Digital Commons Network^™

Teamwork Under Pressure: Ob Emergency Simulation With Nursing, Midwifery & Nurse Anesthesia Students, Wendy R. Gibbons, Russ Branch, Katie Cole, Desiree Mullis Clement, Lisamarie Wands

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Midwives, nurses and nurse anesthetists frequently work together in one of the most enduring and consistent patient care settings, obstetrical care units. Interprofessional teamwork is a core competency for advanced practice and pre-licensure nursing students and interdisciplinary simulation offer students in prelicensure and advanced practice nursing programs the ability to collaborate, effectively communicate, and learn each other’s roles.

Methods: Faculty within a large university’s midwifery and nurse anesthesia programs designed and implemented an interdisciplinary simulation experience involving students from pre-licensure, midwifery, and nurse anesthesia cohorts. The students performed in the roles of the certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse …

Silver Linings Among Youth Living With Hiv: An Integrated Mixed Methods Analysis, Emily Anne Barr, Mary Catherine Lingwall, Himabindu Reddy Basani, Joanna S. Vennekotter, Alyssa Goldsmith, Joseph Crane, Leah Jane Anthony, Re'undre Malone, Veronica Brady

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Youth living with HIV experience stigma, mental health challenges, and barriers to engagement in care. Silver linings are positive shifts in perception, connection, or opportunity that arise from adversity. This project examined silver linings across two studies of youth living with HIV and explored associations with stigma, trust, mental health, and viral suppression.

Methods: An integrated mixed methods design was used. The first study (Colorado, USA) was a cross-sectional survey of 109 youth that assessed stigma, mental health, trust in the healthcare relationship, viral load, and one open-ended item on silver linings. The second study (Texas, USA) included semi-structured …

Shape: A Photovoice Study Exploring Student And Educator Perceptions Of School Built Environments, Megan L. Jester, Dawn Loraas, Cian L. Brown, Madelynn Henderson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: School buildings shape daily experiences, well-being, and professional satisfaction for those who work and learn within them. Schools are increasingly primary access points for student health services.¹ Teaching in public schools ranks among the most stressful occupations, driving burnout and turnover.² As these groups spend most days in schools, the built environment serves as a crucial social determinant of health.³ Factors like extreme temperatures, poor air quality, and noise pollution impact health outcomes^4-6, creating barriers to learning.⁷ Limited nurse-driven research exists on how building attributes impact well-being. Spatial Habits Advance Personal Excellence examines …

Opioid Overdose Simulation Training For Staff: An Educational Development Project, Brooke Van Buskirk, Tyler Langley, Nancy S. Goldstein

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Outpatient medical facilities have become more likely to encounter in-office emergencies related to opioid overdoses. Literature analysis found gaps in health team response capability in outpatient healthcare settings.¹

Our aim was to design and implement an opioid overdose simulation at an outpatient substance use disorder clinic. Literature reviewed found 4 essential themes to guide our curriculum development: simulation training, emergency action protocols, response training and equipment readiness.^2,3,4,5 These themes were used to create an algorithm on best-practice for overdose response and guided our simulation development.

A four-step simulation was designed including pre-brief education, low-fidelity mannequin simulation, high-fidelity simulation …

Life Of Patients After Laryngectomy Before Hospital Discharge, Kaori Haba, Kumiko Kotake, Mami Kurita, Kazuyo Iwanaga, Ichiro Kai, Yoshimi Suzukamo, Aya Takahashi, Yoko Ishibashi, Yoriko Hara, Ichiro Ota, Hirokazu Uemura

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study aims to identify how patients after laryngectomy (PaL) feel about their lives before discharge.

Methods: The participants received total laryngectomy for peri-laryngeal cancer. They were interviewed for physical condition and concerns in daily lives, and how they coped with them before discharge. Qualitative induction was used to analyze. This study was conducted by obtaining the approval of the Ethical Review Committee of the university the researcher belongs to.

Results: All 9 participants were male, and the mean age was 68.2 years.
They “felt their bodies were recuperating” from the surgical invasion with free from respiratory distress and …

The Gap Kalamazoo Instrument To Evaluate Therapeutic Communication Of Pre-Licensure Nursing Students, Tracy J. Perron, Mary Thomas, Chelsea Lebo, Romy Zemer

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Effective communication among healthcare teams is essential for patient safety and satisfaction. Communication is a core competency for students in nursing education.

Purpose: This study aims to adapt the Gap-Kalamazoo Communication Skills Assessment for nursing students to enhance their communication skills and align with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials competencies.

Methods: This tool was tested with junior and senior nursing students at two institutions, with data collected through self-evaluations, peer evaluations, and faculty evaluations during clinical and simulation experiences.

Results: The results showed a high reliability of the tool (Cronbach’s Alpha 0.832 for seniors, 0.880 for …

Augustine’S Lessons On Friendship And Health: A Humanistic Perspective On Connection And Well-Being, Emily Anne Barr

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Friendship has long been recognized as essential to human flourishing. St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430) wrote about friendship as a source of meaning, growth, and healing. The purpose of this presentation is to explore Augustine’s insights on friendship through a contemporary nursing lens by integrating his teachings with Kristen Swanson’s Theory of Caring. This approach examines how ancient wisdom aligns with modern understandings of relational health, connection, and caring in nursing practice.

Methods: An integrative conceptual approach was used to examine Augustine’s writings and their alignment with Swanson’s Theory of Caring. The presentation incorporates visual art, symbolic imagery, and …

Mentorship Matters: Inspiring Growth And Securing The Future Of Nursing, Terri Thompson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose/Aims: This project aimed to conduct a systematic literature review examining how mentoring impacts resilience, longevity in the profession, and prevention of nurse-to-nurse bullying.

Background: Mentorship in nursing is essential for supporting new graduates as they transition into practice and for nurses assuming new roles in clinical or academic settings. Despite its proven strategy for retention and professional growth, formal mentorship programs are not consistently implemented. Bullying remains a persistent issue, undermining confidence, job satisfaction, and well-being, while contributing to stress, burnout, and attrition that worsen the nursing shortage. New nurses are especially vulnerable, often resigning prematurely. Effective mentoring fosters …

Caring Science And A Magnet Culture Positively Influence Patient Experience: A Theoretical Framework, Mary E. Lough, Grissel Hernandez, Kathleen Bradley, Alice Yan, Cassendra Munro, Rachyl Pines

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

BACKGROUND: An academic hospital implemented both Watson Caring Science and a Magnet® culture to support nurse wellbeing and optimize patient outcomes.^1-3 The goal was to create a culture of caring. The research challenge was how to measure culture, which is complex, intangible and often difficult to quantify. Few healthcare organizations deploy theory-driven quantitative evaluations. Most rely on atheoretical data mining rather than conceptually grounded frameworks.

PURPOSE: To develop a theoretical framework to test the hypothesis that: (1) Human Caring Culture directly influences Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS); (2) Human Caring Culture indirectly influences HCAHPS’ outcomes …

Generative Ai In Nursing Education: Opportunities, Challenges And Educator Preparedness, Elizabeth L. Woods, Desiree Mullis Clement, Kandice Pampuri, Maggie Pustinger, Quyen Phan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Generative AI is transforming clinical nursing education, highlighting the urgent need to train nurse educators with the knowledge, tools, and confidence for practical use. AI tools are quickly impacting content, student preparation, and teaching methods, creating both opportunities and challenges. AI offers both advantages and obstacles in clinical content creation; however, advantages do not replace nursing experience. Due to its rapid integration into education, many educators remain cautious about responsible implementation because of ethical concerns.

Purpose: This study examines changes in participant knowledge and confidence in the use of AI tools in clinical education among clinical nurse educators from …

Changes In Psychological Adjustment Among Laryngectomized Patients Through Nursing Intervention: Rct, Kumiko Kotake, Kaori Haba, Mami Kurita, Ichiro Ota, Kazuyo Iwanaga, Yoshimi Suzukamo, Ichiro Kai, Aya Takahashi, Yoko Ishibashi, Yoriko Hara, Hirokazu Uemura

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in psychological adjustment among laryngectomized patients through nursing interventions and to verify the effectiveness of these interventions.

Methods: Of the 76 hospitalized laryngectomy patients who received the study explanation and provided consent, 74 were included. The intervention involved providing information through interviews and a guidebook. The study method involved conducting follow-up surveys at preoperative, pre-discharge, and three months, six months, and one year post-discharge to examine the temporal changes in psychological adjustment. This study used the Nottingham Psychological Adjustment Scale for laryngectomized patients. The higher the subscale score, the greater …

Strengthening Disease Surveillance In Malawi: Lessons From The 2022 Polio Outbreak, Zione N. Dembo, Mike Nenani Chisema, Joyce Beyamu, Tamandani Kapenga Nazimera

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Infectious disease outbreaks remain a persistent public health threat in Malawi. The 2022–2024 polio outbreak highlighted the central role of enhanced surveillance in timely detection and effective response. This abstract examines key strategies, outcomes, and lessons for strengthening surveillance and preparedness.

Methods: The response leveraged multiple surveillance approaches, including Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and environmental surveillance, improved specimen transport, digital tools for case investigation, and multiple supplementary immunization campaigns. Data from surveillance indicators and outbreak response activities were analyzed to assess performance and identify challenges.

Results: Enhanced surveillance proved effective, with rapid laboratory confirmation of the index case triggering …

Strategies For Successful Postgraduation Next Generation Nclex (Ngn) Preparation, Kristy P. Ludy

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background and Problem: In 2023, the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) was implemented after a strategic practice analysis conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to improve evaluation of Clinical Judgment and decision-making of nursing graduates (Jessee et al., 2023; Poorman & Mastorovich, 2020). Initially, first-time pass rates (FTPRs) rose after the NGN’s implementation, but have fluctuated on national and state levels (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2025). Nursing faculty have been focused on preparing students for the NGN (Boev, 2023; Sturdivant & Allen-Thomas, 2022). However, becoming aware of how graduates prepare after graduation and …

The Effect Of A Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program On Stress And Burnout Among Nurses, Shanda Sutherland

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Following COVID19, hospitals were faced with prolonged staff shortages, nurse burnout, and an exodus from bedside nursing (White, et al., 2025). As human resources become increasingly challenged, leaders must think and act outside the box to promote and sustain the well-being of the nursing workforce (Hazelett-Stevens, 2020). This quasi-experimental study examined the effect of a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) on perceived stress and burnout among medical-surgical nurses in a hospital setting. Stress reduction programs have been shown to positively impact stress among nurses and may support them to function at their highest cognitive ability (Burdette, 2020). The consistent …

It Takes A Community: Barbershops As Healing Spaces For Black Men, Aron Anthony King, Piri W. Ackerman, Patricia Fernandez

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Black men in the United States experience disproportionately poor mental health outcomes yet remain significantly underrepresented in accessing care. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African American adults are 20% more likely to report serious psychological distress and are more likely to experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness compared to their white counterparts. Despite these disparities, less than half of Black men experiencing mental illness seek treatment. Intersecting factors such as racism, stigma, medical mistrust, and traditional notions of masculinity contribute to these gaps, highlighting the need for more culturally responsive …

Sleep Quality Trajectories In Mothers And Fathers During The Postpartum Period, Shu-Yu Kuo, Hsin-Yi Lai

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Sleep disturbance is a common experience among families during the postpartum period and can impair parental adjustment and infant care. Few studies have examined sleep quality over time within a family dyad. This study aimed to investigate the sleep trajectories of mothers and fathers from the early postpartum period to three months postpartum

Methods: We conducted a prospective follow-up of mother-father dyads at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postpartum. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years and a singleton, full-term pregnancy; parents or infants with high-risk complications were excluded. Demographic and health information were collected using a structured …

Preventing The Next Tragedy: Applying Root Cause Analysis (Rca) In A Military Suicide Event, Li-Ling Lin, Kai-Wen Li, Yun-Shih Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

This study examines a near-miss suicide by a high-risk military patient in an acute psychiatric ward. Using Root Cause Analysis (RCA), latent errors in system design and communication were identified, guiding strategies to enhance patient safety and care quality.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to implement RCA in a military suicide event and improve the process of care in an acute psychiatric ward.

Methods: The RCA process involves identifying the problem, establishing a timeline, identifying the causes, creating a cause-and-effect diagram, and implementing strategies. We conducted personnel interviews and on-site walk to understand the operations and environment, reconstructing …

Lymphatic Massage For Reducing Upper-Limb Edema In Icu Patients: A Quality Improvement Project, Ying-Fang Huang, Tzu-Ting Huang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Upper-limb edema commonly occurs among critically ill patients due to immobility, inflammation, and fluid overload, leading to discomfort, impaired mobility, and higher pressure injury risk. Based on lymphatic physiology and prior evidence, this quality improvement (QI) project aimed to reduce edema severity through a structured nurse-led lymphatic massage intervention in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a northern Taiwan medical center.

Methods: This QI project was conducted from March to May 2025 using the Plan–Do–Check–Act framework. Baseline audit showed that 75% of patients had moderate to severe edema (≥ +2). Twenty adult patients were enrolled—10 in the intervention …

Identification Of Positive Deviance In Forensic Nursing Practice, Jodie C. Gary, Laurie Charles, Jaeda Onyemobi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Violence is a sustained global public health issue.¹ Forensic nurses (FNs) receive specialized education to apply nursing knowledge and skills within the intersection of the healthcare and legal systems, focusing on people who experience or perpetrate violence, trauma, abuse, and maltreatment.² Positive Deviance (PD) in nursing is intentional and honorable behavior that departs or differs from an established norm and contains elements of innovation, creativity, and/or adaptability; it also involves risk.³ These nurses practice differently and more effectively to provide patient-centered care.⁴ Although professional standards guide care and lay the groundwork for best practices, they are …

Predictors Of Adverse Events After Emergency Transfers In Long-Term Care: A Secondary Analysis, Yu-Chi Chen, Yi-Ru Liao

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Long-term care residents worldwide frequently require emergency medical care due to multimorbidity, frailty, and functional impairment. After returning to long-term care facilities, many experience rapid health changes, leading to preventable adverse events, reduced care quality, and safety concerns. Identifying predictors of such events is essential to inform risk stratification and proactive nursing surveillance in long-term care settings. This study aimed to examine predictors of adverse events after emergency transfers, using Taiwan as a population-level case context.

A secondary data analysis was conducted using medical records from 19 long-term care facilities in northern Taiwan between October 2022 and September 2023. A …

Healthcare Professionals' Experiences Of Mental Health Crises Among People Experiencing Homelessness, John P. Gilmore

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: People experiencing homelessness face significant barriers to accessing mental health care, often resulting in untreated psychological distress and crisis presentations. In Ireland, the absence of dedicated mental health services for this population means that frontline clinicians frequently manage acute mental health deterioration within generalist settings not designed or resourced for such care.

Aim: To explore the experiences of healthcare professionals responding to mental health crises among individuals experiencing homelessness and to identify systemic, relational, and organisational factors influencing care delivery.

Methods: A descriptive qualitative study informed by critical realism was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 14 healthcare professionals, including …

Gloves On Or Off? A Critical Ethnographic Study Exploring Non-Sterile Glove Use In Hospital Settings, Navisha Weerasinghe, Fiona A. Miller, Lisa Cranley, Quinn Grundy

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a surge in the production and use of plastic single-use medical products, particularly single-use gowns, masks, and gloves. The proliferation of single-use medical products in care work highlights significant tensions between safety, cost, infection prevention and control (IPAC), and environmental concerns. Nurses are critical stakeholders in driving environmental sustainability within health systems as they are uniquely positioned at the intersection of patient care, supply utilization, IPAC, and waste generation. In recent years, ‘gloves-off’ campaigns have been introduced at some hospitals globally and in Ontario to attend to the environmental harms associated with unnecessary glove use. …

Impact Of Electronic Health Records On Nursing In Low-And Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review, Wahab Osman, Kimberley Widger, Alexandra Harris, Vida N. Yakong, Charlene Chu, Stephanie Asah-Ofori

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Electronic health records (EHR) are increasingly being implemented in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), a significant shift from paper-based documentation, with goals to enhance clinical decision-making (1-5). However, implementation challenges such as lack of technical skills, funding constraints, and equipment issues exist (2-4). Furthermore, there is a lack of research focused on the impact of EHR implementation on nurses in LMIC, despite the critical role of nursing documentation on care decisions and planning (1-5).

Aims: To map evidence and identify research gaps from primary studies on the impact of electronic health records on nursing care in LMIC from 2015 …

Characterizing Stigma In Congenital Heart Disease: A Scoping Review, Tieghan Killackey, Valerie Tan, Mark Sochaniwskyj, Maryjo Antonio, Mohit Prashar, Ashley Farrell

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital malformation in Canada with a prevalence of 1.3%. (1) While medical advancements have improved survival rates, individuals with CHD have reported experiencing social exclusion, isolation, discrimination and bullying due to their condition, which impacts their social, professional, and emotional well-being.(2,3) This type of stigmatization can impact mental health, treatment adherence, and quality of life in patients (4); however limited research has focused on the experience of stigma in patients with CHD.

The purpose of the scoping review is to synthesize evidence on the various manifestations of stigma in the lives of …

Advancing Accessibility: Integrating Inclusive Design And Ai To Support Students With Disabilities, Stephanie Black, Jennifer Green

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

 Nursing students with disabilities often face barriers in didactic, simulation, and clinical environments that can limit academic success and contribute to underrepresentation in the nursing workforce. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight practical, evidence-based strategies for promoting accessibility in nursing education through universal design principles, collaboration with internal and external partners, and selective use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). This session will explore approaches such as flexible learning activities and assessments, accessible simulation experiences, and technology-assisted supports that complement traditional accommodations. While AI can enhance accessibility - through adaptive study aids, note-taking supports, and alternative content …

Predictors Of Choking In People With Schizophrenia In A Psychiatric Hospital: A Case-Control Study, Ying-Jyun Tsung, Chiu-Yueh Yang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Choking risks include advanced age, swallowing disorders, poor dental health, rapid eating, and large bites, especially in older adults and those with intellectual disabilities. Protective factors are adequate chewing and slower eating. More research is needed on psychiatric inpatients, especially those with schizophrenia.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors related to choking in psychiatric inpatients with schizophrenia.

Methods: A total of 250 participants were recruited from a psychiatric institution in Northern Taiwan. The case group comprised 50 high choking-risk participants, identified by a history of choking and a Choking Risk Assessment (CRA) score above 20 or a “Yes” …

Clarifying The Concept Of Virtual Nurse: A Concept Analysis For Aging And Chronic Care, Chia-Hui Chou, Heng-Hsin Tung

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

As the global healthcare landscape grapples with aging populations and the growing burden of chronic diseases, digital innovations like the Virtual Nurse (VN)—AI-powered embodied conversational agents—are gaining recognition for their potential to support patient self-management and improve care delivery. This study applies Walker and Avant's 8-step concept analysis to clarify the definition, boundaries, and essential characteristics of the Virtual Nurse. Thirteen peer-reviewed articles published from 2010 to 2021 were reviewed, focusing on their applicability to older adults and chronic disease management. Four defining attributes emerged: (1) clinical interactivity, (2) human-like empathy, (3) accessibility and understandability, and (4) scalability with feedback …

Male Partners' Experiences During Their Spouses' Menopausal Transition, Veronica Adwoa Agyare, Martha Yawa Benti, Martha Atiemo

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Menopause involves a range of physical, emotional, behavioural and physiological changes that may affect the quality of life of women and their partners. Usually, men endure in silence and seem invisible. Evidence shows a dearth of literature on men’s perspectives regarding their spouses’ menopause in Sub-Saharan Africa (Zhang et al., 2020; Matina et al., 2025). The study explored Ghanaian men’s experiences during their spouses menopausal transition.

Method: The study utilised an exploratory, descriptive qualitative approach to understand the phenomenon. Thirteen men living with wives experiencing menopause involved in the study based on information power. Interviews were conducted face-to-face and …

Exploring Presenteeism Experiences Among Nurses In Taiwan: A Qualitative Study, Hsiao-Wei Cheng, Ai-Fu Chiou

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Nurses often work despite illness due to heavy workloads, professional expectations, and limited staffing. Such presenteeism may affect performance, well-being, and long-term occupational health. In Taiwan, little is known about how nurses perceive and experience working while unwell. Therefore, this study aimed to explore Taiwanese nurses’ awareness and lived experiences of presenteeism using a qualitative approach.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Six nurses from intensive care units and general wards in a medical center in northern Taiwan were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews that focused on decision-making regarding attendance, perceived pressures, …

Using Simulation To Translate Theory Into Practice: Lessons Learned & Next Steps, Margarett Alexandre, Fern Baudo, Vanessa Carew

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

NIH notes adverse events can be avoided (Patient Safety, 2023). Simulations using high-fidelity mannequins offer an interactive environment for students to learn critical thinking skills. Simulations allow students to practice skills in a safe environment before working with real patients (Zenani, 2023; Durham & Alden, 2008). Saylor, Graber, and Trinkaus (2024) note that simulation-based learning experiences can increase confidence in undergraduate nursing students.

Purpose: To explore the impact of increase simulation with senior nursing students in an upper-level med/Surg course, incorporating guided reflective journaling to address students’ assessment of knowledge, understanding of theoretical and practical skills learned, and reflect on …