Digital Commons Network^™

Rompiendo Fronteras: Addressing Language Barriers In Hispanic Palliative Cancer Care, Carla Mcnulty, Catherine Finlayson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanic people, accounting for 20% of deaths (American Cancer Society, 2023). In 2024, the American Cancer Society predicted that 195,300 Hispanics would be diagnosed with cancer in the United States, and 50,400 (25%) would die from their disease, leaving approximately 144,900 (75%) living with cancer. As the Hispanic population rises in the United States, one can predict that cancer diagnoses will also increase. This is likely to result in a higher number of cancer-related deaths, as well as more individuals living with cancer. Consequently, there will be an increased demand for …

Supporting Socialization & Expression In Ltc: A Scoping Review Of Language Barriers & Older Adults, Christina Oleynikov, Amanda Mcintyre

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Communication is central to socialization and the expression of cultural identity [7]. In multilingual societies such as Canada, language barriers can hinder full integration, affecting social participation and overall quality of life [6,7,9]. The proposed study focuses on language barriers faced by minority older adults in long-term care settings. Non-English speaking residents who face barriers in communication and lack the adequate support necessary to overcome them, become vulnerable to impaired meaningful interactions and social isolation [3,11]. This study plans to gather and review existing scientific literature on how these barriers affect older adults and impact their socialization needs. A scoping …

Musculoskeletal Disorders, Care Burden, And Sarcopenia: A Preliminary Study On Family Caregivers, Shu-Yuan Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Family caregivers bear a high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), which may precipitate sarcopenia and care burden. This study hypothesizes that the occurrence of MSDs may be related to caregiver burden and sarcopenia among middle-aged and older family caregivers.

Study Purposes: (1) To investigate the incidence of MSDs, sarcopenia, and the level of care burden among middle-aged and older family caregivers; (2) To identify the correlations between MSDs, sarcopenia, and care burden.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. Family caregivers who received services from the Caregivers Association or home care services and met the inclusion criteria, including …

Older Population-Based Resilience: An Evolutionary Analysis Via Complex Adaptive Systems, Po-Chung Feng

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: To clarify the concept of older population-base resilience to support nursing research, public health planning, and healthy aging strategies.

Background: Older population-based resilience is an important concept for facilitating the adaptation of aging populations to multifaceted adversity networks. While extensive studies has examined resilience among older adults across diverse systems, hierarchical levels, and dimensional perspectives, the conceptual discourse has focused mainly on the individual level. A comprehensive articulation of population-level resilience attributes has been notably absent from the literature. Consequently, establishing a precise conceptualization of Older Population-Based Resilience constitutes an imperative scholarly endeavor.

Methods: A systematic literature search was …

Being Present: Elevating Patient And Nursing Satisfaction Through Leadership Presence, Miranda Marie Schmidt

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Predominant and notable themes currently being actively monitored in healthcare are nursing satisfaction, retention, and job performance. These variables have been identified as important areas to evaluate as to how they directly impact patient care outcomes. Use of the evidence-based Casey Fink Graduate Nurse Survey and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality- Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) leadership rounding guide highlights that combining structured tools along with leadership presence, style, and interactions is associated with positive changes in patient care, nursing satisfaction, retention, and the overall quality metrics will improve in a specified unit.

Methodology: 26 articles were reviewed …

Examining Social Support Among Black Dementia Caregivers In The Greater Toronto Area, Deanna Marie Black

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Dementia affects more than 55 million people globally and disproportionately impacts Black populations due to inequities in healthcare access. In Canada, Black communities face higher dementia risk and greater barriers to timely, culturally aligned care. In the Greater Toronto Area, Black caregivers carry major responsibilities while navigating fragmented services shaped by race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Although social support reduces caregiver burden, little is known about how Black caregivers access and use support within intersecting social and structural constraints.

Purpose: This study will examine how Black adult caregivers in the Greater Toronto Area construct, access, and mobilize social support …

Social Frailty In Asia: A Scoping Review Of Interventions, Gaps, And Priorities, Julienne Ivan Dagondon Soberano, Jed Montayre

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: Social frailty (SF) is a multidimensional state of social vulnerability linked to adverse outcomes in older adults. Asia’s rapidly aging population poses challenges for health systems, particularly in addressing SF-related conditions. This scoping review aimed to describe existing SF interventions in Asian countries, assess evidence volume and characteristics, and identify research gaps.

Methods: A systematic search of eight databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) identified English-language studies published from January 2020 to September 2025. The review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Interventions were synthesized across the care continuum (prevention, …

Assessing Nursing Students' Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Older Adults, Desiree L. Fernandes, Jennifer A. Fearon-Lynch

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The population of older adults in the United States is increasing and will require an increase in the number of nurses to care for this population. Evidence suggests that there are many biases, stereotypes, and myths associated with the older adult population, which influence nursing students’ attitudes toward working with this population.

Aim: Our aim was to assess the effect of an aging adult educational intervention on second-semester sophomore nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward older adults.

Method: This one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design with qualitative questions was conducted at a college within the northeastern United States. Undergraduate second-semester sophomore …

Enhancing Community Health Volunteers In Screening Indonesian Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Riksa Wibawa Resna, Ching-Min Chen, Tram Thi Bich Nguyen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Indonesia faces a shortage of healthcare professionals (3.84 per 1,000 population, compared with the WHO standard of 4.45). Additionally, Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) play a crucial role in community-based geriatric care in Indonesia. However, their competencies in conducting Intrinsic Capacity (IC) screening remain limited.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured training program in improving CHV knowledge and skills related to intrinsic capacity screening.
A pre–post quasi-experimental design was employed with a total of 120 eligible CHVs recruited from three PHCs through purposive judgmental sampling. The two-day training program and a month of personal guidance were implemented …

[Excerpt From] Evidence-Based Practice Essentials For Nurses & The Healthcare Workforce, 2nd Edition, Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, Lynn Gallagher-Ford, Ellen Fineout-Overholt

Sigma Publications: Book Excerpts

Hospitals and healthcare systems worldwide have worked to build and sustain evidence-based practice (EBP) cultures, yet many still struggle to define what true EBP competency looks like in practice. Evidence-Based Practice Essentials for Nurses & the Healthcare Workforce: A Competency-Based Practical Guide for Improving Quality, Safety, & Outcomes, Second Edition, cuts through the confusion with a clear, actionable road map for making evidence-driven decisionmaking part of an organization’s DNA. Authored by worldwide EBP experts Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, Lynn Gallagher-Ford, and Ellen Fineout-Overholt, this hands-on resource serves as a practical toolkit for organizations committed to excellence. Whether pursuing or maintaining Magnet® …

Developing Ethical Reasoning And Teamwork In Nursing Students Via Organ Donation Simulation, Miranda M. Smith, Melissa Miasek, Laura Dunaway, Joseph Chamness, Mary Deason, Shikha Modi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Organ donation is a critical healthcare priority, with 140,964 transplants performed worldwide in 2018 (Lewis et al., 2021). Nursing students often report limited exposure to donor referral processes, brain death determination, and communication with organ procurement organizations. Low baseline knowledge and confidence highlight the need for structured educational interventions (Alwesmi et al., 2023; Bertocchi et al., 2025). Evidence shows teaching and simulation-based learning enhance knowledge, attitudes, and competence in end-of-life donation care (Lewis, 2023). Simulation provides psychological safety, supporting teamwork, communication, clinical judgment, and emotional readiness for ethically complex situations (Masgaard & Svellingen, 2025).

Purpose/Methods: This study examined senior …

Factors Influencing Geriatric Nursing Performance Among Korean Hospital Nurses, Yeon-Ju Kang, Eunji Seo, Jiyeon Ha, Minkyung Kang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: The global aging population has increased the demand for competent geriatric nursing care in acute hospital settings (Espinel-Jara et al., 2025, OCED, 2025). This study aimed to identify factors influencing geriatric nursing performance among Korean hospital nurses, focusing on nursing professionalism and work intensity, which would inform strategies for improving care quality.

Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted with 144 nurses from medical and surgical wards, intensive care units, and emergency units in three general hospitals in South Korea. Participants had at least six months of clinical experience and provided direct care to patients aged 65 years or …

Preparing Patients Without Caregivers: Nursing Strategies For Safe Discharge To Home, Christine Rae Platt, Alycia Bristol, Hannah Wilkerson, Susy Vega, Deedee Long, Catherine Elmore, Andrea Wallace

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Hospital discharge represents a critical transition in care, particularly for individuals without caregiving support. Patients who identify as having “no one to help” face heightened vulnerability to complications and rehospitalization. Understanding how nurses can identify and address these gaps is essential to reducing post-discharge complications and readmissions.

Purpose: To explore from the patient perspective how nurses can effectively prepare patients, who have no identified caregivers, for discharge home.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 adults recently discharged from a large metropolitan hospital in the western United States who reported having no one …

Reduced Executive Function In Older Adults With Chronic Diseases And Subjective Cognitive Decline, Cheng-Chen Chou, Yuan-Mei Liao, Jong-Ni Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Chronic diseases are common worldwide and are closely associated with cognitive decline. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) refers to self-perceived worsening of memory or cognitive ability. Individuals with SCD have a two-fold higher risk of developing dementia and often experience reduced physical function, emotional problems, lower quality of life, and an increased risk of falls. However, research on cognitive function and related factors among older adults with chronic diseases who report SCD remains limited.

Purpose: To compare cognitive and executive function in older adults with chronic diseases with and without SCD, and to identify factors associated with cognitive and executive …

Factors Influencing Canadian Nursing Students' Confidence, Perceptions, And Interest In Primary Care, Deanne Curnew, Julia Lukewich, Maria Mathews, Marie-Eve Poitras, Kathleen Stevens, Toni Leamon, Kennedy Deveau, Sheila Epp, Anaëlle Morin, Keirsten Smith

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: As team-based primary care expands in Canada, efforts to prepare Registered Nurses for primary care practice are growing. Learning experiences influence students' career-related confidence, perceptions, and interest. No studies have examined Canadian nursing students' academic exposure to primary care (i.e., in undergraduate programs) or the contribution of exposure to their confidence, perceptions, and interest in practicing in primary care.

Purpose: To examine the influence of Canadian nursing education on final-year baccalaureate nursing students’ confidence, perceptions, and interest related to practicing in primary care.

Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional study of final-year baccalaureate students from accredited nursing programs across …

Family Support As A Correlate Of Self-Care In Older Adults With Diabetes In The Us, Solomon Tagbor, Diane E. Berish

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Family support and the maintenance of functional ability are crucial for managing diabetes among older adults (OA). In the United States, diabetes affects 29.2% of OA, and its management is complicated by frailty, polypharmacy, and hospitalizations (Bellary et al., 2021). Supporting individuals’ self-care ability and activities of daily living (ADL) independence can help to support diabetes management. Family support may influence the self-care ability needed for independent diabetes management, but it is less studied. The social-ecological model guided this study (Tudge et al., 2022).

Purpose: To examine the association between family support and self-care ability among OA with diabetes …

Strategies For Early Diagnosis And Treatment Of Patients With Ovarian Cancer, Petrina Nicole Harrison

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background/Purpose: Ovarian cancer remains the leading cause of death among gynecologic malignancies, largely due to delayed diagnosis. Rural clinics face unique challenges, including limited access to specialists and diagnostic tools. This DNP quality assurance project aimed to evaluate and improve providers’ strategies for the timely diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer within a rural gynecology clinic serving women at increased risk for delayed detection and mortality.

Methods/Design: Using Avedis Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome framework, a retrospective chart review assessed adherence to evidence-based diagnostic and treatment practices. Findings informed the implementation of a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) integrated into provider workflows. Educational …

Reliability And Validity Of A Spiritual Health Scale For Older Adults In Long-Term Care Facilities, Kuan-Pei Lee, Ya-Lie Ku

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a Spiritual Health Scale designed for elderly residents in LTC facilities and to establish the reliability and validity of the instrument.

Methods: This study adopted a scale development approach. Based on the Elderly Spiritual Health Scale by Li and Shih (2021), the researchers integrated additional components derived from the conceptual framework to create a revised scale consisting of 16 items distributed across four dimensions—personal, community, environmental, and transcendental—with four items per dimension. A dichotomous scoring system was employed with responses coded as 1 (presence) or 0 (absence) of a spiritual issue scores ranged from …

Effects Of Tongue Resistance And Strengthening Exercises In Elderly With Mci: A Double-Blind Rct, Kuei-Ru Chou

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Frail older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often experience reduced tongue function, resulting in inefficient bolus transport and swallowing difficulties. Tongue resistance exercises (TRE) use isometric or isotonic movements against resistance to enhance tongue strength, while tongue strengthening exercises (TSE) involve repetitive, high-intensity movements to improve tongue pressure and swallowing coordination. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a combined TRE + TSE program on tongue function, swallowing pressure, swallowing performance, and quality of life (QoL) in frail older adults with MCI.

Methods: A prospective, double-blind, three-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants (n = 89; mean …

Celebrating Ancillary Staff Achievement In The Hospital Setting, Lori Ischinger

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Clinical ladder programs have been available for decades to promote bedside nursing recognition and retention. They have been proven to increase the perception of being valued by an organization, which in turn increases job satisfaction and performance. There is limited research to support the use of these same types of programs for ancillary clinical staff. These staff are essential members of the care team and deserve recognition for the work that they do. The objective was to successfully develop, implement and maintain a clinical ladder program that is specifically tailored to recognize and reward the clinical excellence of this staff. …

Engaging Rural Adults With Type 2 Diabetes In Adaptation Of A Physical Activity Intervention For A Mobile App, Chelsea Howland

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The purpose of this study was to 1) adapt a physical activity self-management intervention for a mobile app platform and 2) explore preferences for and understanding of graphically presented physical activity data in individuals aged 40 and older with T2D.

Aim 1: To engage end-users in adapting a physical activity self-management intervention for a mobile app delivery platform and explore acceptance.

Aim 2: To describe preferences for and understanding of graphically presented physical activity data.

[Excerpt From] Leading Academic-Practice Partnerships In Nursing And Healthcare, Doreen C. Harper, Maria R. Shirey, Cynthia S. Selleck, Michele H. Talley, Connie White-Williams

Sigma Publications: Book Excerpts

Leading Academic-Practice Partnerships in Nursing and Healthcare: A Paradigm for Change is a comprehensive guide for unlocking the power of partnerships—transforming healthcare by improving care processes, care coordination, and patient outcomes through collaborative partnerships among nursing academic and practice sectors. Written by experts immersed in this work for well over a decade, this indispensable resource shows how to develop robust partnerships focused on health systems, population health, and community care—and how to build the organizational structure needed to sustain and grow those partnerships.

This book provides:

• An understanding of why academic-practice partnerships are important, their benefits, and the nurses’ …

Relocation Experience And Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior: Newly Admitted Residents To Assisted Living Facilities, Jung Yoen Son

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

This study aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a longitudinal study with newly admitted residents to ALF, establish a preliminary estimate of changes in PA and SB during the relocation from community to ALF, and identify predictors of relocation-related changes.

[Excerpt From] Taking Action: Top 10 Priorities For Nurses To Protect Health In A Changing Climate, Susan B. Hassmiller

Sigma Publications: Book Excerpts

Taking Action: Top 10 Priorities for Nurses to Protect Health in a Changing Climate offers nurses a clear, evidence-based road map for responding to one of the most significant public health challenges of our time. Written as a practical and nonpolitical guide, the book translates the latest science into actionable strategies, helping nurses understand and address the ways climate-driven events affect the health of the public. Authors Sue Hassmiller and Katie Huffling—together with distinguished experts across nursing and environmental health—provide concrete recommendations for strengthening climate resilience, implementing effective clinical and community interventions, advancing sustainability within healthcare systems, and advocating for …

Evidence-Based Practice Improves Patient Outcomes And Healthcare System Return On Investment: Findings From A Scoping Review, Linda Connor, Jennifer Dean, Molly Mcnett, Donna M. Tydings, Amanda Shrout, Penelope F. Gorsuch, Ashley Hole, Laura Moore, Roy Brown, Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, Lynn Gallagher-Ford

Individual Articles

Background: Evidence-based practice and decision-making have been consistently linked to improved quality of care, patient safety, and many positive clinical outcomes in isolated reports throughout the literature. However, a comprehensive summary and review of the extent and type of evidence-based practices (EBPs) and their associated outcomes across clinical settings are lacking.

Aims: The purpose of this scoping review was to provide a thorough summary of published literature on the implementation of EBPs on patient outcomes in healthcare settings.

Methods: A comprehensive librarian-assisted search was done with three databases, and two reviewers independently performed title/abstract and full-text reviews within a systematic …

Race, Fear Of Falls, Built Environment And Physical Activity In Older Adults With Cancer, Kristen Fessele

General Submissions: Community and Population-based Materials

Motivation for older adults with cancer (OAC) to engage in physical activity (PA) during and after cancer treatment may be limited by many factors. OAC may be affected by persistent symptoms limiting PA capability such as fatigue, pain and dyspnea, or lack safe home or neighborhood spaces to engage in activity. Fear of falling (FOF) is a major concern among OAC and may decrease PA and life-space mobility. To understand how OAC perceptions of cancer treatment, FOF and their local built environment (BE) influence PA behaviors, we partnered with ResearchMatch.org to recruit a sample of 19 people with a history …

Understand Caregiving Appraisal In Chronic Illness And Disability Caregiving Over Extended Period, Dingyue Wang, Michael Cary, Qing Yang, Tamryn Fowler Gray, Cristina Hendrix

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Caregiving appraisal is the subjective evaluation and interpretation of the holistic caregiving experience. We aim to investigate the underlying factors related to caregivers' perceptions and evaluations of their caregiving role and experience in chronic illness caregiving contexts. This study utilized a qualitative descriptive design. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 caregivers to explore their experiences in providing care to adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. We uncovered five interconnected themes: caregiving gain and loss tradeoff, caregiving competency, caregiving motivation, caregiving dyadic relationship, and caregiving meaning appraisal. Caregiving loss and gain tradeoff appraisal is …

Critical Nursing Interventions For Post-Extubation Icu Patients, Estevao Frederico De Souza, Tricia M. Grinder, Sarah Rigsby, Samantha Vallespi

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: The 24-to-72-hour period post-extubation is a critical phase for intensive care patients, and can result in many complications. Nurses must be expertly trained in the interventions available to reduce the risks associated with the procedure.

Objectives: This systematic review aims to critically evaluate the existing literature about nursing interventions associated with patients after extubation, providing evidence to guide the nursing practice to reduce extubation failure, reintubation rates, and hospital stays.

Methodology: This systematic review includes studies from CINAHL, PubMed Central, Medline, and Health Source Nursing Academic Edition, focusing on international peer-reviewed full-text research articles.

Setting: The study has a …

Virtual Reality, De-Escalation Training & Non-Traditional Interprofessional Collaboration, Carrie D. Hintz

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Healthcare workers practice in volatile environments, where they are five times more likely to experience violence at work than any other profession in the United States (Jones et al., 2023). Approximately 72% of that violence has been classified as “verbal,” with physical violence being attributed to the other 28% (Sari et al., 2023). The Joint Commission (2019) (TJC) highlighted the need for de-escalation training in healthcare, especially given the rise of violence and aggression in U.S. healthcare settings.

Virtual reality-based simulations aim to provide real-world experiences in a simulated environment that provide students with safe learning environments to learn new …

Information Literacy: Ensuring Evidence-Based Practice In The Era Of Connectivity, Marianne E. Hess, Robyn Smith

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The rapid advancement of technology presents both opportunities and challenges in nursing. To promote nursing excellence, nurses respect the importance of using scholarly websites and publications. With technological advancements and multimedia resources offering convenience, they also pose risks regarding the accuracy and reliability of information accessed through non-scholarly sources. The purpose of this presentation examines information literacy in the clinical setting and how the clinical nurse should respond to the challenges of the overabundance of information.

In today’s readily accessible high-tech world, the nurse may be drawn to the convenience and habitual use of accessible learning materials using a non-scholarly …