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 81 OF 216 · NEWEST FIRST

• RNMeta-Analysis2022The accuracy and safety of using the electrocardiogram positioning technique in localizing the peripherally inserted central catheter tip position: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Nursing openECG guidance placed PICC tips more accurately than landmark measurement and was associated with fewer complications in 9 RCTs, but chest X-ray confirmation was still used. Do not omit chest X-ray when the ECG P-wave is absent.
• RNCohort2022Elucidating the Relationship Between Maternal Diabetes and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A 2017-2018 Project WATCH Study in Rural Appalachia.Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal NursesAmong substance-exposed infants, maternal diabetes was linked with fewer NAS diagnoses, but this was seen only in term births, not preterm births. It was not tested as a cause, and NAS diagnosis relied on clinician judgment.
• RNCohort2022The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions on Lead Screening in a Primary Care Clinic.Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & PractitionersDuring peak COVID-19 restrictions, lead screening volume fell to about half, older children were screened less, and more screening tests showed elevated lead. Missed mandatory screenings increased later.
• RNSurvey2022Assessment of inflammatory bowel disease educational videos for increasing patient engagement and family and friends' levels of understanding.Patient education and counselingShort IBD videos were followed by increases in self-reported patient activation and family and friends reported better understanding. No control group means causation is unproven.
• RNSystematic Review2021Integrated Review of the Assessment of Newborns With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNNIn five studies, newborns assessed by nurses using Eat, Sleep, Console had shorter stays and lower medication use. Finnegan accuracy improved after training, but most studies were small.
• RNQualitative2021Parental Perspectives on Neonatologist Continuity of Care.Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal NursesParents valued neonatologists who knew their infant's history, kept goals steady, and communicated consistently. Provider turnover was hard when it felt abrupt or caused gaps in knowledge, but fresh perspectives were welcome when explained.
• RNSystematic Review2021The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions to prevent childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity: A systematic review of randomised trials.Journal of advanced nursingNurse-led obesity prevention for children and adolescents produced few lasting weight effects. Most trials showed little or no change, and benefits often faded by later follow-up. Nurses can deliver these programmes, but evidence they reduce weight is limited.
• RNMeta-Analysis2021Mortality of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome subjected to lung protective ventilation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careIn ARDS patients receiving lung-protective ventilation, right ventricular dysfunction or pulmonary vascular dysfunction was linked to higher mortality. The link was clear for acute cor pulmonale, but not for pulmonary vascular dysfunction or mild right ventricular dysfunction alone.
• RNRCT2022What Surrogates Understand (and Don't Understand) About Patients' Wishes After Engaging Advance Care Planning: A Qualitative Analysis.The American journal of hospice & palliative careFamily surrogates often understood patients' values and wishes after advance care planning, but still struggled to apply them when illness became complex or prognosis unclear. They wanted clearer time limits for invasive treatments and physician guidance.
• OTRNSurvey2022Despite Symptom Severity, do Nursing Home Residents Experience Joy-of-Life? The Associations Between Joy-of-Life and Symptom Severity in Norwegian Nursing Home Residents.Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses' Association59% of nursing home residents reported high joy-of-life despite high symptom burden. 91.5% said family contact made them happy; 69.2% had outside contact. Anxiety and depression, not pain, tracked with lower joy.
• RNOther2022Telemedicine and Health Equity During COVID-19 in Pediatric Gastroenterology.Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners78 of 80 parents said pediatric gastroenterology telehealth visits were beneficial, but only 43 said they were as good as an office visit. Connection failures, interpreter access, and cost barriers were common equity concerns.
• RNQualitative2022The Impact of Preoperative Distress: A Qualitative analysis of the Perioperative Pain Self-Management Intervention.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesVeterans distressed before surgery valued help reframing pain and a trusting relationship. Non-distressed Veterans valued practical relaxation skills. Both groups found goal setting hardest. These are reported experiences, not proof PePS reduces pain.
• RNQualitative2022Tailoring nutrition and cancer education materials for breast cancer patients.Patient education and counselingBreast cancer patients from many countries found nutrition slides confusing when wording, foods, or pictures did not match their language or shopping habits. They wanted familiar food names, clear labeled photos, and simple do and avoid layouts.
• RNOther2022Care dependency of patients and residents at the end of life: A secondary data analysis of data from a cross-sectional study in hospitals and geriatric institutions.Journal of clinical nursingEnd-of-life patients and residents were highly care dependent: 60% were completely or greatly dependent, versus 12% of non-end-of-life patients. Dementia and older age predicted high dependency across all assessment items.
• RNOther2021The relationship between ethnic background and the use of restrictive practices to manage incidents of violence or aggression in psychiatric inpatient settings.International journal of mental health nursingIn a South London mental health trust, seclusion and prone restraint followed incidents more often for some Black and Mixed groups after age, severity, deprivation and psychosis were accounted for. Age explained apparent physical restraint differences, and rapid tranquilization showed no ethnic difference.
• RNQualitative2021Perspectives on Sexual Health, Sexual Health Education, and HIV Prevention From Adolescent (13-18 Years) Sexual Minority Males.Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & PractitionersAdolescent sexual minority males described inadequate sexual health information, fear of being outed, and barriers to condoms, testing, and PrEP. They wanted affirming, confidential care from adults. Scare-based or exclusionary messages were not wanted.
• RNSurvey2021COVID-19 and the impact on rural and black church Congregants: Results of the C-M-C project.Research in nursing & health33.2% of church congregants said they were unlikely to get a COVID-19 vaccine, despite high worry. 45.7% reported delayed care; 50.4% of those with depression and 58.0% of those with anxiety said symptoms worsened.
• RNSurvey2021"Anxious and traumatised": Users' experiences of maternity care in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic.MidwiferyWomen accepted pandemic safety measures but suffered from isolation, unclear advice, and missed care. Restricting partners from scans and births caused significant distress, especially for those unable to afford private care. Nurses must anticipate these emotional and practical needs when visiting restrictions remain.
• RNPilot2021Feasibility of a virtual reality intervention in the intensive care unit.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careA 15-minute VR beach scene was feasible in 12 of 15 ICU patients, with minor dizziness or nausea and no major safety events. It did not show that VR reduces delirium, pain, or anxiety.
• RNCase Series2021Dissociation between the clinical course and chest imaging in severe COVID-19 pneumonia: A series of five cases.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careFive ICU patients with severe COVID-19 showed significant clinical improvement in blood oxygen levels while their chest imaging remained stable or worsened. This dissociation suggests chest imaging may not reliably track recovery or diagnose the extent of lung damage in these cases.
• RNPilot2021Verifying intervention fidelity procedures for a palliative home care intervention with pilot study results.Research in nursing & healthIn a pilot with 10 families, nurse telephone palliative coaching was delivered as planned, with delivery ratings ≥93%. Patients reported using breathlessness tools, and 50% completed Advance Directives. Small pilot, not proof of effectiveness.
• RNCohort2021Comparison of Japan nurse practitioner-led care and physician trainee-led care on patients' length of stay in a secondary emergency department: A retrospective study.Japan journal of nursing science : JJNSBefore accounting for other factors, the two care groups did not differ clearly in emergency department stay. After accounting for other factors, Japan nurse practitioner-led care was associated with a 6-minute shorter stay. The median stay was 134.0 minutes.
• RNSurvey2021Parents' Intentions to Vaccinate Their Children Against COVID-19.Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & PractitionersMost surveyed parents planned flu vaccination, but many were more hesitant about a new COVID vaccine. Trust in vaccine information was linked to intent, so ask families about trust and side-effect concerns.
• RNCohortCotinine Fluctuation in Maternal Saliva During and After Pregnancy: Implications for Perinatal Outcomes.MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursingSaliva cotinine fell from early to late pregnancy in heavy smokers but not light smokers, then rose after birth in both groups. Nurses should not treat lower late-pregnancy cotinine alone as proof smoking decreased.
• RNPilotPilot Study of Absolute Telomere Lengths in Preterm Infants.Nursing researchIn preterm infants, no measured NICU or infant characteristic reached the study's 5% threshold for association with absolute telomere length. Reliable telomere measurements were obtained from 33 of 36 samples.
• PTOTRNCohortDistinct Sleep Disturbance Profiles in Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy.Cancer nursingMost patients with gastrointestinal cancers on chemotherapy had high sleep disturbance, driven mainly by insufficient sleep quantity and frequent awakenings. Those in the worst group were younger, unemployed, had childcare duties, and reported more pain and fatigue.
• RNCohortSymptom Clusters, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life: A Latent Class Analysis of Children During Maintenance Therapy for Leukemia.Cancer nursingChildren with high fatigue, sleep, and mood symptoms during leukemia maintenance did not improve during treatment. Active children had better sleep, but activity did not reduce fatigue or mood symptoms.
• RNCohort2022Association Between Cognitive Status and Falls With and Without Injury During a Skilled Nursing Facility Short Stay.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn the first 18 days of a skilled nursing facility stay, greater cognitive impairment was linked to more severe falls. Residents with mild impairment had higher fall severity, and those with moderate or severe impairment had still higher fall severity.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2022A systematic review of the qualitative literature on older individuals' experiences of care and well-being during physical rehabilitation for acquired brain injury.Journal of advanced nursingOlder adults after brain injury described wanting more frequent physiotherapy, family involvement, respectful communication, and choices in discharge. Creative activities and feeling autonomous were linked with well-being. These are experiences, not proof of effect.
• RNSurvey2022The relation between psychological distress and medication adherence in lung transplant candidates and recipients: A cross-sectional study.Journal of clinical nursingLung transplant patients reported high distress and medication non-adherence. In recipients, anxiety symptoms were linked to better adherence; depression and PTSD were not. Ask about anxiety and timing problems, but do not assume cause.
• RNCohort2022Describing Transfers Originating Out-of-Facility for Nursing Home Residents.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationNursing home residents transferred after leaving the facility were younger, less cognitively impaired, and more often had cardiovascular symptoms, especially from dialysis. Nurses should expect communication gaps and check advance care plans before outside visits.
• RNQualitative2022A clinical-academic partnership to develop a family management intervention for parents of preterm infants.Journal of clinical nursingA partnership with NICU parents, nurses, and technology staff built a 26-video family management program for parents of preterm infants. The prototype used short videos parents could choose when and where to watch; benefit has not been tested.
• RNCohort2022Impact of legalization of Medical Assistance in Dying on the Use of Palliative Sedation in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Chart Review.The American journal of hospice & palliative careIn a palliative care unit, palliative sedation rose from 4.7% of deaths before MAiD to 14.6% after. In acute care it stayed about 5%. Agitated delirium and dyspnea were common indications.
• RNQualitative2022The clock is ticking: Parental stress around emerging adulthood for adolescents with type 1 diabetes.Journal of pediatric nursingParents of teens with type 1 diabetes described looming milestones like driving, college, and legal adulthood as a ticking clock. They stayed heavily involved in glucose checks and supplies out of fear, and reported coaching, offering help, and gradual structure reduced their stress.
• RNCohort2022Access to post-acute care services reduces emergency department utilisation among individuals insured by Medicaid: An observational study.Journal of clinical nursingMedicaid patients discharged from a safety-net hospital had more emergency visits within 30 days. Home health and specialty care were associated with fewer emergency visits, and when specialty care was included, the Medicaid gap was no longer seen.
• RNSystematic Review2021Caregivers' experiences of contributing to patients' self-care in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies.Journal of advanced nursingCaregivers of COPD patients actively manage medications, monitor night-time symptoms and advocate during exacerbations. Nurses should assess these existing practices and include caregivers in education, rather than assuming patients self-manage alone.
• RNCohort2021Comorbidities predict 30-day hospital mortality of older adults with COVID-19.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)In 147 older adults hospitalized with COVID-19, 30-day mortality was higher with greater comorbidity burden: 7.3% with a Charlson score of 3 or less, 22.5% with 4 to 5, and 28.8% with 6 or more.
• RNQualitative2021Maternal vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic:A qualitative interview study with UK pregnant women.MidwiferyMost pregnant women considered routine pertussis and influenza vaccines very important, but most were unwilling to volunteer for a new vaccine trial because of unknown risks to themselves and their baby.
• RNSurvey2021Health Locus of Control and Neurocognitive Function in Latinx and Non-Latinx White People Living With HIV: A Cross-sectional Study.The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANACBelieving health is controlled by luck or others correlates with worse memory and learning scores in people living with HIV, especially Latinx participants. Internal beliefs showed no link to cognitive performance. These associations do not prove that changing beliefs improves cognition.
• PTRNQualitative2021Family Management of Severe Obesity in Adolescents.Journal of pediatric nursingFamilies managing adolescent severe obesity described daily conflict over food, time, exercise, stigma, and medication. They wanted specific meal plans, structured exercise support, and accountability from clinic providers.
• RNSystematic Review2021Consequences of visiting restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative review.International journal of nursing studiesDuring visiting restrictions, patients and families reported more distress, poorer self-care and intake, and staff faced heavier communication loads. Digital visits did not replace family presence. The review could not separate these effects from pandemic stress.
• RNMeta-AnalysisA Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Low-Residue Diet Versus Clear Liquid Diet: Which Is Better for Bowel Preparation Before Colonoscopy?Gastroenterology nursing : the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and AssociatesBefore colonoscopy, low-residue diet showed no difference in bowel preparation quality compared with clear liquid diet. Patients tolerated it better, were more willing to repeat it, and had less hunger, nausea and vomiting.
• RNOtherImproving Vascular Access Dressing Integrity in the Acute Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project.Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses SocietyFor nurses managing peripheral IV dressings, adding gum mastic adhesive to transparent dressings reached 93% and 83% intact in small protocol samples, while education alone reached 57% and 9%.
• RNCohortMultiple Gastrointestinal Symptoms Are Associated With Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea in Patients With Breast Cancer.Cancer nursingBreast cancer patients who reported chemotherapy-induced nausea also reported more dry mouth, vomiting, constipation, taste changes, and poor appetite. Nurses should assess these symptoms and antiemetic use, not only nausea.
• RNSurvey2022Prolonged Grief and Bereavement Supports Within a Caregiver Population Who Transition Through a Palliative Care Program in British Columbia, Canada.The American journal of hospice & palliative careAt 12 months after loss, 4.7% of bereaved caregivers who completed the PG-13 met criteria for prolonged grief disorder. Helpful supports were grouped into formal services, informal relationships, and self-care strategies.
• RNOther2022YouTube as a source of information about COVID-19 for children: Content quality, reliability, and audience participation analysis.Journal of pediatric nursingAmong 57 English YouTube videos explaining COVID-19 to children, 32 were judged informative and 25 misleading; ministry, academic, hospital, and physician videos were judged more reliable than entertainment or individual videos.
• RNOther2022Nursing Home Antibiotic Stewardship Policy and Antibiotics Use: 2013-2017.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationNursing homes with stronger antibiotic stewardship policies saw reduced antibiotic use. The decrease was most significant in facilities implementing four or five specific policies, suggesting that comprehensive programs effectively lower unnecessary prescriptions.
• RNSystematic Review2022Telehealth delivery of motivational interviewing for diabetes management: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Patient education and counselingSome adults with diabetes had lower A1C, systolic blood pressure, and better confidence in managing diabetes after telehealth motivational interviewing. Benefits were inconsistent, and many diet, activity, weight, lipid, and self-care outcomes did not change.
• RNCohort2022Effect of COVID-19 on management of patients with low back pain in the emergency department.Australasian emergency careIn three Sydney EDs, low back pain presentations fell 31% during early COVID-19, but serious spinal pathology counts stayed similar and imaging, opioids, admissions and pathology tests did not fall; ambulance arrivals rose.
• RNOther2022Barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining peer support in kidney care.Journal of renal careMost kidney units lack a formal peer support service, with staff time and unclear guidance cited as the main barriers. Clinicians and patients agreed that simple referral systems, dedicated staff champions, and flexible matching improve uptake.