As we prepare to welcome researchers from around the globe in person and virtually to the 34th International Nursing Research Congress, we asked four presenters why they are passionate about their research and why it is an important contribution to nursing. Here is what they’d like you to know in their own words.
Formal and Informal Social Support: Why it Matters to Frontline Nurse Leaders
With Jihane Frangieh, PhD, MSN, RN
This research provided valuable insights into the impact of formal social support (from the organization) and informal social support (from home) on enacting the effectiveness of the leadership behaviors of nurse managers. Social support matters to frontline nurse leaders; therefore, organizations are called to build systems that promote a supportive environment and work-life harmony.
I am deeply passionate and committed to empowering and advocating for nurse leaders, acknowledging the obstacles they encounter and the vital influence they exert in enhancing healthcare outcomes and cultivating a culture of excellence. Evidence suggests that leadership is influenced by a combination of individual attributes and environmental factors. Consequently, it’s imperative to establish comprehensive leadership programs that focus on nurturing the growth and development of leaders from within, while concurrently fostering work environments conducive to the flourishing of nurse leaders both professionally and personally.
This research holds great significance for the field of nursing as it sheds light on the crucial link between effective leadership, personal factors, and the formal/informal support systems of nurse managers. Given the detrimental consequences and financial implications associated with insufficient leadership development and performance, it’s essential to understand how different forms of support can impact leadership practices, particularly considering the heightened stress levels nurse managers experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, this research underscores the significance of supporting nurse managers in their pursuit of personal and professional equilibrium, and it contributes to understanding how we can create a resilient and thriving nursing leadership workforce.
Jihane is the Track Coordinator of the MSN Healthcare Organizational Leadership program at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and a member of Sigma’s Gamma Omega at-Large Chapter and Nu Beta at-Large Chapter.
Teaching/Learning Strategies to Address Racism in the Classroom
With Mark Adelung, PhD, RN
Co-authors include professors Jacquline Arnone, Lia Ludan, Mary Padden-Denmead, and Rose Scaffidi from Stockton University
Our research aimed to identify effective teaching strategies to address racism in the nursing curriculum to eliminate racism and discrimination and to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In 2020, our nursing program committed to taking a stand against racism by adopting a statement in support of institutional change to eliminate racism and discrimination. From there, a group of our nursing faculty developed a study to identify nursing students’ perceptions of racism and identify effective teaching strategies that could be utilized in the classroom to address racism and discrimination.
Racism is a major public health crisis that has not always been openly discussed in nursing education and has significant impacts on patients, providers, and communities. Recognizing and accepting the reality of racism in nursing and creating safe spaces for open dialogue about the issue will allow students to share experiences and faculty to identify strategies to teach antiracism.
Mark is an Associate Clinical Professor at Merrimack College and a member of Sigma’s Theta Sigma Chapter.
Linking Nurses’ Clinical Leadership to Patient Care Quality: The Role of Transformational Leadership and Structural Empowerment
With Abdulaziz Alanazi, MSN, BSN, RN
This research investigates how leadership and workplace empowerment influence how nurses lead clinically and affects patient care quality. Simply put, we are looking at how a boss's leadership and a supportive work environment can help nurses do their jobs better and improve patient outcomes.
This topic is fascinating because it combines several significant aspects of healthcare: leadership, empowerment, and quality of patient care. It is exciting to investigate how these elements interact and influence each other, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
This research is crucial to nursing, as it can help identify factors that enhance the quality of patient care. By understanding how leadership styles and structural empowerment impact nurses' clinical leadership abilities, we can develop strategies to foster a more conducive environment for nurses to excel in their roles. This, in turn, can lead to improved patient care and satisfaction.
Abdulaziz is a PhD candidate at Queen’s University Belfast.
Quality of Care Through the Lens of Patients in Oman
With Fatma Al Jabri, MSN
In light of the growing demand for patient-centric and value-based healthcare models, patient perceptions and experiences can provide realistic and reliable indicators. This study examined patients’ perceptions of quality care in Oman and found that overall satisfaction was high, with professionalism rating the highest and cognition of physical needs and human resources rating the lowest. Such perspectives provide grounds for improvements including those related to work schedule routines, standards of patients’ physical needs, and onboarding patients in their decision-making.
I am passionate about understanding how the wider patients’ perceptions and experiences will shape the transformation journey of the healthcare sector at large, and the specific implications on nursing practice. I am keen to be part of the “new” nursing practice.
Healthcare is transforming. The patient’s role in this transformation is no longer passive; rather their collective inputs, preferences, and experiences will shape up the new state of healthcare policies, service delivery, and quality improvement initiatives. Nursing science and practice will thus be massively impacted.
Fatma is a Clinical Nurse Coordinator for the Ministry of Health.