BackgroundHallway healthcare refers to the provision of patient care in hospital hallways. Although traditionally associated with overcrowded emergency departments, it has increasingly extended into acute inpatient settings. Differences in the organization and delivery of care across healthcare settings highlight the need to examine nurses' experiences of hallway healthcare within their specific clinical contexts. This study explored nurses' experiences of hallway healthcare in acute surgical inpatient settings.MethodsA qualitative study, guided by interpretive description, was used to explore the experiences of nurses working in surgical inpatient settings in Ontario, Canada. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit nine nurses with experience of hallway healthcare. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically to identify key patterns in the data.ResultsThree main themes were identified: Part of the Job, Constrained in Care and Voice, and Relational Disruption. Rather than a temporary strategy to facilitate patient flow, hallway healthcare had become normalized within participants' practice. Driven by top-down organizational decisions, participants described providing care in environments they perceived as unsafe and inappropriate for delivering person-centred surgical care. These conditions heightened their concerns about patient safety, disrupted therapeutic and workplace relationships, and placed significant professional and emotional pressure on nurses.ConclusionThis study provides new insights into nurses' experiences of hallway healthcare in surgical inpatient settings. The findings highlight the need for organizational and system-level action to create healthy work environments that enable nurses to provide safe, person-centred care.
BackgroundHigh-quality management of mental illness for women admitted to acute mental health settings during the perinatal period is crucial due to the complexities associated with concurrent mental illness and pregnancy/childbearing.PurposeThis research aimed to identify perspectives and education needs and experiences of moral distress among psychiatric nurses caring for perinatal women in acute mental health settings.MethodsA convenience sample of 12 nurses from acute mental health units in public tertiary hospitals in south-east Queensland, Australia, completed a demographic survey and semi-structured interviews which were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsFour overarching themes included: (i) Nursing Care, (ii) Work Environment, (iii) Workflow Challenges, and (iv) Moral Distress. Despite potential risks for women admitted to acute mental health units during the perinatal period, nurses provided compassionate care, demonstrated advocacy, reflected upon challenging conversations, and were cognizant of patient safety. Nurses reported limited educational preparation around perinatal mental health, and perceived deficits in continuing professional development opportunities and resources. Negative feelings associated with moral distress, including worrying and struggling, were highlighted by nurses and impacted care provision.ConclusionNurses require support to successfully navigate providing care to this complex clinical group within equally complex health care environments, team dynamics and moral/ethical considerations.
PurposePostpartum pain and depression often occur together. Analyzing their combined effects on new parents' functional impairment, self-care, and infant care can enhance healthcare practice. Nurses are often the first to assess and treat postpartum patients, ensuring that birthing individuals' experiences and needs are acknowledged and addressed. This study aimed to clarify how these two challenges interfere with self-care and infant care, and to identify essential healthcare resources to support individuals facing this dual struggle.MethodsThe sample included 20 racially and ethnically diverse birthing individuals identifying as women, all of whom experienced postpartum pain and depressive symptoms. Data were collected between August 2022 and January 2024. Thematic analyses were conducted using NVivo.Major FindingsThe findings showed that experiencing postpartum pain and depressive symptoms negatively affects individuals' ability to care for themselves and their infants. This often leads to difficulties with infant bonding and neglect of self-care. Additionally, these dual conditions hinder essential health behaviors that contribute to overall well-being and parenting behaviors, such as breastfeeding. Participants highlighted the need for healthcare support, including access to resources, information about the dual challenges of postpartum pain and depression, and home visiting services.ConclusionPostpartum pain and depressive symptoms hinder new parents' self-care, which can compromise recovery and parenting behaviors that support optimal infant development. Nurses can help birthing individuals anticipate and manage the risks associated with the co-occurrence of postpartum pain and depression.
BackgroundUnsafe abortion remains a critical public health challenge among young women in Ghana, persisting despite the provisions of PNDC Law 102 permitting abortion.AimThis study examined the determinants of unsafe abortion among women aged 15-25 years in the Bongo District, Upper East Region, with particular focus on contraceptive use, health-system accessibility, and socio-economic pressures.MethodsUsing a qualitative study, thirty-four women from five communities were recruited through purposive sampling and interviewed using a semi-structured guide.ResultsFour main themes emerged firstly, the idea of having an unsafe abortion was so ingrained in the society that it had become a kind of a routine for people in the district; Secondly, not using contraceptives was more a result of the women's worries about becoming infertile, side effects, and their partners disapproval than simply not knowing about them; Thirdly, formal health services were so expensive, far, and the providers were so judgmental that many just gave up on them; Lastly, social stigma namely, the women's fear of disgracing their families and being expelled from school. The findings are that unsafe abortion in Bongo District is a systemic failure, not a lack of awareness.ConclusionThe findings of this study highlighted that unsafe abortion in Bongo District is a structural failure of the reproductive health system, of social support networks, and of policy implementation rather than a deficit of individual knowledge or moral resolve. Young women in the district are neither uninformed about the risks of unsafe procedures nor indifferent to their health.
Approximately 4500 Canadians die by suicide annually, with men at three times the risk of women. Some ethnic and racialized groups face heightened vulnerability due to discrimination, historical trauma, and limited access to mental healthcare. In response to an alarming number of suicide deaths among Sri Lankan Tamil men in the Greater Toronto Area in 2019, this community-engaged study investigated micro-, meso-, and macro-level factors that contribute to suicide deaths in this population. In collaboration with Vasantham Tamil Wellness Centre, we conducted a community-based qualitative interpretive study, which was informed by an ecosystemic framework. Following research ethics board approval, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 family members and friends, and 12 service providers. The interviews were audio-recorded, (as needed) translated, transcribed, and analysed. We identified contributing factors at micro- (financial burden and upholding social status), meso- (community expectations and pressures, trauma related to the civil war in Sri Lanka, stigma of mental illness, and rigid gender role expectations), and macro-levels (lack of culturally-safe and linguistically-appropriate mental health services and experiences of systemic racism). These factors appeared to intersect and affect numerous domains of life (e.g., education and employment), leading to a cycle of marginalization, social isolation, mental health problems, and loss of hope and life. Multilevel interventions are urgently needed to prevent suicide deaths among Sri Lankan Tamil men in the Greater Toronto Area. Mental health initiatives and suicide prevention programs in Canada should be culturally-safe, linguistically-appropriate, and address historical and intergenerational trauma.
To fill the nursing shortage, and to ensure continuous 24 h nursing coverage, working overtime has been increasing steadily over the recent years. Although working overtime has been associated with adverse nurse and patient outcomes, the results of existing studies remain scattered. This study aimed to systematically synthetize existing evidence on the characteristics of working overtime (i.e., mandatory or voluntary) and their associations with nurse and patient outcomes. Method: A systematic review was conducted. MEDLINE, CINHAL, Scopus, Campbell, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO were examined from March 2014 to April 2025. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted relevant data using a standardized extraction grid. Results: Among 5827 retrieved articles, 71 studies (65 cross-sectional and six longitudinal) met our inclusion criteria. These studies examined 27 adverse nurse outcomes and 10 adverse patient outcomes. Mandatory overtime was associated with eight adverse nurse outcomes, and no beneficial nurse outcomes. Voluntary overtime was associated with three adverse nurse outcomes. We found no study examining the association between mandatory/voluntary OT and patient outcomes. No study showed beneficial impacts of overtime on patient outcomes. Unspecified OT was inconsistently associated with adverse nurse (eg., burnout, sleep disorder) and patient outcomes (e.g., poor quality of care). Conclusion: While evidence suggests that working overtime is associated with numerous adverse nurse and patient outcomes, existing results are inconsistent. Robust research methods and longitudinal designs are required to better ascertain these associations. Stratifying the analyses by the type of exposure (i.e., voluntary vs. mandatory overtime), may also be beneficial.
Background Brazil has recognized the need to investigate the health context of Indigenous Peoples by (a) collecting data on service coverage, barriers, needs, and gaps in access to health care; (b) developing, funding, and implementing plans and strategies for multilingual service delivery (c) reducing gender, social, and cultural inequalities as well as geographical barriers that hinder equitable access to quality health services; and, (d) incorporating an intercultural-intersectoral approach in the development of policies and inclusive-participatory research. Purpose Propose an original conceptual framework for action research on the socio-cultural aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum cycle among Brazilian Indigenous women. Results An online consultation with healthcare professionals was conducted (April-June 2024) using audio recorded narratives to gather information about the health of pregnant and postpartum Indigenous women. The Canadian model of population health promotion guided information analysis. Fourteen healthcare professionals with experience working in four Brazilian states and with 11 ethnic groups were consulted. A total of 23 modifiable situations were identified, and an original conceptual framework was developed that encompasses the following health promotion areas as modifiable situations: structure of the healthcare network; administrative barriers in healthcare management; operationalization of care delivery; and clinical and social contexts. Conclusion This article conceptualizes areas for innovative and socially responsive solutions to amend vulnerabilities in Brazilian Indigenous maternal health. The conceptual framework proposed offers a useful operational foundation for designing future interventions in Indigenous maternal health and for strengthening action research as a transformative methodological strategy in contexts marked by persistent historical and social inequalities.
BackgroundHealthcare systems face difficulties in retaining nurses due to the demanding nature of the work. Turnover among mid-career nurses is of particular concern, as it diminishes the pool of experienced staff available to provide patient care and mentorship. While retention strategies for early-career nurses are well-documented, less is known about interventions targeting mid-career nurses.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review following Arksey and O'Malley's framework, systematically searching PubMed and CINAHL, including grey literature sources, for studies on mid-career nurse retention published between January 2014 and February 2025. Our goal was to map the scope, nature, and focus of the existing research, and to identify key knowledge gaps.ResultsTwenty-two studies from 10 countries met the inclusion criteria, with 16 examined interventions tailored for mid-career nurses. Among these, ten focused on retaining nurses within their current roles, while six aimed to reduce attrition from the organization entirely. The interventions were grouped into three thematic areas: optimizing role satisfaction, work culture, and customized retention strategies. While these strategies appear promising, their actual impact on retention remains unclear. Many studies provided limited outcome data, lacked consistent measures at both individual and organizational levels, and rarely addressed potential unintended effects. Moreover, there is no widely accepted definition or clear conceptualization of what constitutes a mid-career nurse.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the lack of focused initiatives to retain mid-career nurses and point to an urgent need for innovation in this space. Future efforts should prioritize the formal evaluation of existing programs to assess their effectiveness.
PurposeLiterature documenting mental health concerns among nurses is abundant, as is evidence that working conditions are a significant contributing factor. While conducting a study on the mental health experiences of seven professional cohorts in Canada, an unexpected finding was that for nurses struggling with their mental health, compassion profoundly shaped their experiences. This paper reports findings from a secondary analysis of the nursing cohort of this dataset to examine the role that compassion played in the experiences of nurses, their interprofessional relationships, and engagement with institutional policies and processes. Qualitative analysis of interviews with 52 nurses across Canada was conducted using interpretive description's inductive approach. Analysis was guided by the conceptual framework of Compassionate Communities.ResultsCompassion in the workplace impacted nurses' experiences of mental health, the process of requesting a leave of absence, and negotiating return to work. Nurses described how practicing in uncompassionate environments prompted them to engage in presenteeism at the expense of their own wellbeing, often missing the signs of their distress. Seeking help was deemed more complicated than remaining at work; leave of absence and return to work processes were marked by uncompassionate responses from managers and institutional procedures. Nurses encountered stigma when disclosing a mental health concern, negatively impacting their professional identity and interprofessional relationships.ConclusionsImplementing compassionate organizational practices and processes is instrumental in supporting nurses' mental health experiences and supporting psychologically safe work environments. This paper adds to the literature on compassion, compassionate communities, and nurses' mental health experiences.
Aim To examine the experiences, motivations, and perceived inequities of internationally educated nurses (IENs) residing in northern British Columbia and to identify systemic, geographic, and regulatory barriers to workforce integration. Background Although IENs are critical to Canada's health workforce, many face prolonged licensure processes and limited access to education and employment, particularly in rural and remote communities. Design Guided by Equity Theory and organizational perspectives, this mixed-methods study explored how perceived inequities influence motivation, engagement, and workforce participation. Methods Data were collected through three focus groups and interviews ( n = 13), an online survey ( n = 79), and a key partner workshop with regulators, assessors, educators, a union and health system partners ( n = 16). Results Four themes emerged: resourcefulness, rural life, mental health and identity, and challenges within the registration process. Participants demonstrated resilience and strong professional commitment but reported delays, financial strain, and limited access to local training and navigational support. Survey findings echoed these barriers. The key partner workshop translated findings into partnership-based strategies to improve educational access, regulatory collaboration, and rural workforce pathways. Conclusion Effective IEN integration requires coordinated, equity-oriented partnerships across regulators, educators, and employers. Strengthening these collaborations can improve licensure access, support retention, and enhance healthcare capacity in underserved regions.
BackgroundCoronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. For older adults, sustained engagement in physical activity after coronary revascularization is essential for secondary prevention and is strongly associated with improved quality of life. However, participation in traditional cardiac rehabilitation programs remains low in this population, highlighting the need for accessible, age-tailored alternatives.ObjectiveTo describe the development of Changeons ensemble, a French-language web-based nursing intervention designed to promote physical activity and quality of life among older adults with CHD.MethodologyThe intervention was developed by a multidisciplinary participatory planning group following the Intervention Mapping framework. A comprehensive needs assessment was conducted through a literature review and semi-structured interviews with older adults (n = 10). The subsequent steps included objective setting and intervention design guided by the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model.ResultsThe needs assessment identified key needs in information, motivation, and self-efficacy and highlighted the importance of individualized professional support. Changeons ensemble was designed as a seven-session web-based intervention integrating educational content, reflexive activities, individualized written nursing feedback, action planning, self-monitoring through an electronic diary, a forum, and case stories. The intervention emphasizes flexibility and sensitivity to older adults' physical and emotional challenges following coronary revascularization.ConclusionThis study presents a systematically developed, theory-informed, web-based intervention that directly addresses the specific needs of older adult with CHD. Changeons ensemble offers a promising approach for supporting sustained physical activity and enhancing in quality of life in a population that remains underserved by conventional cardiac rehabilitation models.Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06197347; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06197347.
BackgroundEmotional exhaustion is a core component of burnout, linked to poor nurse well-being and negative patient outcomes. In Canada, where nurse burnout has risen sharply, there is limited evidence tracking changes across healthcare sectors over time. This study addresses that gap to inform workforce and policy interventions.PurposeTo examine trends in emotional exhaustion and perceptions of quality and safety among nurses in British Columbia working in acute care, long-term care, and community care settings over three time points: 2015, 2019, and 2020.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of three cross-sectional surveys of nurses in BC. The analytic sample included 8,412 nurses. Emotional exhaustion was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and quality and safety outcomes were assessed using validated RN4CAST indicators. Survey year was the key independent variable; six demographic and professional characteristics were included as controls. Linear regression was used for emotional exhaustion and ordered logistic regression for ordinal outcomes.ResultsNurses' emotional exhaustion demonstrated a two-fold increase from 2015 to 2019 and a four-fold increase from 2015 to 2020. While nurses' ratings of all quality and safety measures improved from 2015 to 2020, only their ratings of last shift and general quality of care improved between 2015 to 2019.ConclusionThe observed increase in nurses' emotional exhaustion over time likely reflects the cumulative impact of persistent system pressures and escalating workloads, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Incorporating measures of burnout into Canada's health workforce dashboards would inform more targeted, data-driven strategies for sustainable health workforce planning.
Background & PurposeMidline catheter insertion, a peripheral venous catheter procedure, is a technically demanding invasive nursing procedure requiring precision, communication, and sustained attention to ensure patient safety. While emotional experiences are known to influence clinical performance, their role during invasive procedures is rarely addressed in education or practice. This study explored how nurses trained in midline catheter insertion describe their emotional experiences during the procedure, and how these emotions emerge as they recount their technical actions and interactions with patients.Methods and ProceduresA qualitative exploratory study was conducted in two hospital vascular access services in France. Midline insertions were video-recorded and immediately followed by video-supported self-confrontation interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using directed qualitative content analysis informed by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Plutchik's psycho-evolutionary model. Investigator triangulation supported analytic rigor.ResultsTen nurses participated, and ten procedures were analysed. Overall, forty-two emotional expressions were identified across all procedural phases. Negative emotions such as fear, apprehension, and irritation were more frequently described during needle insertion and associated with uncertainty and perceived technical risk. Positive emotions, including interest, pride, and relief, were predominantly reported after confirmation of catheter placement. Participants frequently described repeated verification behaviors and heightened attentional focus during moments perceived as clinically risky, which we interpreted as a state of vigilance accompanying emotional experience.ConclusionThese self-reported findings highlight the relevance of recognising emotions as an integral component of invasive nursing care and support the integration of emotional awareness and regulation into procedural training.
Background: Nursing education is vital to addressing workforce shortages, with occupational coping self-efficacy potentially supporting student resilience, preparedness, and retention despite academic and clinical stressors. There is limited evidence examining how nursing students' coping self-efficacy and perceived educational stressors relate to intention-related outcomes during training. Objective: To examine whether nursing students' occupational coping self-efficacy in nursing (OCSE-N) and perceived stressors (Stressors in Nursing Students Scale; SNSS) differ across intention-related and preparedness variables including satisfaction with choosing nursing, intent to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), and pursue further education, perceived preparedness for the registered nursing (RN) role, and preferred future work setting and location. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an online survey completed by 367 undergraduate nursing students in Ontario. Participants completed standardized measures of occupational coping self-efficacy (OCSE-N) and perceived stressors (SNSS), along with author-developed single-item measures assessing intention-related and preparedness indicators. OCSE-N and SNSS total scores were compared across groups using one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni-adjusted post-hoc tests. Results: OCSE-N and SNSS scores differed significantly by satisfaction with choosing nursing and perceived preparedness for the registered nurse role, with higher OCSE-N and lower SNSS observed among students reporting greater satisfaction and preparedness. No significant differences were found across intent to practice as a nurse, plans to pursue further education, preferred work setting, or preferred work location. OCSE-N OCSE-N Conclusion: Occupational coping self-efficacy and perceived stressors were associated with satisfaction and perceived preparedness, but not with longer-term professional plans among Ontario baccalaureate nursing students.
Cancer is the leading cause of death for Canadians. Research by Canadian scholars has highlighted that people who experience multiple and intersecting socio-economic barriers are more likely to receive a diagnosis only after cancer has become advanced. For people who experience incarceration, structural barriers to cancer treatment and care are further exacerbated. Yet, few studies in Canada have focused specifically on the provision of cancer care in provincial correctional settings. This study explored how nurses understand and navigate the delivery of cancer care to people who are incarcerated in British Columbia. Guided by Interpretive Description (ID) and informed by actor-network theory (ANT), the research aimed to generate practice-relevant insights by examining nurses' perspectives, experiences, and the systemic factors shaping their clinical realities. Findings from this study illustrate nurses' views that the prison's focus on security shapes how, when, and whether cancer care is delivered. Drawing on interviews with nurses, the analysis produced the following insights: 1) institutional priorities often complicated the delivery of cancer care; 2) nurses perceived systemic stigma and institutional mistrust toward patients who are incarcerated; and 3) lack of confidentiality during healthcare encounters hindered patient-centred cancer care. Despite this, nurses frequently found ways to navigate the professional tensions arising from dual responsibilities to patient care and incarceration. These insights show how cancer care is often contingent on nurses' ability to navigate systemic constraints and relational barriers, underscoring the need for integrated, trauma-informed, and equity-oriented approaches that support continuity of care across correctional and healthcare systems.
Background: People living with dementia face a risk of going missing, which can result in injury or death and distress for care partners. Although it is believed that alert systems can help locate missing persons and reduce risk through community engagement, little is known about implementation and user experiences. Objective: This study explored experiences with alert systems and related policies for missing persons with dementia, drawing on stories and insights from individuals who went missing, care partners, and those involved in search efforts. Methods: A multiple case study was conducted. Data were collected through interviews and focus groups with 40 individuals, including people with lived experience, first responders, service providers, policymakers from Canada, Scotland, and the United States and analyzed thematically. Results: Three key themes were identified: 1) implementing alert systems and policies, 2) experiences of going missing, and 3) factors that help or delay locating missing persons. Participants emphasized the importance of interest holder involvement, community buy-in, and legislative support for implementation. Challenges included sustainable funding and limited evaluation. The emotional impact of missing incidents highlighted the need for prompt police reporting, coordinated search efforts, tailored mobile alerts, and public education. Conclusion: According to participants, effective alert systems require geographic-specific mobile notifications and coordinated planning. Strong partnerships among first responders, health care and service providers, and community organizations, supported by training and public education, would improve preparedness and support for people living with dementia and their care partners.
Purpose: Predatory publishing remains a persistent concern in nursing scholarship, yet identification approaches often rely on binary classifications or list-based designations that obscure variation among journals. This study examined predatory publishing in nursing using a systems-based, behavior-focused approach. Methods: A dataset of 265 nursing journals was assessed using the Predation Index, a behavior-based instrument that evaluates observable publishing practices associated with predatory risk. Journals with publicly available information were scored and categorized as 1-3 (lower levels of predatory indicators), 4-6 (moderate levels of predatory indicators), or 7-10 (high levels of predatory indicators). Findings were interpreted using the Journal Systems Framework, which conceptualizes journals as systems shaped by governance, capacity, and intent. Longitudinal comparison was conducted with journals identified in a 2016 study. Results: Of 265 journals, 166 had sufficient information for assessment. Among these, 27 (16%) scored in the lowest range (1-3), 45 (27%) in the intermediate range (4-6), and 94 (57%) in the highest range (7-10). The remaining 99 journals were no longer available for assessment. Journals drawn from exclusionary lists were distributed across all score categories, indicating that lists function as risk screens rather than definitive classifications. Longitudinal analysis found many journals identified in 2016 had ceased operation, reflecting system instability. Conclusion: Predatory publishing in nursing is best understood as a systems-level phenomenon rather than a quality continuum. Using behavior-based criteria within a systems framework helps distinguish structurally stressed journals from exploitative ones and supports more precise, ethically grounded responses to research integrity concerns.
Purpose: Enhancing the well-being of the nursing workforce involves understanding how nurses perceive their professional quality of life (PQOL). We conducted a study of oncology nurses' PQOL using grounded theory methodology and integrated participatory photography, with the intent of obtaining deeper insight using visual data collection. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of participatory photography within our grounded theory study as a novel research method. Findings: Participatory photography provided a method of uncovering the missing "voice" of oncology nurses, a noted research gap, and assisted in addressing the study's questions concerning their PQOL, its related facilitators and barriers, and the actions and processes the nurses used to enhance it. Participating nurses were asked to take photographs that communicated some aspect of their PQOL. Six of the 14 participants submitted a total of 35 images. The photographs served both as an additional data source and a means to facilitate interview data that revealed new thematic categories and allowed for deeper exploration into previously identified themes. Thematic coding related to the photographs included reviewing the photographs jointly, associated captions, and participant reflections prompted by the photographs. Conclusions: As a data collection method, participatory photography enhanced the richness of data, led to earlier data saturation, and reflected oncology nurses' experiences and perspectives in a uniquely personal manner. Researchers can use and adapt the procedures outlined in this manuscript to facilitate the integration of participatory photography into future grounded theory or other qualitative research studies.
Background Leadership is recognized as a core nursing competency, essential for advancing practice and preparing future nurse leaders for complex healthcare settings. Studies show that First Nation nurses are underrepresented in leadership roles. Addressing this requires intentional strategies that center Indigenous worldviews and leadership development. This study explores the role of international experiential learning in supporting the emergence of Indigenous leadership in nursing education. Methods The study was embedded in a culturally grounded international exchange project that took place in the summer of 2024. The project involved Indigenous nursing students from the University of Manitoba and a partner Bachelor of Nursing Māori programme in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The study employed Indigenous methodologies grounded in conversational reflection, with themes identified through iterative discussion and validation with Indigenous nursing students. Results A total of 6 Indigenous undergraduate nursing students completed the experiential learning project. The students were exposed to the Bachelor of Nursing Māori programme curriculum that included Māori leadership. The students learned about the value of research for advocating. Three overarching and inter-related themes emerged in our thematic analysis of students’ reflections and sharing circle, including connecting to people, land and water, empowered by relational leadership and research, and becoming agents of change. Through this experience, students gained confidence and were empowered to lead with cultural authenticity and a commitment to systematic change. Conclusion Exposure to the Bachelor of Nursing Māori program enhanced students’ cultural confidence, and leadership aspirations and informed the development of Indigenous nurse leadership competencies.
