Digital Commons Network^™

Adaptation Of A Culturally Sensitive Gbv Screening Tool For Pregnant Women In Ghana, Innes Agbenu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Violence against women and girls is a crucial global health concern. Violence occurring during pregnancy is an alarming global health issue due to increased adverse outcomes on maternal and newborn health. A vital component in the management of gender-based violence (GBV) in pregnancy is the identification of victims. Routine screening during the antenatal period is the most effective approach to identify pregnant women and girls exposed to GBV. Despite this crucial need, evidence suggests that little is done to identify women exposed to violence during pregnancy in Ghana.

Aim: This study aimed to assess gender-based violence screening practices among …

Leveraging Conference Learning Through A Proposal-Driven Approach To Nursing Innovation, Ashley Perry

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Frontline nurses often return from conferences with evidence-based ideas, yet translating these into sustained practice change is limited by factors including resource and process barriers.^1,2 Evidence shows that strategies such as implementation science and structured innovation support improve adoption.^2,3,4,5 In 2024, our hospital noted this gap after funding over 50 nurses to attend conferences where insights were shared but rarely transformed care delivery. To increase impact, we launched a proposal-based model that turns external learning into actionable improvements. Previously, conference attendees shared insights via presentations, a passive approach with few pathways for change.

Our purpose was to introduce …

System-Wide High-Consequence Infectious Diseases Readiness Model, Andrew Chapman

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: High-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) are defined as novel or reemerging pathogens with person-to-person spread, few medical countermeasures, and high mortality rates. Examples include: Middle East respiratory syndrome, novel influenza, and viral hemorrhagic fevers. HCIDs require rapid identification, isolation, and specialized care to prevent outbreaks. As of July, 2024, U.S. hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) have updated HCID infection-control standards to maintain operational readiness. Expectations include: identify, isolate, inform protocols, HCID waste-management, and HCID personal protective equipment (PPE) competency. Given the recent global pandemic and ongoing regional HCID outbreaks, updated TJC standards will strengthen HCID preparedness. The Serious …

The Dimensions Of Mental Illness Stigma And Discrimination Among Nursing Personnel And Lay Persons, Carol Paula Wiseman

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Stigmatizing beliefs about mental illness remain widespread among both lay persons and healthcare professionals, undermining help seeking, recovery, and successful community reintegration for individuals living with mental illness (Agapie et al., 2022; Ahad et al., 2023). The factors which drive mental illness stigma and discrimination (MISAD) are varied, deep seated and often difficult to change (Khalid et al., 2024).

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature and manifestations of mental illness stigma and discrimination across selected participant groups in Trinidad and Tobago, identifying points of convergence and divergence. A secondary aim was to examine how the nursing …

Motivational Interviewing And Telehealth In Heart Failure Self-Care, Maryam Alharrasi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Heart failure (HF) remains a global public health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Oman. Poor self-care practices are a key contributor to high readmission and mortality rates among HF patients. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a process centered on exploring and resolving ambivalence, with the core motivational processes residing within the individual to facilitate change (Dellafiore et al., 2023). Another study suggests that MI might serve as a novel therapeutic approach for stabilizing and preventing HF by promoting self-care behavioral changes, even in patients with advanced HF and severely reduced ejection fraction (Sakane et al., 2021). Additionally, a …

Innovative Pedagogy Engaging Nursing Students In Health Promotion Interventions And Research, Mary Murphy-Smith, Zepure Samawi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: To present an innovative pedagogy for promoting population health through student nurse teaching and application of the research process.

Participants: 34 undergraduate pre-licensure nursing students participated and completed an innovative teaching project impacting the health on the communities they served.

Methods:

The innovative pedagogy and implementation process included -

1. Collaborate and engage with community clinical partners to assess health promotion and teaching needs.

2. Develop the health teaching projects reflective of the learning objectives using evidenced based resources.

3. Implement the health promotion innovation projects.

4. Evaluate the impact of the health promotion project.

5. Apply the research …

Compassionate Care As Nursing Leadership For Mitigating Fatigue And Boosting Thriving Environments, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Globally, nurses experience high rates of compassion fatigue (CF) and low compassion satisfaction (CS), especially in Asian regions (Xie et al., 2021). As a core feature of professional nursing identity, compassionate care delivery fosters positive patient outcomes, workforce productivity and growth, and organizational thriving (Ghafourifard et al., 2022; Robinson et al., 2024). Compassionate leadership is a dynamic process that engenders an organizational culture that values compassion for the betterment of others (Ramachandran et al., 2024; Shuck et al., 2019). There is a crucial need to understand factors associated with CS and CF while examining nursing leadership styles that can …

Innovating Care: Embedding Sem Scanning Technology Across Clch Nhs Inpatient Rehabilitation Services, Cherylane Lumpayao Sabellano

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Pressure ulcers remain a significant patient safety concern in rehabilitation settings. Subepidermal Moisture (SEM) scanning technology enables early detection of tissue damage, supporting timely interventions. Baseline audits at Brent Rehabilitation Wards revealed poor compliance with SEM scanning and documentation (10%). This project aimed to increase compliance to ≥50% within three months and integrate SEM scanning into routine care across Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH).

Methods: The initiative commenced in April 2024 at Furness and Robertson Wards (39 beds), using the Model for Improvement and PDSA cycles. Interventions included monthly bite-sized teaching sessions by SEM experts, group clinical supervision, redesign …

Perceptions Of Professional Identity In Nursing By Ambulatory Care Nurses, Susan B. Fowler

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Nursing professional identity (PIN) defines the values and actions of nurses. It is important to study nurses’ perceptions of their professional identity because it communicates what nursing is. There is a gap in knowledge about ambulatory care nurses’ perceptions of PIN.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to describe ambulatory care nurses’ perceptions of their professional identity in themselves and their peers and determine differences based on demographics. An exploratory, descriptive, comparative design was used to address the two study aims. Participants were recruited from AAACN and STTI and completed the Professional Identity in Nursing Scale.

Results: One …

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 …

Nursing Practice Excellence Committee: Setting The “Right Table” For Npec-Able Practice Improvement, Cristina L. Ritzema

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: The Nursing Practice Excellence Committee (NPEC) initiative is intended to provide a structure for nurses to leverage their expertise in driving nursing practice, care quality and patient safety improvements. NPEC fortifies professional governance by setting the “right table” for decision-making.

Background: This Magnet-designated organization recognized that sustaining the Magnet nursing culture of excellence requires consideration and uptake of current best practices and structures. Accordingly, NPEC was designed to be a systematic, evidence-based approach to incident-based practice reviews that embeds and reinforces Professional Governance and Exemplary Professional Practice. NPEC positions bedside nurses as subject matter experts and leaders to translate …

Emerging Leadership Identity In Advanced Practice Nursing: Estonia 2019-2026, Kristi Rannus

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background and aims: Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) are not only clinical experts but also emerging leaders who shape care delivery, culture, and professional values. While international frameworks define leadership as a core APN competency, little is known about how leadership identity forms during postgraduate education. Estonia provides a unique case, where APN implementation coincides with national policy, service pilots and ongoing organisational adaptation. This study examined how APN master’s students construct their leadership identity during training and how their perceptions evolve over time.

Methods: Longitudinal qualitative research was conducted in a Health Sciences master’s programme between 2019 and 2026. Students …

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 …

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 …

Improving Discharge Planners' Education On Telehealth, Catherine Ene Idowu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The swift advancement of technology has greatly influenced numerous fields, including healthcare. Telehealth utilizes digital resources to deliver health services from a distance, making it an essential means to enhance healthcare access. It is crucial for older adults, who frequently deal with mobility limitations and various health issues (World Health Organization [WHO], 2024).

Nevertheless, the implementation of telehealth in Nigeria faces various challenges. A primary issue is the lack of training and readiness among healthcare workers, particularly those involved in discharge planning. These professionals play a vital role in coordinating care after patients leave the hospital. Telehealth provides health services …

Nursing Students' Perceived Experience With Virtual Reality (Vr) Simulation: A Qualitative Analysis, Kristi J. Stinson, Leslie Rippon

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background – As healthcare education increasingly adopts immersive technologies, understanding student perspectives on virtual reality is essential for effective curriculum design.

Method – This study explored nursing students’ perceived experiences with the use of virtual reality (VR) technology in classroom-based learning. Data was collected through surveys with nursing students who participated in VR-enhanced learning activity on mass casualty triage and team communication.

Results – Qualitative analysis of the open-ended survey questions revealed four central themes: enhanced confidence and preparedness, technical skill acquisition, communication and teamwork insights, and the value of experiential learning. Students expressed that VR provided a safe environment …

Interventions Addressing Moral Distress In Acute Care Nurses: A Systematic Review, Maira Alejandra Harris, Sarah Owens, Louis Baser, Jean Edward

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background. Moral distress (MoD), or psychological distress resulting from acting against one’s ethics, and its consequences is a growing concern in healthcare. Nurses experiencing MoD are at greater risk of experiencing burnout, workplace stress and fatigue, anxiety, and depression. There is a gap in the literature regarding MoD interventions in nurses working in the acute care setting. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify interventions that reduce MoD in registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) working in the acute care setting.

Methods. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO in September 2025. Search string results revealed 3,637 …

Beyond The Digital Divide: Identifying Opportunities For Older Adults' Digital Health Engagement, Charles Boakye Kwanin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Healthy People 2030 prioritizes increasing older adults' access to health information technology, yet age-related digital divides persist. However, treating "digital health use" as monolithic may obscure contexts where older adults succeed, missing opportunities for targeted interventions.

Objective: To identify which digital health activities show smallest and largest age gaps, and whether healthcare engagement (cancer history) moderates older adults' digital health adoption.

Methods: We analyzed 6,648 U.S. adults (n=1,254 age 65+) from the Health Information National Trends Survey 7 (2022). Participants reported past 12-month use of six digital health activities: looking up health information, messaging providers, viewing test results, making …

Understanding Critical Care Nurses’ Experiences While Caring For Dying Patients, Danna Leigh Curcio

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Nurses are the caretakers that have the most contact with patients and families above any other member of the healthcare team. Nurses provide care to dying patients as part of professional and occupational responsibilities, potentially creating a stressful environment. It is important to understand how nurses psychologically adapt while providing care and support. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative research study was to explore, describe, and understand the experiences of nurses caring for dying patients in critical care. The study employed semi-structured face-to-face interviews utilizing naturalistic inquiry and a content analysis approach. A purposeful sampling of nine critical care nurses, …

Cultural Continuity Of Care: First Nations Families’ Experiences In Mainstream Healthcare, Nina Sivertsen, Tahlia Johnson, Janiene Deverix, Julian Grant

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

First Nations women and their infants experience significant health disparities compared to non-First Nations populations, including higher rates of gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and maternal mortality. Timely, culturally safe maternal and child healthcare is critical to addressing these inequities, yet many First Nations families report fear, anxiety, and fragmented care when engaging with mainstream health services. This qualitative study explored factors influencing continuity of care and culturally safe practices during the first 2000 days of life, from conception to a child’s second birthday. Using yarning—a culturally grounded research method—nine First Nations families (19 participants, including mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and one …

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 …

Innovative Techniques In Nursing Education: Evidence-Based Recommendations, Leona Cilar Budler

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Nursing education must adapt to technological changes because of evolving clinical practices, growing volumes of digital information, and increasingly diverse learning needs. Traditional pedagogical approaches often fall short in addressing the expectations of contemporary learners who are accustomed to interactive, flexible, and technology-mediated modes of engagement. As a result, teachers are integrating innovative, evidence-based teaching techniques to strengthen learning outcomes, enhance student motivation, and support the development of professional identity in digital contexts. This paper aims to investigate existing interventions that use innovative techniques, like social media, in nursing education and to assess their effectiveness.

Methods: A systematic literature …

Developing The Self-Care Guilt Scale, Mary Lynn Fahey

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: A qualitative study (Fahey, 2023) using Story Theory identified "self-care guilt"—moral distress when engaging in health activities—as a barrier to wellbeing among fathers of children with ASD. This proposed study will develop and validate the first instrument measuring this construct.

Background: Fathers of children with ASD experience depression 3x general population rates (Hoyle et al., 2021) yet show lowest self-care engagement among caregivers (Martinez et al., 2021). Our preliminary work revealed guilt transforms self-care from stress-reducer to stressor, making traditional interventions paradoxically harmful. No existing measure captures guilt as self-care barrier.

Theoretical Framework: Story Theory (Smith & Liehr, 2018) …

Navigating The Midlife Shift: Menopause, Motherhood, And Meaning In Women’S Lives, Michelle M. Ness

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Midlife represents a dynamic and often disorienting transition for women, marked by the convergence of menopause, shifting family roles, and evolving professional identities. This mixed-methods study explores how women navigate these intersecting experiences, particularly focusing on the impact of menopausal symptoms on motherhood, work, and relational well-being.

Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 42 women aged 39–57. Thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s framework, integrating inductive and deductive coding strategies. Themes were identified and refined through an iterative analytic process, ensuring credibility and depth through careful attention to patterns and meaning across participant narratives. Four key themes emerged: …

The Perceived Impact Of Compassion Fatigue On Clinical Decision-Making Skills In Icu Nurses, Angela Yee

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Intensive care unit nurses (ICU) care for patients in a stressful, high-acuity work environment. They are frequently exposed to emotionally demanding situations. Cumulative occupational stressors place ICU nurses at risk for compassion fatigue. Literature suggests this stress can negatively influence work performance in the ICU; however, there is currently limited research investigating the perceived relationship between compassion fatigue and clinical decision-making skills among ICU nurses.

Purpose: A descriptive phenomenological approach was used to answer the research question: How do ICU nurses perceive their clinical decision-making skills when experiencing compassion fatigue?

Methods: Eighteen ICU nurses at a large academic health …

Np Full Practice Authority: Does Increasing Access To High Quality Care Make A Difference?, Cynthia Sanchez

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The purpose of this presentation is to compare outcomes for states that had full practice authority (FPA) for NPs to those that do not.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of FPA on patient outcomes. A principal factor in the excess mortality rate of the U.S. is the health disparities that exist in this country, which are influenced by the social determinants of health.

CDC and NIH data were utilized after the official end of the Covid 19 pandemic mortality rates, utilization of services and health status were used to compare states that had full practice …

Impact Of Consumer-Led Education On Stigma Reduction In Mental Health Nursing, Anju Sreeram

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Mental Health Nurses who have direct contact with consumers can exhibit discriminatory attitudes towards people with mental illness. Evidence shows that anti-stigma interventions are effective in improving stigmatised attitudes towards mental illness to facilitate the recovery of people with mental illness, and the contact-based interventions are more impactful than other modalities of education and training.

The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of consumer-led education in reducing stigmatised attitudes among mental health nurses. A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design was used to assess the impact of consumer-led education.

The results show that Mental Health Nurses generally held positive attitudes …

An Innovative And Comprehensive Nursing Orientation Program, Linda Liu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: High turnover rates remain a significant challenge in U.S. healthcare, with hospital turnover rates at 20.7% in 2023, despite a 2% improvement from 2022. Registered nurse (RN) turnover has improved by 4.1%, reaching 18.4%, but is still critical among RNs with less than one year of experience at 34% (Nursing Solution Inc., 2024). The average cost of turnover has increased by 7.5%, reaching $56,300 (Bae, S.H., 2022). Contributing factors include dissatisfaction with care quality, inadequate leadership, poor well-being, staffing shortages, undervaluation, and low salaries (Nightingale Foundation, 2024). At Cook County Health Stroger Hospital, a Comprehensive and Innovative Nursing Orientation …

Experiences Of Acute Psychiatric Inpatients: A Literature Review, Sheng-Tsung Lan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Patients’ perceptions of psychiatric wards often differ from staff views. Closed wards may feel oppressive, and restrictive practices can increase anxiety. In contrast, open-door policies, meaningful activities, and social connections improve perceived safety. Safewards strategies, such as Calm Down Methods and Reassurance, help create a calmer environment but require sufficient staffing, training, and alignment with ward culture. High staff turnover and inconsistent training threaten sustainability.

Interactions between staff and patients strongly influence the inpatient experience. Patients value respect, empathy, and genuine engagement. Impersonal or standardized responses can increase feelings of neglect. Safewards encourages humanized communication through Soft Words, Talk Down/Through, …

Wash Project: Promoting Menstrual Hygiene Through Alignment With The Sustainable Development Goals, Sandra Ojurongbe, Nakisha Kinlaw-Williams

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Menstrual hygiene management is a global public health concern. Moreover, cultural norms, stigma, and myths or taboos further hinder the achievement of menstrual health, contributing to absenteeism and gender-based inequalities (Babbar et al., 2022). A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2024) found that 2 out of 5 schools provide menstrual health education, and less than 1 in 3 schools have bins for menstrual waste in girls’ toilets. In sub-Saharan Africa, 12% of schools have menstrual materials available. To address these issues, a WASH educational document was created by a non-governmental …