Digital Commons Network^™

Navigating Interpersonal Connections: Relationships Of Pregnant Women Following Hiv Diagnosis, Andile Glodin Mokoena-De Beer, Sister Vanessa Mahlangu, Eugene Musiiwa Makhavhu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

HIV remains a complex and public health concern in South Africa. The country’s population by mid-year 2024 was 63,02 million with 8,0 million estimated to be living with HIV. The prevalence rate of HIV in the country is approximately 12,7% with 4 900 00 women living with HIV by 2023, of these women 257 171 were pregnant women receiving antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) to prevent mother to child transmission^1,2. Pregnancy is a complex phenomenon linked to heighted anxiety about the birth processes and safety of the unborn baby. An HIV diagnosis at this time could worsen the mental wellbeing …

Attitudes And Perception Of Academic Dishonesty Among Nursing Students, Efrat Danino, Elena Maoz

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Academic dishonesty has long posed a significant challenge for educational institutions, yet efforts to promote academic integrity remain relatively new and limited in scope. The surge in online learning during the pandemic has further intensified opportunities for cheating, complicating monitoring and enforcement efforts. Many students now perceive cheating as normalized behavior, even as they recognize its unethical nature. Unfortunately, existing preventive measures have proven largely ineffective. To gain deeper insights into this behavior, researchers have applied Self-Concept Maintenance (SCM) theory, which posits that individuals strive to reconcile their moral awareness with their actions (Mazar et al., 2008). Understanding the …

Losing All Faith In Women’S Healthcare: Women’S Experience With Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Pain, Sarah E. Patel, Sarah Mary George, Mercedez Dowah Boateng, Mei R. Fu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is an underdiagnosed cause of chronic pelvic pain, which accounts for nearly 30% of gynecological visits. Chronic pelvic pain due to PCS is often exacerbated from long periods of standing or walking, sexual intercourse, and menstruation. Research on PCS mainly uses quantitative approaches that focused on evaluating the effects of pharmacological or medical procedures for PCS and associated pain and symptoms. There is limited evidence that provides deep understanding of the experiences of chronic pelvic pain from the women’s perspectives. Using a qualitative, descriptive phenomenological design, the purpose of this study was to describe …

Experience Of Bowel Dysfunction In Rectal Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review And Mmeta-Synthesis, Min Jeong Kim, Eun Young Kim, Young Man Kim

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is a common and distressing outcome for many rectal cancer patients following low anterior resection (LAR), significantly affecting their quality of life. Numerous studies have explored patient experiences with bowel dysfunction; however, due to varying results, there are limitations to understanding these experiences comprehensively. Therefore, this study aims to synthesize diverse qualitative research findings to reveal a more comprehensive perspective.

Methods: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies was performed through a rigorous and thorough systematic review, encompassing databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Additional studies were identified …

Effects Of Digital Interventions On Sleep Among College Students And Young Adults: A Meta-Analysis, Yi-An Lu, Pei-Shan Tsai

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: College students and young adults (aged 18 to 25) frequently experience poor sleep quality, with insomnia being particularly prevalent in this population. Given the widespread use of digital devices, electronic device-based sleep interventions may provide a promising solution for improving sleep outcomes. However, the effects of these digital interventions on sleep in this group have not been fully evaluated. This study aims to review the current evidence on the effectiveness of electronic device-based interventions in enhancing sleep outcomes among college students and young adults.

Methods: A comprehensive search of five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of …

The Art Of Nursing, A Retention And Recognition Program Evaluation, Nadine Rosenblum, Heather Watson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This presentation will describe an evaluation of a nurse retention and rewards program using a mixed methods research design.

Introduction: Recognition and reward programs may support retention and engagement while encouraging staff investment in hospital outcomes1, 2, 3. Hospital leaders developed an innovative strategy; The Achieving Professionally, Recognizing Contributions and Talent Sharing (ARTs) program to recognize clinical nurses for work beyond their defined job duties, while encouraging professional investment in the organization. Participants are matched with a coach to complete an annual portfolio and obtain a monetary reward.

Design: This study used a convergent mixed methods design supported by …

Interventions To Optimize Dietary Patterns In Black Pregnant Individuals: An Integrative Review, Katherine Erbe, Anne Thorndike, Melissa Nelson, Melis Lydston, Sara Looby

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Black pregnant individuals bear an inequitable burden of maternal morbidity and mortality and adverse fetal outcomes.¹ Behavioral factors including dietary patterns² and adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) influence these disparities. Nutrition and diet quality are modifiable risk factors that can reduce pregnancy-related complications including cardiometabolic disease.¹ The objective of this integrative review is to identify and evaluate research exploring interventions to optimize dietary patterns in Black pregnant individuals.

This review was reported based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. A comprehensive electronic database search was conducted. Inclusion criteria: full-text articles on intervention …

Primary Care Dietary Program To Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk In South Asian Americans, Saranya Elena Wallooppillai, Amy Giles

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: South Asian Americans (SAAs) living in the United States face a higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)-related events compared to their European counterparts due to genetic, epigenetic, and lifestyle factors. While community-level lifestyle and dietary interventions show promise in ASCVD risk reduction, specific dietary guidelines for SAAs are not established in primary care settings. This quality improvement project aimed to assess the impact of SAA-specific dietary counseling on weight and self-perceptions of diet and health quality, with the goal of improving eating habits and lowering ASCVD risk.

Methodology: Data were collected pre- and post-intervention through surveys and physical …

Leveraging Resources For A Safety Net Hospital Through Academic Practice Partnerships, Sharon Stahl Wexler, Kathleen Karsten, Susan Iovino, Lin J. Drury, Vivekanand Singh, Robert Pryce

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

This project describes the collaboration of a safety net hospital with two academic partners (a private University and a Community College). Safety net hospitals strive to provide high quality care and achieve positive patient outcomes in a resource constrained environment.

This innovative model, based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing/American Organization of Nurse Leaders statement on Academic Practice Partnerships assists in achieving this goal. Nurse scientists are registered nurses with advanced education and expertise in nursing research, who advance nursing practice. Two PhD prepared Nurse Scientists, who are employed by both the hospital and their respective universities, collaborate …

Impact Of Advanced Beginner Nurses’ Self-Monitoring While Multitasking, Chihiro Mizuhiki, Yasuko Hosoda

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Self-monitoring refers to recognizing and evaluating one’s situation in relation to available information and assessing personal limitations (Mizuhiki et al., 2021). This is particularly important for advanced beginner nurses in their first and second years, as they need to develop the foundation for multitasking, and require support to do so (Mizuhiki & Hosoda, 2024). This study aimed to explore the factors affecting the improvement of clinical nursing competence through self-monitoring while multitasking, using a conceptual framework where self-monitoring impacts clinical nursing competence via self-regulated learning strategies.

Methods: Questionnaires were administered to 3,191 first- and second-year nurses in Japanese healthcare …

Factors Affecting Korean Nursing Students’ Perception Of Family-Centered Care, A-Young Jo, Sujeong Kim, Haeyoung Min

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Family-centered care is a core philosophy in pediatric nursing that emphasizes recognizing family individuality, facilitating family involvement, building partnerships and sharing information. There is evidence of several benefits of family-centered care, such as improved parent-child bonding, enhanced infant brain development, and reduced length of hospital stays. Despite the emphasis on the importance of family-centered care in undergraduate pediatric nursing education in Korea, there is a lack of research on nursing students' perceptions of it. The aim of this study was to assess nursing students' perceptions of family-centered care and to examine the factors affecting these perceptions in Korea.

Methods …

Family Understanding Of Intensive Care Unit Rounds: A Qualitative Research Study, Mary E. Lough, Linda Ottoboni

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

PURPOSE: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore whether families who attended rounds in the adult intensive care unit (ICU) understood the daily plan of care. National ICU societies support family attendance at ICU-rounds so families are fully informed.(Allum et al., 2022; Au et al., 2021; Calderone et al., 2022) Family satisfaction imay increase by attending rounds.(Blakeney et al., 2023; Debay et al., 2023) Yet little is known about how families use the information they hear.

PARTICIPANTS: Family surrogate decision makers were invited. The setting was a medical-surgical ICU in a university-affiliated hospital in the United States. Local …

Using The Introduce-Present-Reinforce-Debrief Model In International Nursing Leadership Education, Lu-Yen Anny Chen, Michelle King-Okoye, Cheng-Pei Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Taiwanese Students have found it challenging to engage in English-Medium Instruction (EMI) course, due to English not being their native language, particularly in leadership courses. Many students experience difficulties in comprehending the course content thoroughly before participating in discussions, which affects their ability to express themselves clearly. To address this, the I(ntroduce)-P(resent)-R(einforce)-D(ebrief) teaching model, as proposed by Lai (2023), was implemented in an international leadership course. This four-stage cyclic model incorporates multimodal inputs and interactive activities to enhance students' understanding and application of nursing leadership.

Methods: This study employed semi-structured face-to-face interviews to explore students' experiences pre- and post-the …

The Impact Of Removing Concepts Of Health Equity From Us Nursing Education: A Scoping Review, Michael Mosley, Felesia Bowen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Racial bias contributes to health disparities. Efforts to increase awareness of principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are needed to reduce health disparities. Increasing diversity of the U.S. population highlights an imperative that student nurses graduate with the skills necessary to care for all patients. Proliferation of anti-DEI laws has meant that in some states, faculty are not able to teach about diversity and the root causes of health disparities. Some faculty have reported they are removing content related to social determinants of health from their lectures and readings for fear of losing their jobs. The purpose of …

Combating Bedside Burnout With Research For Retention: An Innovative Fellowship Model, Morgan Tallo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Kathryn Shady, Hannah Rackie, Briana Abernathy, Kati Patel, Susan Smith Birkhoff

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Burnout is a pervasive and international “occupational phenomenon” in nursing, negatively impacting patient safety, quality of care, provider wellbeing, and nurse retention. A 2022 survey revealed nearly half of surveyed nurses experienced burnout, with over 600,000 expected to leave the workforce by 2027 due to stress and burnout (NCSBN).

A nursing research fellowship in robotics and innovation was built as an investment in the growth, creativity, and professional development of clinical nurses, enhancing bedside retention and satisfaction.

Launched mid-2024, the fellowship has promoted networking opportunities, interdisciplinary partnerships, and professional development for clinical nurses. Fellows spend 4 hours per week away …

Impacts Of Covid-19 Pandemics On Hiv Care Delivery In Thailand: Healthcare Providers Perspectives, Natawan Khumsaen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted global health, with particularly significant implications for healthcare delivery to vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV (PLHIV). In Thailand, pandemic restrictions have disrupted HIV health services. This study aimed to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV care delivery in rural areas of Thailand.

Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews focusing on the shifts in HIV care in response to the pandemic. Twenty healthcare providers (14 nurses and 6 physicians) were interviewed. Participants were primarily selected from ART clinics housed in hospitals of the 5th health service …

Delirium And Catatonia In The Ccu: Distinct Conditions Shaping Clinical Outcomes, Hsiu-Ching Li, Chi-Hung Huang, Wei-Che Chiu, Chia-Chi Lin, Zi-Jing Pan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: This study explores the relationship between delirium, as assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method-ICU (CAM-ICU, and catatonia, assessed by the Bush Francis Catatonia Screening Instrument (BFCSI) [2], in cardiac care unit (CCU). Delirium has been shown to worsen clinical outcomes [4]. Catatonia, while less studied in ICU settings, is essential due to its potential overlap with delirium [1,3,5]. The preliminary analysis provides insights into the independent occurrence of delirium and catatonia and their impacts on clinical outcomes.

Methods: Consecutive adult patients (≥ 20 years) admitted to the CCU were enrolled. Delirium was screened daily using CAM-ICU until CCU discharge, …

Psychometric Properties Of The Chinese Version Of The Clinical Nurses Grit Scale In Employed Nurses, Chiu-Yueh Yueh Yang, Muhsi Young

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Grit, recognized as a positive psychological trait, significantly influences the intention of employed nurses to remain in their workplace. The Clinical Nurses Grit Scale (CN-GRIT), initially developed by Korean scholars, has been employed to assess grit in clinical nursing environments. However, a Chinese version of the Grit Scale specifically designed for evaluating the grit of nurses does not currently exist.

Purposes: This study aimed to: (1) translate the original English version of the CN-GRIT into a traditional Chinese version (TC-CN-GRIT), (2) confirm its factor structure, and (3) analyze its psychometric properties among newly employed nurses.

Methods: A psychometric study …

Prairie Soundscape, Rebecca J. Romsdahl

The Cicadian

This series of soundscapes represents dawn and dusk. Morning Cacophony was recorded at 6:00 AM, May 2023 on the Tympanuchus Reserve near Crookston, MN — a rare remnant prairie never plowed. Voices of the prairie: sedge wren, bobolink, greater prairie chicken, sandhill crane, red-winged blackbird, clay-colored sparrow. Night Chorus was captured at 2:00 AM, June 2024 on restored grassland at Bluestem Preserve near Moorhead, MN — once farmland, now thriving prairie. Nocturnal symphony: whip-poor-will (song + warning call), coyotes, treefrogs, grasshopper sparrow, soft wind, gentle rain.

The Meadow Is A Teacher, Hannah Dewey

The Cicadian

This poem invites the reader into a layered experience of nature through the eyes of a mindful observer. From a single wildflower to a grove of aspens, the poet gathers impressions from the meadow and its inhabitants: birds, trees, water, fish. The speaker’s act of closing their eyes and listening becomes a moment of learning—not through books or instruction, but through quiet immersion in the living world. Written in free verse, this poem uses short lines that mimic the motion of breeze, birds, and water. There is no punctuation, creating a seamless flow. The structure echoes the gentle, undemanding way …

Climate Migrants, Rebecca J. Romsdahl

The Cicadian

No abstract provided.

Temporal Landscapes: Prairie, People, And Place, Eric Castle

The Cicadian

No abstract provided.

Matrescence, Erin Kunz

The Cicadian

Kunz reflects on her transformation into motherhood, describing the physical, emotional, and psychological shifts that accompany the process known as matrescence. Through vivid memories of childhood and early parenting, she explores the complexities of maternal love, especially for women who did not receive unconditional love themselves. Her rocking chair becomes a symbol of nurturing and endurance, where she gave everything to her children while grappling with her own identity. Erin also highlights the supportive role of her partner, challenging traditional gender norms and celebrating shared caregiving. As her children grow, she mourns the environmental changes that have altered the …

Flowing Knowledge: Connecting Education, Watersheds, And Our World, Taylor Lemieux

The Cicadian

The main theme of Taylor Lemieux’s story is the transformative power of experiential environmental education. Through personal memories and professional experiences, she illustrates how hands-on learning in nature fosters curiosity, resilience, and a deep sense of stewardship. Her journey emphasizes that meaningful education goes beyond textbooks—it connects learners to the world around them.

Gardens As Pathways To Environmental Education For All Ages, Lacey Anderson

The Cicadian

Gardens provide hands-on opportunities for environmental education that extend beyond food production, encompassing ecological literacy, sustainability practices, experiential learning, and community engagement. This article uses a creative nonfiction approach to examine the author’s personal journey from reluctant gardener to advocate for learning gardens. Through narrative reflection of her own family’s gardening experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, the author illustrates how gardening fosters intergenerational learning, socio-emotional development, and curiosity-driven exploration of ecological systems. The article highlights how gardens function as accessible entry points for lifelong learners of all ages, demonstrating that environmental literacy can emerge outside of traditional scientific expertise. Ultimately, …

“Grow Your Plants, But Most Importantly, Grow Yourself”: Women, Resilience, And Cultural Continuity In Jamaican And Diaspora Gardens, Giovanni Whyte

The Cicadian

This essay explores the cultural, personal, and transformative power of gardening through the stories of four women—Brenda, Linda, Keisha, and Janice—whose lives span Jamaica and its diaspora. Their narratives reveal gardening as more than food cultivation but the practice of resilience, healing, and cultural continuity. Brenda honors her ancestral legacy in St. Elizabeth; Linda finds solace after loss; Keisha fosters socioemotional growth among urban students; and Janice embraces sustainability in suburban America. Together, their experiences illustrate how gardening nurtures identity, strengthens communities, and connects people to land, memory, and future generations.

Cicadian Rhythms: The 2024 Cicada Emergence, Farah Davis

The Cicadian

In Cicadian Rhythms, Farah Davis recounts the rare 2024 dual emergence of cicada broods XIII and XIX, which appeared weeks early due to climate change. She explains how cicadas use tree sap and soil temperature to time their emergence, and how warming trends are disrupting these ancient cycles. The essay blends personal observation with scientific insight, showing how even backyard phenomena reflect broader environmental shifts. Davis emphasizes the ecological importance of cicadas and the cascading effects of climate disruption on ecosystems. Ultimately, she calls for greater awareness and stewardship in the face of accelerating climate change.

Where The Earth Meets The Sky, Ashlyn Ed Herron

The Cicadian

A reflection of finding one's place in an ecosystem that raised them, and a long overdue love-letter to the prairies

Anishinaabe Nibiing: Anishinaabe Waterscapes And Canoe Building As Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Jeremy Kingsbury

The Cicadian

This paper explores the cultural, ecological, and technological significance of birch bark canoe (wiigwaasi-jiimaan) building among the Anishinaabe people, emphasizing their identity as an inland maritime society. Drawing on historical accounts, oral traditions, and personal experience as a park ranger, the author examines the intricate process of harvesting materials and constructing canoes, highlighting the deep environmental knowledge and gendered labor involved. The canoe served not only as a vital means of transportation and subsistence—facilitating fishing, wild rice harvesting, and seasonal migration—but also as a symbol of familial and spiritual connection. Through detailed descriptions of material selection and craftsmanship, …

Introduction To Our Inaugural Issue, Lacey Anderson, Mary Moroney-Fernandez, Giovanni E. Whyte

The Cicadian

No abstract provided.