From July 16 to 18, 2026, the 37th International Nursing Research Congress was held in Toronto, Canada. Organized by Sigma Nursing under the theme “Discovery into Action: The Future of Nursing Research Starts Here,” the congress brought together more than 1,000 nursing researchers and clinical experts from 45 countries.
Through keynote speeches, symposiums, oral presentations, and poster sessions, participants explored advances in nursing research, clinical innovation, and evidence-based practice, with a particular focus on translating scientific discoveries into meaningful improvements in patient care.
A seven-member nursing delegation from The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU) attended the congress. Seven abstracts were accepted for presentation, including five oral presentations and two poster presentations. Together, these projects showcased FAHZU’s latest research in day surgery management, critical care, psychological support for patients with cancer, rehabilitation nursing, and evidence-based practice.
The five oral presentations addressed pressing challenges encountered in clinical nursing practice. Using a range of research methods—including longitudinal qualitative research, qualitative meta-synthesis, network analysis, systematic evidence review, and clinical intervention studies—the team presented rigorous findings with clear potential for clinical translation.
During the poster sessions, FAHZU researchers presented their study designs, findings, and clinical implications to participants from around the world. Discussions covered nutritional care during the transition from intensive care to general wards, as well as early respiratory rehabilitation for mechanically ventilated patients. These exchanges provided valuable insights into differences in critical care and rehabilitation practices across healthcare systems and helped establish new connections with international nursing colleagues.
Throughout the congress, the delegation also engaged in face-to-face discussions with nursing researchers and clinical professionals from different countries. Team members shared nursing models and practical experience developed in the Chinese clinical context while learning from internationally established research frameworks, evidence-translation pathways, and standardized clinical practices. These exchanges fostered mutual understanding and laid a foundation for continued academic collaboration.
To gain further insight into leading international nursing practices, the delegation visited Toronto General Hospital (TGH) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). During the visits, the team observed the hospitals’ clinical environments, patient-flow design, multidisciplinary collaboration, family-centered care, humanistic approach to service delivery, and transitional care practices. These experiences offered valuable perspectives for FAHZU’s ongoing efforts to enhance the patient experience, improve nursing quality, and accelerate the translation of research into clinical practice.
The visit to Toronto marked another important step in the international development of FAHZU Nursing. By presenting research rooted in Chinese clinical practice on a global academic platform, the delegation shared FAHZU’s experience with the international nursing community while gaining new perspectives from leading institutions and experts worldwide.
Looking ahead, FAHZU Nursing will continue to focus on real-world clinical challenges, strengthen international academic exchange, and adapt global advances to local healthcare needs. With a strong clinical foundation and a global outlook, the team remains committed to accelerating research translation, advancing high-quality nursing practice, and contributing FAHZU expertise to the development of nursing worldwide.
