Reciprocity in community nursing and technology readiness
Reciprocal collaboration among nursing staff may play an important role in shaping their readiness to adopt new technologies in clinical practice (Figure 1). In a cross-sectional survey, researchers explored the association between reciprocity—defined as collaborative behaviours based on mutual support—and technology readiness among nurses and nursing assistants working in residential and community care settings in the northern Netherlands (Coffetti et al, 2025).
Coffetti et al collected data between October 2020 and January 2021 from 475 participants across four care organisations. Two validated instruments were used: the Technology Readiness Index 2.0, which measures individual predisposition towards adopting new technologies, and the Reciprocity Instrument, which captures the presence of mutual collaboration and support within teams.
Individual characteristics such as age, education and work experience were examined alongside contextual factors such as communication, interprofessional relationships and expectations for ongoing cooperation.
Survey responses were analysed using psychometr ic testing and regression modelling. Higher reciprocity scores were significantly associated with increased technology readiness, even when adjusting for other variables.
Additional factors positively linked to technology readiness included higher education levels, use of digital communication tools and a team culture characterised by strong collaboration and forward-looking coordination.
In contrast, older age and employment in certain residential care settings were associated with lower readiness levels. Both instruments demonstrated good internal consistency and reliability in this context.
The authors concluded that technology readiness is not solely a function of individual traits, but is also shaped by the collaborative dynamics within care teams. Fostering reciprocal and inclusive team cultures may therefore be a valuable strategy for healthcare leaders and policymakers aiming to improve the uptake of digital innovations in nursing practice.
As technology becomes increasingly embedded in care delivery, these findings highlight the importance of supporting teamwork and collaboration in preparing the nursing workforce for ongoing digital transformation.
Community nursing nutritional interventions for pressure ulcers in healthy ageing
Malnutrition is a known risk factor for the development and delayed healing of pressure ulcers, particularly among older adults with limited mobility.
In community care settings, where early detection and prevention are key, nurses are well positioned to lead nutritional interventions that support healthy ageing and improve wound outcomes.
A systematic review by Cangelosi et al (2025) evaluated the role of nurse-led nutritional strategies in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers in older adults receiving community-based care.
Following PRISMA guidelines, Cangelosi et al searched four major databases—PubMed, Scopus, Embase and CINAHL—as well as relevant grey literature. A total of 1003 articles were initially identified, with six primary studies ultimately meeting the inclusion criteria. These included randomised controlled trials, clinical trials and observational studies, conducted between 2005 and 2019, and involving over 1700 older adults aged 65 years and above.
Across the included studies, nurses were identified as playing a central role in pressure ulcer prevention through nutritional screening, personalised care planning and education for patients and caregivers. The use of supplements enriched with protein, arginine and micronutrients was associated with improved wound healing and reduced ulcer size.
Screening tools such as the Braden scale, mini nutritional assessment and malnutrition universal screening tool were effectively used by nurses to identify nutritional risk and guide targeted interventions. High levels of protocol adherence were observed in settings where nurse-led strategies were implemented.
This review highlighted the valuable contribution of nurses to pressure ulcer management through nutritional care in community settings. Their regular contact with patients allows for early identification of nutritional deficiencies and better coordination of multidisciplinary care. The authors suggested that strengthening community nursing roles and providing ongoing professional development in nutrition could further improve outcomes for older adults at risk of or living with pressure ulcers. Future research should explore long-term impacts, cost-effectiveness and the potential of digital tools to support community-based nutritional care.
Enhancing the role of the nurse in community-based palliative care
Recognising the growing need for holistic, accessible palliative care in the community, a study by Abdel-Aziz et al (2025) evaluated the effectiveness of a nurse-led intervention in improving quality of life and symptom management among adults living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses. The intervention focused on addressing common challenges faced in community palliative care, including fragmented services and lack of emotional, nutritional and spiritual support.
The study was conducted at the oncology and palliative care unit of Zagazig University Hospitals in Egypt, using a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention assessments. A total of 140 adult patients were recruited via convenience sampling. Participants took part in an 8-week structured programme delivered by a multidisciplinary team, with nurses leading sessions on symptom control, psychological support, nutrition and spiritual care. Standardised assessment tools—the palliative outcome scale (POS), Edmonton symptom assessment scale (ESAS) and EORTC QLQ-C30—were used to evaluate outcomes before and after the intervention.
Findings revealed statistically and clinically significant improvements across all measured domains. Mean POS scores decreased from 12.8 to 7.7, and ESAS scores from 16.8 to 8.8, indicating notable reductions in pain, fatigue, anxiety and other symptoms. Quality of life scores improved across physical, emotional and global health domains, with physical functioning rising from 60 to 80 and emotional functioning from 55 to 75. Strong correlations were observed between symptom reduction and quality of life improvements, with large effect sizes for key symptoms such as pain and emotional distress.
The authors concluded that nurse-led palliative care in the community setting could play a key role in improving patient outcomes. Nurses were central to delivering compassionate, coordinated and patient-centred care.
The study supports expanding the role of community nurses in palliative care delivery and highlights the importance of using standardised tools to monitor progress and guide intervention. However, further research is recommended to explore long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Community nursing and hypertension management in China
In a qualitative study, Li (2025) explored how community nurses in China managed hypertension care within the broader context of sociocultural norms and institutional structures. Recognising that nurses play a pivotal yet underexamined role in chronic disease management, the study drew on Pierre Bourdieu's theory of practice to understand how their routines were shaped by habitus, field and different forms of capital. Hypertension poses a rising public health challenge in China (as well as in the UK and around the world), and this research offers timely and relevant insight into how care is delivered at the grassroots level.
The study was conducted between March and June 2024 in Shenzhen, a city known for its robust primary care infrastructure. Eighteen community nurses with at least 1 year of experience in hypertension care participated in nearly 2-hour long, in-depth, semi-structured interviews. These were guided by Bourdieu's concepts and explored themes such as sociocultural beliefs, institutional constraints, power dynamics, and personal values. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data, and member checking, which is a qualitative research technique, helped to confirm the accuracy and resonance of identified themes.
The findings of this study highlighted the complex balancing act performed by community nurses. Nurses reported adapting their care to patients’ traditional health beliefs, such as preferences for herbal remedies rooted in the yin-yang philosophy. Institutional pressures, such as high patient quotas and rigid treatment protocols, were found to limit nurses’ ability to provide personalised care.
Participants described being bound by performance metrics that prioritised quantity over quality, often at the expense of patient-centred approaches. Power imbalances between doctors and nurses also shaped practice, with nurses’ clinical knowledge frequently being undervalued.
However, despite these structural limitations, nurses drew on their personal and professional experiences to deliver culturally sensitive and empathetic care, reflecting deeply internalised values such as compassion, patience and respect for tradition. The authors concluded that community nurses were not simply enforcers of guidelines but adaptive and culturally responsive professionals navigating a complex terrain of patient expectations, institutional demands, and professional hierarchies. They noted that their findings underscored the need for more flexible, context-sensitive approaches in hypertension management that recognise and support the nuanced contributions of community nurses.