear information and follow-up.
• PTRNOther2020Development and validation of a complex intervention: A physical exercise programme aimed at delaying the functional decline in frail older adults.Nursing openA 30-minute exercise programme for frail institutionalized older adults was rated feasible and acceptable by professionals, students and residents, but the study did not test whether it improves function, falls or quality of life.
• RNRCT2020Health status and self-management in patients with inflammatory arthritis-A five-year follow-up study after nurse-led patient education.Nursing openIn 101 patients with inflammatory arthritis five years after a nurse-led education trial, self-management scores improved slightly and physical function worsened slightly; pain, tiredness, mood and perceived disease activity were unchanged.
• RNCohort2020Oxidative Stress in Pregnant Women Between 12 and 20 Weeks of Gestation and Preterm Birth.Nursing researchOxygen radical markers in early pregnancy did not differ between women who delivered preterm and those who delivered at term. Catalase activity was lower in preterm births, but this was a small secondary analysis.
• RNCohort2020Hospital outcomes in non-surgical patients identified at risk for OSA.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careHospitalized non-surgical patients screened as high-risk for sleep apnea did not have more respiratory failure than low-risk patients. They stayed slightly longer in the hospital but had lower in-hospital mortality. Low-risk patients unexpectedly required more invasive mechanical ventilation.
• RNSurvey2020Differences in social isolation between young and old elderly in urban areas of Beijing, China: A cross-sectional study.International journal of nursing sciencesSocial isolation was reported in 24.4% of young elderly and 33.1% of old elderly in urban Beijing. Friend support was the only support source associated with less social isolation in the old elderly.
• RNQualitative2020Nursing home residents' perspectives on their social relationships.Journal of clinical nursingNursing home residents described peer relationships as their main source of belonging and purpose, while family ties maintained continuity with their past lives. They identified state privacy rules and staffing shortages as barriers to forming meaningful connections and exercising autonomy.
• RNOther2020Minimally-invasive methods for examining biological changes in response to chronic stress: A scoping review.International journal of nursing studiesAcross 145 articles, salivary cortisol was the most common minimally invasive measure of chronic stress. The authors do not recommend using biological indicators in clinical settings to screen patients for chronic stress.
• RNCase Report2020Energy Expenditure and Shivering Severity During Targeted Temperature Management at 36°C After Cardiac Arrest: A Case Series.Critical care nursing quarterlyEnergy expenditure did not consistently drop in ventilated cardiac arrest patients cooled to 36°C compared with rewarming. Shivering periods had higher energy expenditure, and bedside shivering scores could lag behind energy changes.
• RNQualitative2020Nursing students' perception of patient-centred care: A qualitative study.Nursing openNursing students perceived patient-centred care as essential but noted it is often absent in practice, replaced by documentation-focused routines. They identified education, communication, and respecting patient independence as core components, frequently lacking in their clinical training.
• RNCohort2020Association Between Bisphosphonates and Hospitalized Clostridioides difficile Infection Among Frail Older Adults.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationFrail nursing home residents who started bisphosphonates did not show higher hospitalization for C difficile infection than residents who started calcitonin. This paper alone is not a reason to avoid bisphosphonates solely for C difficile infection concern.
• PTRNOther2020Identifying Targets to Improve Heart Failure Outcomes for Patients Receiving Home Healthcare Services: The Relationship of Functional Status and Pain.Home healthcare nowIn home healthcare patients with heart failure, self-care and home tasks improved by discharge. Patients whose pain interfered daily, but not consistently, improved least in self-care tasks.
• RNOther2020The Identification of Family Social Environment Typologies Using Latent Class Analysis: Implications for Future Family-Focused Research.Journal of family nursingFamilies grouped into two-parent, smaller one-parent, and larger one-parent types. Smaller one-parent households reported the best problem-solving skills. Parents in larger one-parent households were more likely to report unemployment and public assistance.
• RNCohort2020Access and outcomes of general practitioner obstetrician (rural generalist)-supported birthing units in Queensland.The Australian journal of rural healthQueensland rural maternity units had more term births, spontaneous labour and vaginal births than state averages, with similar newborn outcomes, despite mothers having more high-risk characteristics.
• RNCohort2020Giving and receiving social support in online substance use disorder forums: How self-efficacy moderates effects on relapse.Patient education and counselingIn an online substance use recovery forum, receiving more emotional support was associated with less drug use at follow-up. Giving support alone was not associated with lower use, and effects on drinking depended on confidence in recovery.
• RNCohort2020Changes in US Nursing Home Infection Prevention and Control Programs From 2014 to 2018.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationNursing homes strengthened infection prevention programs between 2014 and 2018. Antibiotic stewardship practices rose from 31.8% to 65.3%. Specialized infection control training for preventionists strongly predicted better programs, but most of the improvement was unexplained by facility factors.
• RNOther2020Mindfulness, Anxiety Symptoms, and Quality of Life in Heart Failure.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingIn 70 adults with heart failure, greater mindfulness was linked to fewer anxiety symptoms, and fewer anxiety symptoms were linked to better quality of life. This does not show mindfulness treatment improves outcomes.
• RNOther2020Sleep Patterns, Problems and Ecology among Toddlers in Families with a Child Protective Services Maltreatment Referral.Journal of pediatric nursingToddlers in families referred to Child Protective Services slept 43 minutes longer at night and 46 minutes less during the day than community toddlers, yet total 24-hour sleep was similar. Behavioral sleep problems like frequent awakenings were common in both groups.
• RNSurvey2020The Ears of a Hippopotamus: Quality of Venous Leg Ulcer Care in Gauteng, South Africa.Advances in skin & wound careAudits of 160 venous leg ulcer files in 48 Gauteng facilities found poor documentation and frequent gaps: ankle-brachial pressure index recorded in 30%, compression unavailable in 46%, and 38% of wounds did not heal.
• RNQualitative2020The value of "us"-Expressions of togetherness in couples where one spouse has dementia.International journal of older people nursingCouples where one spouse had dementia described togeterness as both protected and strained by the disease. Long marriages and shared memories supported love and meaning, while communication breakdowns caused frustration. These themes describe family experience, not evidence that a treatment works.
• RNQualitative2020Adherence Self-Management and the Influence of Contextual Factors Among Emerging Adults With Human Immunodeficiency Virus.Nursing researchYoung adults with HIV said stigma, disclosure fears, and wanting to feel normal were linked to hiding or missing HIV medicines. Support from peers and clinic staff mattered, while alarms reminded them of infection.
• RNOther2020A Comparison of Diet Quality of Patients With Heart Failure and Their Family Caregivers.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingPatients with heart failure and their family caregivers had similar, low-quality diets and high sodium intake. This suggests nurses should address both people together, not only the patient.
• RNSystematic Review2020A Systematic Review of Nursing Home Palliative Care Interventions: Characteristics and Outcomes.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationNursing home palliative care interventions sometimes improved care processes, but evidence for resident symptoms, acute care use, advance care planning, family ratings, quality of life, and costs was mixed or lacking.
• RNOther2020Relationships Between Abdominal Pain and Fatigue With Psychological Distress as a Mediator in Women With Irritable Bowel Syndrome.Gastroenterology nursing : the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and AssociatesIn women with irritable bowel syndrome, worse daily abdominal pain predicted more fatigue the next day. Psychological distress partly explained this link, but pain still had a direct association with fatigue.
• RNRCT2020Effects of an educational intervention on heart failure knowledge, self-care behaviors, and health-related quality of life of patients with heart failure: Exploring the role of depression.Patient education and counselingNurse-led education improved heart failure knowledge and self-care for two years, but only in patients without depression. Quality of life improved in all groups, including those receiving usual care, so the specific intervention did not add benefit there.
• RNCohort2020Intracranial Pressure Monitoring via External Ventricular Drain: Are We Waiting Long Enough Before Recording the Real Value?The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience NursesFor nurses checking ICP via EVD, most clamping episodes were brief: 65.9% lasted under 1 minute and only 16.3% lasted over 5 minutes, although the protocol required 5 minutes.
• RNSystematic Review2020Cognitive Rehabilitation for Cognitive Dysfunction after Cancer and Cancer Treatment: Implications for Nursing Practice.Seminars in oncology nursingCognitive rehabilitation for cancer survivors showed positive effects on memory and processing speed, but studies were small and gains often faded. It supports assessment and discussion of cognitive training, not proven treatment.
• PTOTRNNarrative Review2020Proactive Rehabilitation for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.Seminars in oncology nursingScreen oncology patients for motor deficits using simple tests like the Five Times Sit-to-Stand or Timed Up and Go. Refer to physical or occupational therapy early to address balance and dexterity issues. Recommend exercise to help manage chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
• RNCohort2020Impact of Stiffer Arteries on the Response to Antihypertensive Treatment: A Longitudinal Study of the SardiNIA Cohort.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAntihypertensive treatment was associated with greater declines in systolic blood pressure over time, and with greater declines in arterial stiffness in people whose arteries were already stiffer.
• RNOther2020CE: Assessing and Managing Spiritual Distress in Cancer Survivorship.The American journal of nursingThis article provides a framework for nurses to assess spiritual distress in cancer survivors using tools like the Distress Thermometer. It outlines management steps including self-reflection, goal setting, and referrals to chaplains or support groups.
• RNNarrative Review2019Assessing Patients' Risk for Opioid Use Disorder.AACN advanced critical careNurses can assess opioid risk using tools like the ORT-OUD and monitor patients via PDMPs and urine screens. These strategies help identify misuse early, but the tools vary in accuracy and require careful interpretation to avoid stigma.
• RNNarrative Review2020CE: An Evidence-Based Update on Contraception.The American journal of nursingTypical-use failure rates vary widely, from below 1% with implants and IUDs to 13% with male condoms and 21% with female condoms. Return to fertility is usually rapid, except after depot medroxyprogesterone acetate.
• RNRCT2020Prediction of Smoking Abstinence in Women Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.Nursing researchHIV-tailored smoking cessation support was associated with less craving and more likely to be abstinent at 3 months in 69 women living with HIV. Higher craving predicted lower abstinence, but this small analysis of pilot trials is preliminary.
• RNSurvey2020Perceived Infant Well-Being and Self-Reported Distress in Neonatal Nurses.Nursing researchNurses caring for infants with life-threatening conditions reported greater personal distress when they perceived the infants as suffering more or having lower quality of life. This association held regardless of the nurse's years of experience.
• RNMeta-Analysis2020Symptom Experiences in Colorectal Cancer Survivors After Cancer Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Cancer nursingAfter colorectal cancer treatment, survivors most often reported body image distress (78.5%). Fatigue was the most severe symptom (50.1 on a 0-100 scale). Nurses can use these findings to assess and manage long-term survivorship symptoms.
• PTRNOther2020Sleep Quality Associated With Motor Function Among Older Adult Survivors of Critical Illness.Nursing researchAmong 29 older adults 24 to 48 hours after ICU discharge, longer measured nighttime sleep was linked to weaker grip strength. Those with OSA history also had weaker grip strength. This was a link, not proof that sleep causes weakness.
• RNCohort2020Trajectory of self-care behaviour in patients with heart failure: the impact on clinical outcomes and influencing factors.European journal of cardiovascular nursingPatients whose heart failure self-care declined over 12 months had a nine-times higher risk of cardiovascular hospitalisation than those who maintained good self-care. Consistently poor self-care was not significantly linked to higher hospitalisation rates after correction for multiple comparisons.