Clinical research has its greatest impact when it moves beyond the lab and into real moments at the bedside. At Ascension, nurse scientists turn questions into data, and data into action, shaping how care is delivered every day. Their work drives actionable, evidence-based solutions that improve safety, elevate quality, and strengthen outcomes for our patients.
An approach built for bedside impact
Ascension’s nursing research program is grounded in collaboration and a steadfast commitment to driving solutions that directly improve patient care. Ascension’s clinically-based nurse scientists start with real questions from the bedside and partner with interdisciplinary teams to pursue studies that are rigorous, functional, and applicable to our clinical practices.
We bring together the real-world expertise of our bedside nurses and operational leaders with the curiosity of four practice-based, PhD-prepared nurse scientists:
- Vallire Hooper, PhD, RN, CPAN, FASPAN, FAAN
- Lesly Kelly, PhD, RN, FAAN
- Cynthia LaFond, PhD, RN, CCRN, FAAN
- Susan Solmos, PhD, RN, CWCN
Together, they lead research that advances care across our Ministry markets while contributing to the nursing profession as a whole.
As the first line of care, nurses play a critical role in championing evidence-based practice, guided by a deep understanding of the science behind nursing. With licensure comes both the authority — and responsibility — to make informed decisions about patient care. We are cultivating a culture where our nurses know their ideas matter and feel empowered to drive meaningful change.
Ascension nursing research has led to:
- $1.02 million in implemented grants
- 109 active studies with nurses as principal investigators or co-investigators in FY26
- 19 peer-reviewed publications including one or more Ascension nurses in FY26
- 13 regional, national, and international professional presentations in FY26
Our nursing research priorities
Guided by our Mission and informed by the voices of nurses who deliver care across our system, our nursing research is anchored in strategic priorities that shape our focus.
- Safety: Advancing research that deepens our understanding of our patients, clinical environments, and care processes to develop solutions and interventions that improve delivery of safe care.
- Workforce: Pursuing research that supports nurse well-being and their ability to deliver excellent care. We examine how the nursing work environment and care processes influence safety, quality, efficiency, and effectiveness. We also explore how social and professional factors influence clinical outcomes – demonstrating that healthy work environments can directly impact patient care.
- Health for all: Driving research that advances the highest level of health for every patient by addressing differences shaped by social, economic, and environmental factors.
The Research Affinity Group: Turning practice questions into solutions
Established in 2021, Ascension’s National Nurse Research Affinity Group unites clinical nurses, nurse leaders, nurse scientists, clinical informationists, and other disciplines to advance discovery and improve patient care across the organization.
The group supports nurses in generating and disseminating meaningful knowledge that advances standardized care delivery and improves patient outcomes across Ascension.
Collaborating with the Chief Nursing Executive Council and other Ascension National Nurse Affinity groups, the Research Affinity Group helps identify national research priorities, implement studies to address them, and share study findings internally and externally.
Research in action: Improving outcomes across Ascension
The power of our nursing research is reflected in its measurable impact on our patients, workforce, and communities. From strengthening workforce resilience to reducing preventable harm and health disparities, our nurses are designing and executing studies that address the challenges they encounter every day.
Each milestone moves us closer to a continuously learning health system, where evidence consistently informs action.
Scaling national solutions for patient falls
Falls in acute care settings present significant safety and financial challenges, with each fall averaging approximately $35,000 in direct care costs.
To address this, nurses led by senior nurse scientist Vallire Hooper, PhD, RN, CPAN, FASPAN, FAAN, examined fall risks in emergency departments (ED) and found that a longstanding tool was not effective for ED populations, where the risk factors are different from other acute care environments.
A team of ED nurses suggested implementing KINDER 1, a fall risk assessment designed specifically for emergency care, but the tool had little research to support its clinical use. Hooper and nurse partners in Texas designed pilots to evaluate its effectiveness. After studying nearly 64,000 patients, results showed that KINDER 1 more accurately identified patients at risk of falling.
What started as a challenge raised by ED nurses evolved into a national standard scaled across Ascension.
Enhancing nurse well-being
While the act of caring for others is rewarding, the emotional, physical, and psychological demands can lead to a state of depletion. This risk is especially high for nurses, who regularly witness trauma, pain, and suffering of others combined with the high-stakes nature of their work. Unaddressed, this stress can result in emotional exhaustion, reduced empathy, and burnout, ultimately leading to lower care quality, increased preventable adverse events, and higher turnover.
Senior Nurse Scientist Lesly Kelly, PhD RN FAAN is leading a program of research aimed at strengthening nurse well-being and stabilizing teams — recognizing that workforce health and patient outcomes are inseparable.
Linking turnover and length of stay
Research shows that nursing turnover disrupts workflows, which can contribute to a reduced quality and safety of care. How turnover affects the efficiency of care, including patient length of stay, has not been well-studied.
By examining these dynamics, Ascension is generating evidence to inform staffing models and operational strategies that support both nurses’ work environment and patients’ access to care.
Advancing pressure injury prevention
We are committed to recognizing where gaps in care exist, and having the courage to study and address them.
Ascension nurses and data scientists, led by Cynthia LaFond, PhD, RN, CCRN, FAAN and Susan Solmos, PhD, RN, CWCN published groundbreaking research examining the relationship between skin tone and pressure injury prevalence and severity.
Evaluating data from more than 55,000 patients worldwide, the team found that patients with medium-dark skin tones experienced higher rates of pressure injuries and up to four times the risk of more severe injuries compared to patients with light-medium skin tones.
This first-of-its-kind research underscores the need to better integrate diverse skin tones into research, education, and practice. Ascension is using these findings to inform policy, refine assessment standards, and enhance care delivery for all patients.
Shaping the future of nursing
Nursing research at Ascension strengthens care delivery today, while advancing the profession for tomorrow.
By translating bedside questions into system-wide solutions, our nurses turn knowledge into measurable outcomes, delivering care that is both science-backed and deeply human. Empowered by evidence, our nurse scientists are building safer environments, strengthening the workforce, and redefining what care can be.
