Research for Nurses
Welcome to the homepage of current and upcoming studies occurring at emergency departments for clinicians, along with resources available for clinicians interested in research.
This initiative aims to collaborate with all health care providers and make research opportunities accessible to everyone.
We can help you develop a research question, apply for grants, assist with Research Ethics Approval, and support you in the research process. Please get in touch with the Research Manager.
Megi Nallbani
megi.nallbani@nshealth.ca
902-476-1471
This site will be regularly updated.
Current Studies in the Emergency Department:
RAFF4 Trial: Vernakalant vs. Procainamide for Acute Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Department: The study takes place at 12 Emergency Departments across Canada. This study aims to determine whether IV vernakalant is a more effective, faster, and safer drug than IV procainamide in treating patients with acute atrial fibrillation in the emergency department (ED).
The study asks whether it is better to give intravenous (IV) procainamide or IV vernakalant. While both medications are approved for use by Health Canada, vernakalant is a newer drug that emergency departments across Canada have not widely adopted. This study will compare these two treatment options to see if one is better than the other.
Participants will be assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. Depending on which treatment group the participant is assigned to, the participant will receive either an approved dose of IV procainamide or an approved dose of IV vernakalant. After their visit, they will be contacted in 30 days by telephone.
Eligibility: A conscious adult over the age of 18 who is currently experiencing atrial fibrillation for over 3 hours and under seven days. The research assistant will be notified and continue to investigate for further inclusion/exclusion criteria for the study
Clinician Involvement: Anyone can notify the research assistants of potential patients eligible for the study. The attending physician will consult with the RA and review the inclusion/exclusion criteria for the participants and order the medications
The attending nurse will retrieve and infuse the medications as per study protocol. Other opportunities for ECG and cardioversion if medication administration is unsuccessful.
Goals: We hope to enroll 340 in this study.
Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department (ED) Rapid Response Network (CCEDRRN): Since 2020, the registry has looked at multiple factors for patients presenting to the emergency department with symptoms of COVID-19, tested positive or negative for COVID-19, and collecting data on medications, vitals, bloodwork. This registry also includes a telephone follow-up with patients screened at 30 days, 3 and 6 months, and a year since their initial ED visit on post-COVID symptoms, experiences, and vaccination statuses.
Clinician involvement: none; there is no direct patient contact for this study
Goals: We would like to publish a few publications on the data analysis of the multiple factors collected.
Understanding cannabis-related physical and mental health presentations to the Emergency Department following the legalization of non-medical cannabis use. The study aims to investigate in-depth patients with adverse events about cannabis use requiring ED presentations, including the important determination of associated risk factors and healthcare demands. This unique collaborative Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry study will be completed in Nova Scotia at the four adult EDs (Halifax, Dartmouth, Sackville and Sydney) and the IWK Children’s Hospital ED. For the individuals who consent, in addition to the chart review data, we will collect healthcare and interview/rating scale data at the study entry and three months later. We will also retrospectively collect data on healthcare contacts 24 months before the emergency department visit for those enrolled in this part of the study. Participants will also be involved in a phone interview about cannabis use (including strain, method of use, and frequency)
Eligibility: Individuals presenting to the ED with a cannabis-related complaint from age 10+ will be offered enrollment in the study.
Clinician involvement: referral to the study
Goal: 1500 participants
Upcoming studies in the Emergency Department:
REmote cardiac MOnitoring of at-risk SYNCope patients after Emergency Department discharge – A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial: (REMOSYNCED – RCT). Participants in the study will be approached if they are in the ED after having a fainting episode. This study aims to see if 15-day outpatient cardiac monitoring detects more patients with heart rhythm problems requiring treatment than usual care. We also will compare if such monitoring can: (1) Rule out heart rhythm problems among patients if they suffer fainting or near-fainting during the monitoring; (2)Identify other conditions that are not heart rhythm related; (3) Assess if we can achieve the same effect (detecting heart rhythm problems with shorter duration of monitoring).
An observational study within this study will use already collected information to understand the syncope risk score better.
Clinician involvement: fill out the form; ED RA will collect the forms. If the participant’s score is under 3, the participant will receive a telephone follow-up; if it is above 3, the participant will be contacted by Cardiology RA to arrange cardiac monitoring.
Goal: Enroll 74 participants between Halifax Infirmary and Dartmouth General Hospital. Proposed Start: September 2022
Atlantic Canadian Emergency Medicine Airway Interventions Registry and Observational (AIRO) Database: This study’s primary objective is to examine the epidemiology of ED airway management in multiple Atlantic Canadian EDs. There currently is none- this study will likely be the first. The study will collect retrospective, observed and self-reported data on ED airway interventions and associated outcomes. The data form already exists in circulation – the study will input this data into a database and assess the factors found.
Clinician involvement: To complete and ensure the Airway Assessment and Management form is filled out and submitted to the Pod 1 Intubation box for data entry.
Goals: We are approved for Nova Scotia – we hope to share data with New Brunswick, then develop a registry where clinicians can contribute to research.
Proposed Start: TBD
Resources for Nurses:
Grants and Bursaries offered by Dalhousie University:
Operating Grants are awarded to conduct research on nursing practice, management and/or education. Requests for matching funds will also be considered. An operating grant is held for one or two years. (Maximum $5000.00)
Development Grants are awarded for developing an innovative idea into a feasible research proposal specific to nursing practice, management and/or education. The applicant must explain the innovative nature of the proposed work and describe and give a rationale for the required resources. A Developmental Grant is held for one year. (Maximum $5000.00)
Research Dissemination Grants are awarded to applicants presenting at professional/ educational conferences, another knowledge translation event, or students travelling to consult with relevant academic advisors. Funds must be spent within six months. (Maximum $1500.00)
If you are not a Dalhousie School of Nursing Faculty member or student – we will assist in finding a Faculty member interested.
Clinical Cadaver Research Program Grant
This grant is available for projects that use clinical cadavers as a source of research with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes. This includes research projects in undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing medical education in which clinical cadavers are used. In addition, projects that impact a broad group of learners and contribute to our understanding of how cadavers are best used as a simulation resource will be given preference.
Funding available from NSHA
Nova Scotia Health’s Research Fund is an internal funding program at Nova Scotia Health that aims to build the capacity of Nova Scotia Health researchers and helps to catalyze new research opportunities.
- Category 1 – up to $100,000 over 3 years. For experienced researchers who are based at or affiliated with Nova Scotia Health
- Category 2 – up to $100,000 over 3 years. For early career researchers who are based at or affiliated with Nova Scotia Health
- Category 3 – up to $50,000 over 2 years. For researchers based at or affiliated with affiliated with Nova Scotia Health
- Category 4 – up to $10,000 over 1 year. For research students and trainees based at or affiliated with Nova Scotia Health
Categories 1-3 are open to all Nova Scotia Health team members – including physicians, nursing and allied health professionals, administrators, other employees, and Scientific Affiliates.
Category 4 is open to students and trainees at post-secondary institutions in Nova Scotia who are either already affiliated with Nova Scotia Health (e.g. as medical residents or other student learners) or who are willing to become Nova Scotia Health employees for their proposed project and who also have a supervisor who is affiliated with Nova Scotia Health as a physician, employee, or Affiliate Scientist.
Priority will be given to research grants that align with the priorities of Nova Scotia Health, the Department of Health and Wellness, and the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care, including:
- Aging and continuing care
- Mental health and addictions
- Vulnerable populations
- Expanding telehealth/virtual care
- Chronic illness
- Improving access to primary health providers
- Recruitment and retention of health professionals
- Addressing surgical wait times
- Women’s Health
- Prescription drug coverage
- Overall patient access and flow
QEII Foundation Translating Research Into Care (TRIC)
The research program was established in 2013 with funding from the QEII Foundation. The funding program supports research that will provide evidence and facilitate the translation of clinical science into improved healthcare policy, service delivery and patient care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, and across NSHA.
Three levels of funding support are available:
- Level 1: up to $3,000 over one year
- Level 2: up to $30,000 over one or two years
- Level 3: up to $60,000 over two years
QEII Foundation TRIC Grants Must:
- Lead to improved health care at the QEII or NSHA
- Be co-led by a researcher and an administrator
- Include the patient voice
- Be able to be implemented and sustained at the health centre(s) where the research takes place
- Funding from the QEII Foundation TRIC program will cover research costs; however, all operational costs must be absorbed by the department/unit involved and signed off by the Administrative Co-PI.
Priority will be given to QEII Foundation TRIC grant applications that do one or more of the following:
- Improve patient-reported outcomes
- Improve the safety of healthcare
- Improve wait times for healthcare
- Reduce the need for healthcare
- Improve access for under-served populations
- Identify and reduce unnecessary healthcare costs.
- Reduce unnecessary interventions and de-adopt unnecessary tests, interventions or clinical practices that are of low value.
In addition, there are bursaries and grants through other funding agencies; please contact the Research Manager.
Research Courses and Opportunities
To be updated
Publications:
Ozog N, Steenbeek A, Curran J, Kelly N, Campbell S. Attitudes Toward Influenza Vaccination Administration in the Emergency Department Among Patients: A Cross-Sectional Survey. J Emerg Nurs. 2020 Nov;46(6):802-813.