SORT BY:

Sigma Small Grants

Lisa Babkair, MSN, RN (Upsilon Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Dimensions of Social Support and Post-Stroke Depressive Symptoms in Saudi Arabia: A Mixed Methods Approach
The purpose of this study is to describe the nature of post-stroke depressive symptoms and to compare the influence of perceived social support and received social support in stroke survivors in Saudi Arabia.

Susana Calderon, PhD, RN (Xi Pi Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Children Oral Symptoms: A feasibility Study of the Beneficial Role of the Oral Microbiota
The purpose of this feasibility study is to understand the relationship between oral microbiome and oral symptoms in children and the influence of tooth brushing and tooth flossing.

Sunny Chieh Cheng, PhD, RN (Psi at-Large Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Psychosis Risk Syndrome Experience of Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia: A Mixed Methods Study
The research proposed aims to contribute to solutions to this disparity by understanding PRS symptoms from the perspective of caregivers of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, as well as by exploring the effectiveness of strategies used by caregivers to cope prior to diagnosis.

Rhea Fay Felicilda-Reynaldo, EdD, MAN, BSN (Gamma Psi at-Large and Phi Gamma Chapters, USA)

Title of Project: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Safety Interventions of Medical-Surgical and Telemetry Nurses Regarding Medical Pluralism Engagement of Patients from Multi-Cultural Backgrounds: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study
The purpose of this mixed method study is to assess medical-surgical and telemetry nurses’ knowledge and attitudes towards medical pluralism among patients with multicultural backgrounds through a survey.

Warren Frankenberger, PhD, MSN, BSN (Eta Beta Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Real Time Stress in Emergency Department Nurses
The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of measuring biomarkers of stress in real time in Emergency Department (ED) nurses.
Warren Frankenberger
“This feasibility study will be used to determine if quality biomarkers of stress, including heart variability, can be measured in real time. The data from this study will be used to submit for a larger study to examine real time stress in ED nurses along with potential interventions to mitigate stress that occurs during patient care.”
— Warren Frankenberger, PhD, MSN, BSN
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Holly Hall, EdD, RN (Zeta Phi Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: The Development and Validation of an Instrument Designed to Assess Servant Leadership Behaviors of Nurse Leaders
The purpose of this study is to develop a multi-faceted instrument to measure the degree of servant leadership behaviors of nurse leaders within their positions, as rated by their supervisors, peers, staff, and self.
Holly Hall, EdD, RN
“This study may make an original contribution to new learning in nurse leadership and add to the body of new research by providing additional evidence relevant to both servant leadership and nursing leadership in health care organizations.”
— Holly H. Hall, EdD, RN
Premier Health

Shela Akbar Ali Hirani, MScN, BScN (Rho Chapter, Pakistan)

Title of Project: Facilitators and Barriers to Breastfeeding Practices of Internally Displaced Mothers Residing in Disaster Relief Camps of Pakistan: A Critical Ethnography The main purpose of this inquiry is to gain insight into the range of factors that shape breastfeeding practices of internally displaced mothers; and secondly, to explore how existing tensions associated with gender-based, societal, religious, social and cultural expectations influence internally displaced mothers' breastfeeding practices in disaster relief camps of Pakistan.

Patrick Kor, MSc, BN (Pi Iota Chapter, Hong Kong)

Title of Project: Effects of a Modified Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Family Caregivers of People with Dementia in Stress Reduction: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial This study aims to explore the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of the modified Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in reducing stress in the family caregivers of PWD.
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Khadejah Mahmoud, MSN, BSN (Eta Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Nurses Readiness and Motivation to Provide Care for Patients Who Use Alcohol and Opioids (AOs): A Pilot Feasibility Study
The purpose of this descriptive correlational pilot study is to explore the relationship between nurses’ demographics characteristics, personal attitudes (stigmatizing), professional attitudes and their readiness and motivation to provide care to patients who use AOs as well as among the study’s key variables.

Marliese Nist, MSN, BSN (Epsilon Chapter, USA)

Inflammatory Mediators of Stress Exposure and Neurodevelopment in Very Preterm Infants
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationships among stress exposure, inflammation, and neurodevelopment of very preterm infants.

Shirley Schierer, MSN, MPH, BSN (Nu Beta Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Effects of Physical Distraction and Music on Anxiety during Mohs Surgery
The purpose of this study is to determine whether adding a physical distraction with music has an additive effect on decreasing anxiety in patients undergoing Mohs surgery compared to patients undergoing surgery with music alone.

Taylor Thul, BSN (Alpha Epsilon Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Exposure of African American Women to Synthetic Oxytocin and its Association with Postpartum Depression
The purpose of this study is to describe, for the first time, the exposure rate of African American (AA) women, a population already at high risk of health disparity in birth and infant outcomes, to synthetic oxytocin (synOT), a hormone analog that may carry with it increased risk of postpartum depression (PPD).

Julie Vignato, PhD, MSN, BSN (Gamma Gamma Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Vasopressin, Depression, Pain, and Preeclampsia
The purpose of this study is to understand the early pregnancy action of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in preeclampsia (PreE) to develop preventative, and therapeutic modalities against it.
Julie Vignato
“The evaluation of copeptin may lead to the early diagnosis and treatment of depression and pain during pregnancy to modulate PreE. Nurses, once armed with knowledge of their patient’s condition, are ideally positioned to provide effective precision health interventions such as personalized education and psychosocial support to high risk pregnant women throughout their treatment regimen before maternal fetal health is affected.”
— Julie A. Vignato, PhD, MSN, BSN
University of Iowa

Jennifer O'Connor, MSN, BSN (Zeta Delta Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Foot Self-care in Older Adults without Diabetes 
The purpose of the study was to explore changes in and relationships among leisure time physical Inactivity, obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) rates in the US from 1994-2012.

Rosemary Berkel Crisp Research Award

Jiale Hu, MN, BSN (Lambda Pi at-Large Chapter, Canada)

Title of Project: Validating Skin Conductance for Assessing Pain and Stress in Mechanically Ventilated Infants.
The study will evaluate the validity of skin conductance (a physiological approach) for assessing pain and stress in sick hospitalized, mechanically ventilated infants.
Jiale Hu, MN, BSN
“The finding in this study will provide a potential valid method of pain measurement in sick mechanically ventilated infants, who require numerous painful procedures as part of their medical care.”
— Jiale Hu, MN, BSN
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Virginia Henderson Clinical Research Grant

Georgia Tobiano, PhD, BN (Phi Delta at-Large Chapter, Australia)

Title of Project: Patient Participation In Medication Safety Strategies: Engaging Older Patients at Transitions in Care
The purpose of this mixed-methods feasibility study is to assess the viability of recruitment strategies and data collection tools for a larger study examining older patients’ participation in medication safety strategies at transitions in care.

Joan K. Stout, RN, Research Grant

Joanne Knoesel, PhD, MSN, (USA)

Title of Project:Comparison of Simulation Exposure in Undergraduate Nursing Education and it's Effect on Critical Thinking Development 
The purpose of the study is to compare the percentage of human patient simulation (HPS) time as a substitute for traditional clinical experiences and its effect on nursing students’ critical thinking skill development. 

Sigma Global Nursing Research Grant

Susan Newman, PhD, BSN (Gamma Omicron at-Large Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: A Qualitative Exploration of Peer Mentoring after Spinal Cord Injury in Delhi, India
The purpose of this study is to gain an in-depth understanding of the community-based peer mentoring experience after spinal cord injury in India.

Sigma/American Association of Critical Care Nurses Grant

Sherrie McMullen, PhD, CNS, NNP-BC (USA)

Title of Project: Transitioning the Hospitalized Preterm Infant; A Randomized Control Trial
The purpose of this study is to promote a period of acclimation before hospital discharge as the supine position reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome; the impact of positioning at this gestational age on development is unknown at this time.

Sigma/American Nurses Foundation Grant

Olga Ehrlich, PhD, BSN (USA)

Title of Project: Motivational Interviewing for Cancer Pain Goals
The purpose of this pilot study is to test the feasibility of motivational interviewing nursing intervention for identifying patient-derived functional pain goals (FPG) in people with cancer and to examine pain self-efficacy and pain barriers before and after the intervention.

Sigma/American Nurses Credentialing Center Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Grant Program

Vinciya Pandian, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN (Nu Beta Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Development, Implementation and Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Nurse-Led Rapid Response Program in a Low-Resource Setting
The purpose of this study is to educate nurses regarding Early Warning Signs; and develop, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based nurse-led rapid response program in a low-resource setting to decrease the rate of cardiopulmonary arrests.

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“The findings of this critical ethnographic research will facilitate humanitarian agencies to recognize gaps in the offered services to the internally displaced mothers of young children and strive for protecting the breastfeeding practices of internally displaced mothers who wish to sustain their breastfeeding practices in the setting of disaster relief camps.”
— Vinciya Pandian, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

Sigma/Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses Grant

Judy Munday, PhD, RN, AFHEA (Phi Delta at-Large, Australia)

Title of Project: Prolonged Hypothermia with Paradoxical Symptoms in Women Receiving Intrathecal Morphine for Cesarean Delivery: A Case Series
The purpose of this case series study is to describe symptomology, estimate prevalence and explore current practice for prevention, management and treatment of this condition.

Sigma/ATI Educational Assessment Nursing Research Grant

Julie Fitzwater, MNE, BSN (Xi Mu Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Using Simulation to Develop Clinical Teaching Competencies in Nurse Educators 
The purpose of this pilot study is to determine if simulation is an effective method to increase teaching competencies in novice clinical nurse educators by examining behaviors to provide constructive formative feedback

Sigma/Canadian Nurses Foundation Grant

Louise Racine, PhD, MScN, BScN (Xi Eta at-Large Chapter, Canada)

Title of Project: Breast Cancer Barriers and Facilitators Among Islamic/Muslim Refugee Women in Canada: A Mixed Method Study. The proposed project will assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with breast cancer self-examination, breast awareness, and the use of early screening programs among Islamic/Muslim women in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
Louise Racine, PhD, RN
“This research will provide pilot data necessary to develop culturally congruent preventative breast cancer screening programs. Ultimately, findings will potentially increase early detection of breast cancer among Islamic/Muslim women in Canada and may inform breast cancer early detection among this subpopulation in other Western countries.”
— Louise Racine, PhD, RN (Canada)
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition and School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan

Sigma/Chamberlain College of Nursing Education Research Grants

Naomi Tutticci, PhD, BSN (Phi Delta at-Large Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: CRiticAL – Clinical Reasoning and simulation: the passive observer becomes Active Learner
The purpose of this study is to investigate an active learning strategy (Clinical Reasoning Observer Worksheet- CROW) and its impact on the enhancement of clinical reasoning through minimization of the standard passive observer role in simulation.

Tanna Woods, MSN, BSN (Theta Upsilon Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Health Belief Model Factors as Predictors of Parental Misclassification of the Weight of the Preschool Child
Continued examination of Health Believe Model (HBM) relationships and weight classifications is the proposed study's major purpose.

Sigma/Council for Advancement of Nursing Science Grant

Meagan Chuey, MS, BSN (Rho Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Reproductive Decision-Making in Syrian Refugee Women
This project will explore how the lived experiences of women who are Syrian refugees influence the process of pregnancy planning, access to contraception, and experiences navigating reproductive healthcare services throughout resettlement.

Sigma/Emergency Nurses Association Foundation Grant

Stephanie Frisch, MSN, RN, CCRN, CEN (USA)

Title of Project: Elevating the Burden of Emergency Department Overcrowding: Developing a New Cardiac Triage Tool.
The study is proposing a novel approach to developing a new cardiac triage tool to accurately identify patients in the vulnerable patient population of suspected acute coronary syndrome.

Sigma/Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation End of Life Nursing Care Research Grant

Susan Thrane, PhD, MSN, RN, CHPN (Epsilon Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Teaching Caregivers of Hospice Patients to Administer Reiki for Symptom Management and Caregiver Self-Care: A Feasibility Pilot Study
The purpose of this study is to add to establish the feasibility teaching FCGs and hospice volunteers Reiki, a light touch therapy, for use with dying patients to address relaxation and symptom management as well as a self-care tool for FCGs and volunteers.

Sigma/Midwest Nursing Research Society Research Grant

Marjorie Kelley, MSN, BSN (Epsilon Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: Lifestyle Behavior Change Using Mobile Health (mHealth) Technology: A Grounded Theory Study of Breast Cancer Survivors Experiences
The purpose of this study is to develop a substantive theory using a grounded theory approach to identify and understand the processes associated with mobile (mHealth) intervention use by breast cancer survivors for lifestyle behavior change.

Sigma/National League for Nursing Research Grant

Yvonne Smith, PhD, APRN, CNS (Delta Omega and Delta Xi chapters, USA)

Title of Project: Teaching Effectiveness in Online Nursing Education: Instrument Development
This study will conduct conceptual and initial empirical work of instrument development to advance knowledge regarding online teaching effectiveness in nursing education.​

Sigma/Oncology Nursing Society Grant

Grace E. Dean, PhD, RN (USA)

Title of Project: Bright Light Therapy to Improve Sleep Continuity Disturbances in Lung Cancer Survivors.
The purpose of the study is to assess the effect of morning bright light versus dim light therapy (control) on fatigue and sleep continuity disturbance in lung cancer survivors.

Sigma/Southern Nursing Research Society Grant

Jia-Rong Wu, PhD, MSN, BSN (Alpha Alpha Chapters, USA)

Title of Project: Vitamin C Supplementation Intervention for Patients with Heart Failure; A Pilot Study
The purpose of project is to obtain information on the feasibility of vitamin C supplementation and obtain initial estimates of effect sizes to support a future randomized controlled trial (RCT) to definitively test the efficacy of vitamin C supplementation intervention in oxidative stress, heart failure (HF) symptoms, cardiac function, health related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with HF and a documented deficiency in vitamin C.

Sigma/Western Institute of Nursing Research Grant

Teresa Serratt, PhD, MSN, BSN (Iota Nu Chapter, USA)

Title of Project: State Regulatory Requirements for Psychiatric Technicians/Aides: A Nation-Wide Study
The purpose of this study is to identify and describe state regulation requirements for psychiatric technicians/aides in the United States as a first step in examining staffing in acute psychiatric hospitals.
Teresa Serratt, PhD, MSN, BSN
“Analyzing current regulatory requirements for psychiatric technicians/aides across the US will help identify if requirements in registry, certification and standards for training and competency evaluation are in place that ensure that the care being provided to a vulnerable population is safe and of high quality. This will be the first step in examining staffing in acute psychiatric hospitals.”
—Teresa Serratt, PhD, MSN, BSN
Boise State University