At the 2024 AMSN Convention, Elizabeth Capobianco, MS, MEDSURG-BC, NPD-BC, co-presented the “Welcome to the Dry Side: Promoting Moisture Management to Prevent Skin Injury” poster, which involved the implementation of targeted rounds by nurses with expertise in hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) and incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) alongside novice nurses to improve their skin assessment skills to reduce and prevent HAPIs and IAD. In this Q&A, Capobianco discusses the impact of her research, her plans for future research, and how other medical-surgical nurses can pursue research.

What is the value of research?

The value of research is really exercising your mind and asking questions. Being inquisitive is an extremely valuable quality in a nurse.

How is your research making an impact, big or small, or how do you anticipate it will make a difference?

The project that I presented in 2024 focuses on managing moisture as a strategy to prevent pressure injuries. It has made an impact on our medical-surgical units because we have seen a decrease in the number of HAPIs. However, the more rewarding impact has been seeing the increased comfort and satisfaction of patients and their families because we are taking better care of their skin.

What did you enjoy most about your poster work?

It was exciting to create the poster and reflect on what a great accomplishment it is to positively impact patient outcomes. Also, the poster presentations at the AMSN Convention are always fun because you get to connect with so many nurses from all over the country.

Do you anticipate conducting further research on this topic, and if so, what are your next steps?

Our next steps will focus on more innovative strategies to continue decreasing HAPIs. Unfortunately, as much work as we have completed to prevent these devastating injuries, the problem never seems to go away completely. But the good news is that we are passionate about this issue, and we work for an organization that is supportive of nursing-led initiatives.

Are there other research topics that you’d like to pursue in the future, and if so, what excites you most about that potential work?

I am currently working on a project about education and interventions for new graduate nurses to increase patient satisfaction, so hopefully I will have more to say about that soon!

What advice do you have for other medical-surgical nurses who are considering pursuing a research study?

Engage your stakeholders! If your nurse leaders are supportive because they can appreciate the positive impact your research will have on patient outcomes, it makes for an easier journey!