2026 Virtual INNRS Education Session Descriptions
All times are in the Central time zone (CDT).
Friday, January 23, 2026
Welcome & Introduction
9:00am-9:15am CDT
External Ventricular Drain Column Height Fails to Explain Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage Volumes
9:05-9:15 am CDT
Yuan Li, PhD RN Professor (China)
CSF drainage can be regulated by controlling the fluid drain height. Our study found a limited role of low-altitude settings to facilitate CSF drainage in EVD management.
Understanding "Lambing" Within Nursing Situation Between Nurse and Person with Neurological Condition
9:15-9:25 am CDT
Rudolf Cymorr Kirby Martinez, PhD MA RN CGNC CNE AHN-BC SGAHN FFNMRCSI (Phillipines)
This research explores the meaning of lambing as lived within the nursing situation between nurse and a person with a neurological condition. It uncovers lambing not merely as tenderness or affection, but as a culturally resonant quality of caring that nurtures kaginhawahan, the optimum human condition among Filipinos
Moderated Questions
9:25-9:40 am CDT
Blood Pressure Variability after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
9:40-9:50 am CDT
Khalil Yousef, PhD RN (India)
This study evaluates blood pressure differences between survivors and non-survivors following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Blood pressure is a critical physiological parameter after SAH, as both hypertension and hypotension can influence outcomes through risks of rebleeding, cerebral ischemia, and secondary brain injury. By comparing blood pressure profiles between survivors and non-survivors, the study aims to identify patterns that may guide clinical monitoring, risk stratification, and therapeutic interventions to improve survival and recovery
Neuropalliative Nursing: Integrating Neurology and Palliative Nursing in Resource-Limited Settings
9:50-10:00 am CDT
Dr. Priya Baby, PhD MSc RN INPCC (India)
This presentation explores the evolving role of neuropalliative nursing in integrating neurological care with palliative principles in resource-limited settings. Drawing on clinical experience and emerging evidence, it will highlight common symptom burdens in neurological conditions and describe the multimodal care strategies adopted in our setting, including inpatient, home-based, and telehealth approaches. The focus will be on practical, context-specific nursing care models to improve quality of life for patients and families facing complex neurological illnesses.
Moderated Questions
10:00-10:15 am CDT
Speed Poster 1:
10:15-10:20 am CDT
Speed Poster 2:
10:20-10:25 am CDT
Speed Poster 3:
10:25-10:30 am CDT
Break
10:30-10:45 am CDT
The Impact of Research on Need-Based Care on Nurses’ Clinical Decision-Making in the Care for People with Dementia
10:45-10:55 am CDT
Dr. Katrin Gillis, PhD MScN (Belgium)
This presentation will explained why caregivers struggle with providing emotional support to people with dementia and why pharmacological treatments are dominant in the response to behavioral and psychological symptoms of people with dementia (BPSD). Need-based care is an evidence-based approach to respond in an appropriate way to those BPSD. Besides the feasibility and effectiveness of need-based care, in which non-pharmacological interventions are used to regulate emotions of people with dementia, some of the essential conditions for implementation will be highlighted. The presentation is a summary of a decade of research on quality of care for people with dementia.
A Transatlantic Exchange: Applying Barrow Neurological Institute's Protocols to Reduce Surgical Site Infections at the Institute of Neurological Sciences
10:55-11:05 am CDT
Scott Wilson, MA M.Litt RN (Scotland)
During a visit to Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) in Phoenix last year, I noticed two small but crucial differences between its cleanliness protocols and those of my own Institute of Neurological Sciences (INS) in Glasgow. I shall present the changes that I introduced to the INS cleaning protocols when I returned from Phoenix and the positive difference they made to our surgical site infection rates.
Moderated Questions
11:05-11:20 am CDT
A Modified Delphi Approach to Selecting a Post-Stroke Dysphagia Screening Tool That is Acceptable, Appropriate, and Feasible to Use in a Setting with Low Stroke Care Resources
11:20-11:30 am CDT
Ishmail Sillah, DNP MSRN MPH (Kenya)
My research highlights a modified Delphi approach to exploring the possibility of selecting a post stroke dysphagia screening (PSDS) tool. In this study, local clinicians (nurses, physicians, advance practice providers, therapists and nutritionists) with 5+ years experience providing stroke care in a developing country settings rigorously assess the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of using the two PSDS tools at their hospital. Participants provided insights in three phases: first via a pre-workshop survey, second via a workshop discussion within each clinician group, third via a post-workshop survey.
Factors Affecting Functional Improvement in the Initial Months of Recovery After Stroke: A Pilot Study
11:30-11:40 am CDT
Mary Forgea, PhD RN (USA)
The purpose of this repeated measures mixed methods study was to examine factors affecting functional improvement among survivors of stroke during the initial months of recovery. This pilot study provides insight into the experiences of survivors of stroke during rehabilitation and recovery. The results of this study indicate a need for additional support for survivors of stroke after discharge from the rehabilitation unit.
Moderated Questions
11:40-11:55 am CDT
Impact of Neurological Assessment on Neurocritical Patients in Low-Resource Hospitals
11:55 am-12:05 pm CDT
Joseph Tiulenin Dimas Carrera, Nurse Specialist in Neurological Nursing, Master's Degree in Healthcare Management, Professor of Neurological Nursing (Brazil)
In low-resource hospitals, neurological assessment of neurocritical patients has a crucial impact, but often faces significant limitations. Limited access to technology, a shortage of specialized personnel, and a lack of advanced monitoring resources directly impact the ability to detect and treat neurological changes in a timely manner, which can lead to worse patient outcomes.
Successful Spinal Cord Stimulation for Severe Medication Refractory Restless Leg Syndrome
12:05-12:15 pm CDT
Darcia Paul, MN RN(EC) CNN(C) (Canada)
A pilot study investigating the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in alleviating symptoms in patients with primary refractory Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).
Moderated Questions
12:15-12:30 pm CDT
Morning Closeout
12:30 pm CDT
Break
12:30-2:00 pm CDT
Educating Children on Stroke Signs: A Population-Based Before-and-After Study of the FAST Heroes Campaign in Iceland
2:00-2:10 pm CDT
Marianne Klinke, PhD RN CNS (Iceland)
This presentation reports a population-based pre/post study of the nationwide rollout of the FAST Heroes campaign in Iceland, which engaged over 4,000 children and reached families and the wider public through schools, children, and media. Stroke efficacy improved significantly between time points, with greater confidence in describing stroke symptoms when calling the emergency line (p=0.01) and knowing what to do if someone is having a stroke (p < 0.05); over 94% identified key symptoms and around 70% reported they would call an ambulance. However, awareness of modifiable risk factors such as hypertension remained low at ~21%, and confidence in managing a stroke was insufficient, pointing to clear priorities for future public health campaigns.
Bone Health in Individuals with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Who Have Received Disease-Modifying Treatment
2:10-2:20 pm CDT
Regina Laine, MSN PNP CNRN (USA)
This descriptive study will review Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) measurements of bone health in SMA patients treated with disease-modifying therapies at Boston Children’s Hospital. We hypothesize that bone fragility remains a significant concern despite therapy initiation.
Moderated Questions
2:20-2:35 pm CDT
TBD Presentation
2:35-2:45 pm CDT
Presenter Name
More informaiton to come!
Sleep Apnea Screening: An Evaluation of a Pre-Operative Clinic’s Use of the STOP-BANG Questionnaire
2:45-2:55 pm CDT
Irene Abella, DNP MM MSN APRN NP-C CNRN Alumnus-CCRN (USA)
This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the utilization of the STOP-BANG questionnaire (SBQ) to screen patients for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a pre-operative clinic. Studies outside the United States show a greater risk for OSA among Asian ethnicity; thus, this project also aimed to describe the SBQ scores of a subset of Asian Americans (AAs) not referred for a sleep study and determine the number of potential referrals if the body mass index (BMI) threshold of their SBQ scores is modified. Screening of OSA using the SBQ in a pre-operative clinic effectively identified patients at high risk for sleep apnea. Attention to BMI thresholds would increase the identification of sleep apnea in this vulnerable population.
Moderated Questions
2:55-3:10 pm CDT
Outpatient Treatment for Pediatric Refractory Headaches
3:10-3:20 pm CDT
Rasha Srouji, DNP CPNP CNRN (Canada)
Headaches are a common symptom in children. Children with refractory headaches may be admitted for inpatient treatment with intravenous dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE). However, very few studies have characterized these patients and their treatment outcomes using validated, self-reported, pain scales. The objective of this study was to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of children admitted for DHE infusion, determine DHE treatment outcomes by means of numeric pain scale ratings, and explore associations between treatment outcomes and clinical characteristics.
Top Rated Poster Abstract
3:20-3:30 pm CDT
Private Universe: Spiritual Support as Part of Holistic Care
4:05-4:15pm CDT
Colin Woodhouse, MHSProfPr RN (New Zealand)
Aotearoa/New Zealand is an increasingly secular country with over 52% of the population recorded as non-religious in 2023. The hospital chaplaincy service is 100% Christian. My research was to find out if people felt the current spiritual support was appropriate and justified our claim of providing holistic care.
Methodological Challenges in Recruitment and Data Collection of a Diverse Caregiver Sample
4:15-4:25 pm CDT
Heather Kennedy, PhD MS APRN PCNS-BC CNRN CCRN-P CWOCN (USA)
The purpose of this presentation is to share with attendees the methodological challenges encountered in this study that aimed to explore perceived social support in a diverse sample of family caregivers of children with complex medical, including neurological, conditions. Challenges encountered included recruitment, electronic medical record data extraction, and nonresponse bias leading to small group sizes for between group analysis. The presenter will discuss proposed solutions to plan for future work.
Moderated Questions
4:25-4:40 pm CDT
TBD Presentation
4:40-4:50 pm CDT
Presenter Name
More information to come!
From Research to Routine: Nurses Leading the Implementation of Optimizing Post-Stroke Monitoring Study in Post-Thrombolysis Care
4:50-5:00 pm CDT
Sheila Jala (Australia)
This presentation shares how frontline neuroscience nurses turned research into real-world change. We’ll explore how our team implemented and integrated the study protocol into daily practice, trained and supported staff, and ultimately embedded the new monitoring model into our local post-thrombolysis guideline. Attendees will see how nurses can lead research translation, improve patient experience, reduce unnecessary ICU admissions, and make evidence-based practice truly routine.
Moderated Questions
5:00-5:15 pm CDT
Closing
5:15 pm CDT