Digital Commons Network^™

Sub-Saharan African Women’S Experiences Of Social Support During Childbirth In Finland, Emma Kwegyir-Afful, Anita Wikberg

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Over 50% of the estimated 90 million international migrants in Europe are women, many of whom are of childbearing age (Fair et al., 2020). Poorer pregnancy and birth outcomes are common among ethnic minority women (Soltani et al., 2020). In Finland Sub-Saharan African women (SSAW) are more likely to undergo caesarean section than Finnish women (Bastola et al., 2020).

Social support which is both informational (providing information for problem-solving) and emotional (offering care and/or trust) is key social determinant of health. It can be acquired through informal networks such as friends, family, and ethnic communities or through formal networks …

Staying Ahead Of Murphy’S Law: A Proactive Approach To Quality Improvement, Cristina L. Ritzema, Jessica Schweitzer

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: The purpose of this initiative was to proactively minimize the risk for patient harm related to errors in the administration of IV Pitocin and/or magnesium (Mg) during emergent situations in the labor and delivery unit, through best-practices and evidence-based strategies.

Background: Pitocin and Mg are high-risk IV medications in obstetrics, frequently given during stressful situations. After a serious Pitocin-related error at another facility caused adverse outcomes, the staff recognized their own vulnerability to similar mistakes. While quality improvement and risk management initiatives are often reactive responses to poor outcomes, the team chose a proactive approach. It implemented fail-safe solutions …

Pre-Nursing Students' Reflections Of The Most Useful Success Strategies: A Qualitative Study, Regina W. Urban, Leslie A. Jennings

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Initiatives to address the US nursing shortage include increasing enrollment, standardizing education, and supporting student success (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2024; Spector et al., 2022). Despite reports of poor study habits and difficulty adapting to science courses, few studies examine study and time management strategies in pre-nursing students (Felicilda-Reynaldo et al., 2017). Mindfulness-based programs improve mental health outcomes in nursing students (Aloufi et al., 2021); yet research on mindfulness programs with pre-nursing students is lacking. Identifying success strategies pre-nursing students find useful is key to improving academic retention (Shelton, 2012). Therefore, this study aimed to qualitatively explore …

Baseline Psychosocial Stress And Allostatic Load In Patients Initiating Cancer Therapy, Campbell Speakman, Margaret Quinn Rosenzweig, Emmanuel Komladzah

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Racial and economic cancer treatment disparities pose a major public health challenge. Pre-existing psychosocial stressors and overall "weathering" or allostatic load are often more profound among patients of color and those from areas of high deprivation and may impact cancer outcomes.

Purpose: This study characterized baseline allostatic load, lifetime stress, perceived discrimination, financial toxicity, quality of life, distress, symptom burden, and resilience, compared by race and area deprivation.

Methods: This analysis was drawn from the prospective, observational ALLEGIANT (Allostasis, Cellular Aging, and Cancer Outcomes) study. Patients initiating cancer therapy were recruited from cancer clinics in Western Pennsylvania. Measures included …

Nurse-Driven, Human-Centered Ai: The Concern Early Warning System, Sarah Collins Rossetti

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Human-centered AI offers a powerful opportunity to advance nursing practice and improve patient outcomes. The CONCERN Early Warning Score (EWS) is a nurse-driven AI-based predictive model that uses patterns of nursing surveillance for early prediction of deterioration outcomes. In a multi-site randomized controlled trial, use of CONCERN EWS was associated with a 35.6% reduction in mortality risk, 7.5% reduction in sepsis risk, shorter length of stay, more timely escalation, and cost savings.

Relationship Between Professional Autonomy And Job Performance Of Nurses Hospital, Lima - 2025, Alexander Omar Diaz-Martinez, Andrea Garcia-Campos, Nallely Quispe-Quintanilla

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Professional autonomy in nursing plays a key role in clinical decision-making and quality of care. This study aims to determine the relationship between professional autonomy and work performance among nurses in a public hospital in Lima, Peru. A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational design will be used with a sample of 218 nurses selected through stratified sampling. Data will be collected using the Questionnaire of Professional Autonomy for Clinical Nurses and the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ). Statistical analysis will be conducted to evaluate the relationship between variables. The findings are expected to contribute evidence supporting strategies to strengthen professional autonomy and …

Developing A Near-Peer Teaching Clinical Placement Model To Enhance Students’ Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Beth Pierce, Thea Van De Mortel, Jeanne Allen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Near-peer teaching (NPT) involves senior students teaching junior students from the same discipline (Zheng & Wang, 2022). While NPT is integrated extensively in medicine, it recently gained traction in nurse education (Irvine et al., 2018). Near-peer teaching in classrooms/laboratories has been found to enhance senior nursing students’ leadership and teaching skills and junior nursing students’ knowledge and psychomotor skills (Irvine et al., 2018; Zhang et al., 2022). Less is known about its integration in nursing students’ clinical placements (Pierce et al., 2024), nor its influence on their self-efficacy beliefs, both essential to future clinical performance (Abusubhiah et al., 2023).

This …

Exploring Factors That Influence Child Marriage In Mozambique: A Collaborative Research Project, Karla Adu, Brenita Nicholas-Edwards, Jaime Paulo Mathe

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Child marriage affects nearly 1 in 5 young women globally.¹ UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 specifically set a target of eliminating child marriage by 2030.¹ While the prevalence of child marriage is decreasing worldwide, sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rising levels.² Mozambique has the 8th highest rate of child marriage in the world, with 48% of girls married before the age of 18 and 13% married before the age of 15.³

Child marriage is a complex issue, rooted in poverty and cultural norms. Factors linked to child marriage include limited access to education, job opportunities, and reproductive …

The Safer-Ai Use™ Framework: A Systems Approach For Ethical And Responsible Ai In Nursing Education, Marie Kelly Lindley, Heather S. Cole, Amber Senetza

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose - To introduce the SAfER-AI Use™ Framework, a systems-based conceptual model to guide educators in the ethical and responsible use of generative AI.

Background - Generative AI is entering nursing education faster than leaders can evaluate its risks. Educators increasingly use large language models (LLMs) for assessments, scenarios, rubrics, and accreditation tasks, yet LLMs generate fluent but non–human-derived output that may contain inaccuracies or bias. Recent scholarship describes AI exemplars and risks (1), faculty needs and readiness (2), and calls for policy engagement (3). Yet discipline-specific conceptual models are lacking, especially those addressing the human–AI interface and safeguards at …

Caregiver Perspectives On Barriers And Facilitators To Adolescent Asthma Self-Management, Sangita Pudasainee-Kapri, Mei Rosemary Fu, Mary Wunnenberg

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease in children and adolescents, disproportionately affecting minority adolescents from lower-income families (CDC, 2022). Adolescents from low-income and marginalized communities often face unique challenges with asthma control and management due to multiple adverse social and environmental factors. Caregivers play a critical role in daily asthma management (Margolis et al., 2019), however, self-management behaviors in minority families may be influenced by several individual and system level factors (Khan et al., 2021; Holley et al., 2017).

Purpose: This study aims to understand caregivers’ perspective on multilevel barriers and facilitators to adolescent asthma self-management in Camden …

Ecological Determinants Of Youth Marijuana Use: A Longitudinal Mediation Model, Ricardo Zamarripa Ortega, Christopher Browning, Jodi L. Ford

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study explores how activity space collective efficacy strengthens families to buffer against depressive symptoms, which may lead to substance use. By identifying these pathways, we aim to improve prevention strategies.

Methods: Data from the Adolescent Health Development in Context study (n = 1,538) were used for mediation models with 10,000 bootstrap draws. The main predictor was activity space collective efficacy. Mediators were family support and depressive symptoms. The outcome was marijuana use. Models controlled for age, sex, race, caregiver education, and baseline marijuana use.

Results: Collective efficacy predicted increased family support (cross-sectional β = 0.134, 95% CI [0.065, …

Dacum-Based Job Analysis And Educational Needs Assessment Of Community Disability Care Coordinators, Haesun Lee, Gyeonga Kang, Ju Young Yoon

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

As of 2024, 2,631,356 individuals in South Korea are registered as persons with disabilities, representing 5.1% of the total population. They are at increased risk of preventable secondary health conditions and chronic diseases, further exacerbated by social and environmental barriers such as limited mobility, insufficient provider awareness, and inadequate disability-friendly healthcare infrastructure. These challenges underscore the need for a multidisciplinary team-based approach, in which care coordinators play a critical role. However, despite the establishment of Regional Health and Medical Centers for Persons with Disabilities, coordinators’ roles remain poorly defined, and structured training programs are lacking.

This study was conducted in …

Caring For Service Members, Veterans, And Military Families: A Matter Of Global Security, Alicia Gill Rossiter, Catherine Gaines Ling, Rita D'Aoust

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

While significant research has been conducted regarding the impact of military service on the veteran, there is a paucity of research on military families, and little is known about the impact of spousal/parental military service on the military family, leading to a knowledge and comfort level deficit when caring for servicemembers, veterans, and military family members. Lack of information and research focused on the military family unit has led to the care of the military family being siloed and not inclusive of the needs of the entire family unit. Disenfranchising the military spouse and the lack of services and support …

How To Promote Community Engaged Research (In Less Than 7 Minutes…), Karen T. D'Alonzo, Shailja Mathur, Maya E. Joseph, Anju Wadhawan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The phrase “community-engaged research” (CER) has become popularized over the past decade to describe attempts to promote community involvement in the research process.¹ Historically, the term CER referred to scientific researchers and community members who work together to develop community academic partnerships (CAPs), improve research, and create better outcomes in communities, particularly for marginalized populations.² The aim of CER is for the people most directly impacted by the research topic to become active participants in the research process.³ Many forms of CER are guided by the formation of CAPs.⁴ But this process can be daunting, due …

Discovering Secondhand Smoke Exposure Impact On Mental Illness: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis, Pooja Bhattarai, Bassema Abufarsakh, Chizimuzo T. C. Okoli

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: SHSe remains a major global public health concern and contributes to preventable morbidity and mortality across populations (World Health Organization 2021). While SHSe is well recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory illness, emerging evidence suggests an association with MI and Substance use disorders (SUDs) (Carreras et al., 2019; Nadhiroh et al., 2020; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2024; Van der Eijk & Woh 2023, Lee et al., 2025). Addressing SHSe requires acknowledging its impact and transforming new discovery about the complex factors contributing to MI into action that shapes the future of nursing research. …

Effects Of The “Chai For 2” Pilot Intervention Among Asian Indian Immigrants, Maya Joseph, Anju Wadhawan, Shailja Mathur, Haiqun Lin, Karen T. D'Alonzo

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Asian Indian (AI) immigrants, the second largest immigrant group in the US, have a high prevalence of abdominal obesity and premature cardiovascular disease (CVD).^1,2,3 Despite ample epidemiological evidence of the need to reduce CVD risk in AIs, few published interventions have addressed this population, primarily focusing on dietary measures and promotion of physical activity, and none of these address immigrant AIs.^4,5

This study was built upon the results of our prior work to 1) Implement and pilot test a peer leader-facilitated 10-week dyadic intervention (Community Health among Asian Indian immigrants (CHAI) Dyad study) using a cluster randomization design, …

Leadership In Action: Building A Research Community Of Practice Through The Np-Clinician Scientist, Sarah Jayne Colgan, Breanna Lloy, Melanie Dunlop

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose Statement: To describe the formation of an Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) Research Community of Practice (CoP) led by an NP Clinician Scientist, aimed at fostering research capacity, partnerships, mentorship, scholarly engagement, and knowledge translation among NPs and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) in two provincial healthcare organizations.

Background: The Nova Scotia Health (NSH) NP Interprofessional Practice and Learning (IPP&L) team observed ongoing challenges with NP recruitment and retention highlighted by feelings of undervaluation among NPs in clinical practice. Concurrently, changes to NP entry-level competencies and increasing NP inquiries regarding research, demonstrated a growing appetite for scholarly engagement.

Methods: Through innovation …

Reducing Nurse Burnout Within A Pediatric Specialty Unit At A Midwest Hospital By Incorporating A Peer Mentor Program, Amanda Ortmeier, Gina Crudden

Group: Nebraska Methodist College

Problem: Burnout among nurses continues to negatively impact staff well-being, patient safety, and job satisfaction. Pediatric specialty units face unique stressors related to high patient acuity, emotional demands, complex interdisciplinary collaboration, and family interactions. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement and evaluate a structured peer mentorship program aimed at reducing nurse burnout within a pediatric specialty unit at a Midwestern hospital and to provide mentor education designed to improve mentor self-efficacy and preparedness.

Intervention: Maslach’s Burnout Theory served as the guiding framework for this project, which implemented a 45-day structured peer mentorship program in which experienced …

Co-Prescribing Naloxone With Opioids In The Emergency Department, Autumn K. Boyd, Gina Crudden, Shelley Hultman

Group: Nebraska Methodist College

Problem: The opioid epidemic continues to contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in the United States, with inconsistent naloxone access among high-risk patients discharged with opioid prescriptions. The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a naloxone co-prescribing process for high-risk adult patients discharged from the emergency department (ED) while enhancing staff knowledge and confidence in naloxone co-prescribing practices over a 30-day period.

Intervention: Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice, this project implemented the Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) to identify ED patients at increased risk for opioid misuse and provided a structured educational program for ED …

Bridging The Gap: Enhancing Adult Cancer Survivors’ Self-Efficacy To Spark Activation Through Evidence-Based Community Support, Julie L. Chytil

Group: Nebraska Methodist College

Problem: The number of cancer survivors in the United States is continuing to grow and yet cancer survivors often lack the knowledge of community resources available to them. Survivors must not only know that resources and programs exist but also trust that these tools are relevant and beneficial to them.

Intervention: The purpose of this project was to implement evidence-based strategies in a community setting to improve self-efficacy among adults who are transitioning from frontline cancer treatment to the next phase of survivorship. Strengthening self-efficacy is an important step toward increasing potential future patient activation and supporting long-term survivorship outcomes. …

The Role Of Nurses In Interprofessional Pharmaceutical Care: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Of International Expert Perspectives, Marko Petrovic, Mirko Prosen

Individual Articles

Introduction: Pharmaceutical care has evolved from a pharmacist-led model to an interprofessional approach involving doctors, pharmacists, and nurses. Effective collaboration is key to patient safety and treatment optimisation, yet it is often hindered by hierarchical systems, unclear roles, and poor communication. A lack of formalised frameworks further limits collaboration.

Aim: This study explores interprofessional collaboration in pharmaceutical care, focusing on the role of nurses, their involvement in collaborative practice, and the competencies essential for effective teamwork as identified by international experts.

Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with five international experts, selected through purposive sampling. Data were …

[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® …

Perception About Self-Management Education For People With Hypertension And Low Health Literacy, Nhi Thi Vo, Suzanne Hoi Shan Lo, Hon Lon Tam

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: Self-management education is a key component of hypertension care. However, individuals with low health literacy often have suboptimal self-management skills even after receiving such education. Little is known about their experiences in receiving self-management education. This study aims to explore the facilitators and barriers of accessing, understanding, appraising and using information provided in self-management education among community-dwelling individuals with hypertension in Vietnam, with perspectives from healthcare professionals and people with hypertension.

Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants with hypertension who were currently receiving care at a community health centre (CHC) in Vietnam, …

Impact Of Nurse Residency Programs On Soft Skills In Newly Graduated Nurses: An Integrative Review, Hyejung Lee, Heemoon Lim, Jungwoo Hwang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Soft skills (non-technical skills) are increasingly recognized as essential for facilitating newly graduated nurses’ transition into professional nursing roles. Newly graduated nurses often face challenges in this transition, and nurse residency programs have been implemented to support the process. Despite growing recognition of the importance of soft skills, understanding of how these programs influence soft skills remains limited.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the soft skills addressed in nurse residency programs and examine how these programs influence the soft skills of newly graduated nurses.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in May 2024 using seven electronic databases: APA …

Factors Associated With Noise Management Performance In Critical Care Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study, Eugene Han, Haeun Kang, Yeonsoo Jang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background and Objectives: Noise in intensive care units (ICUs) has been identified as a significant environmental stressor affecting both patient outcomes and nursing performance. However, empirical data on ICU nurses’ noise-management practices and their determinants remain limited. This study aimed to examine the level of noise-management performance among ICU nurses and to identify individual and organizational factors associated with such performance.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected via a self-administered online survey from 216 registered nurses working in ICUs in Korea and surrounding regions between November 2025. Measures included validated instruments for noise experience, response attitude …

Advancing Faculty Preparedness: Longitudinal Evaluation Of A National Blended Nurse Educator Program, Bobae Park, Heui-Kyeong Kwon, Hana Kim

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Strengthening faculty preparedness is essential for improving clinical education in essential care settings. Korea has launched a national initiative to develop a standardized nurse educator training system to advance educator competencies. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a two-day national blended nurse educator program expanded from a micro-teaching model, using Kirkpatrick Levels 1–3, and explored improvement strategies through instructor focus group discussions (FGDs). This work aligns with Sigma’s priorities of advancing education, faculty preparedness, and professional development.

A mixed-methods design was used. The program, developed using the ADDIE model, was delivered to 179 nurse educators nationwide. Immediate post-training evaluation measured …

Binaural Beats Enhance Cognitive And Autonomic Function In Disorders Of Consciousness, Yu-Ju Chen, Ching-I Li, Chen-Xi Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) exhibit a lack of responsiveness and inability to communicate, presenting significant clinical care challenges (Spaccavento et al., 2024). Scholars have explored auditory stimulation to activate brain regions and promote recovery (Ling et al., 2023). Binaural beat (BB) stimulation, a specific auditory stimulus, has gained attention for its potential to modulate brainwave patterns and improve cognitive states (Chockboondee et al., 2024). However, while promising, the evidence for BB-induced brainwave entrainment is inconsistent, and its application in DoC patients remains limited (Ingendoh et al., 2023; Zhu et al., 2019).

Purpose: This study aimed to compare …

Accessibility In Clinical Learning: An Immersive Assessment Project, Candace W. Burton, Kayla Sullivan, Angela Silvestri-Elmore

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Nursing students with physical disabilities (NSWPD) face barriers in clinical learning including physical inaccessibility, lack of awareness or training in faculty and staff, and bias in professional evaluation (1-3). The project purpose was to directly identify barriers to clinical learning for NSWPD.

Method: Investigators developed an evidence-based assessment guide covering perceived challenges to accommodations for NSWD, stakeholder knowledge, and other issues (4-6). A university disability specialist (DS) was embedded with students in simulation laboratory and clinical sites in July-October 2025. The DS observed lectures, skills practice, patient encounter simulations, peer assessment, instructor-oversight assessment, patient interactions/duties, and other responsibilities.

Findings included …

Reliability And Validity Of The Competency Inventory Registered Nurses Scale, Khulan Gaalan, Alima Alima, Solongo Dashnyam

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Nursing competency is vital to delivering high-quality healthcare services. Robust and culturally appropriate assessment tools are essential for evaluating nursing performance and guiding professional development. This study aimed to examine the internal reliability and construct validity of the Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses (CIRN) scale in the Mongolian context.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 550 randomly selected registered nurses working in 11 public tertiary hospitals in Ulaanbaatar and five regional hospitals of Mongolia. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha, and construct validity was examined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Sampling adequacy was evaluated using the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin …

Optimizing Research To Practice Translation Time Through The Mountain Model: A Delphi Study, Jayne Jennings Dunlap, Julee Waldrop, Staci Reynolds

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: The Mountain Model (MM) is the first published framework to merge evidence-based practice and quality improvement (EBPQI) paradigms. The primary focus of the framework is to guide practitioners in healthcare and related settings with translating research for sustained practice improvements. The nurse-led MM is in use and being cited in the literature, however the efficacy of the MM is anecdotal and is not yet supported by empirical evidence for its validity.

Design: A Delphi study of currently practicing evidence-based practice (EBP) and quality improvement (QI) experts spanning eight patient-facing disciplines in healthcare was conducted in September and October 2025 …