Completed Research

Pre-licensure Nursing Students: Learner Well-Being and Academic Persistence

Jennings, L. A., Hultquist, B. L., Rosonet, Libby E. N., Flores, C., & Cipher, D. J. (in press). Exploring academic resilience, grit, stress, and threat appraisal in first-semester nursing students: A correlational and predictive study. Accepted by Nursing Education Perspectives on July 30th, 2025. Manuscript # NEP-2025-119.

Jennings, L.A. & Urban, R.W. (in press). Influencing pre-nursing student well-being through a five-week online intervention: A pilot study. Accepted for publication on April 16, 2025 in Nursing Education Perspectives. Manuscript #: #NEP-2024-377.

Jennings, L., Urban, R. W., & Cipher, D. J. (2025). Comparing academic variables and program outcomes between two admission routes. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 20(1), 50-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2024.10.010 

Urban, R.W., Jennings L.A., & George, K.N. (2025). Pre-nursing students’ experiences with practicing self-compassion skills: A thematic analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Published early online May 2, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.17005

Urban, R.W. & Jennings, L.A. (2025). Exploring the psychosocial domain of the Social Determinants of Learning^TM Framework: Predictors of perceived stress and resilience in prenursing students. Nurse Educator. 50(3), 155-160. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001791

Kellam, H., Jennings, L., Magruder, K., Smallwood, A., Purgason, A., & Richter, L. (2025). The voice of the online student framework: recommendations for student support. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 28(1), article 1.  https://ojdla.com/articles/the-voice-of-the-online-student-framework-recommendations-for-student-support

Jennings, L.A. & Urban, R.W. (2024). Through the lens of the Social Determinants of Learning™: Experiences of online pre-nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing Education Perspectives, 45(1), E2-E7. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001197

Jennings, L. A., Urban, R. W., & Cipher, D. J. (2023). Academic differences in BSN admission routes: Implications for persistence. Journal of Nursing Education, 62(5), 302-306. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20230306-07

 Urban, R.W., Jennings, L.A., & Darr, K. (2023). Connecting experiences of pre-nursing students during COVID-19 with learner well-being: A qualitative inquiry. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(6),2175-2188. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15475

Wilson, S. T., Urban, R. W., & Smith, J. G. (2023). Prelicensure nursing students’ perceptions of academic incivility during COVID-19: A qualitative inquiry. Journal of Advanced Nursing.79(9), 3370-3381https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15656

Johnson, A. H., Wilson, J., Magner, D., Urban R.W., Zhang, Y., Martin, S. D. (2023). Exploring meditation profiles and predictors in nursing students. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 41(2), 142-154. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101221102691

Cipher, D.J., & Urban, R.W. (2022). Dropped courses and persistence in online undergraduate nursing programs. Journal of Nursing Education, 61(11). https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20220803-07.  Online ahead of print. 

Smith, J. G., Urban, R. W., & Wilson, S. (2022). Association of stress, resilience, and nursing student incivility during COVID-19. Nursing Forum, 57, 384-381. https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12694

Martin, S. D., Urban R. W., Johnson, A. H., Magner, D., Wilson, J., & Zhang, Y. (2022). Health-related behaviors, self-rated health, and predictors of stress and well-being in nursing students. Journal of Professional Nursing, 38, 45-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.11.008

Urban, R. W., Jennings, L., & Cipher, D.J. (2022). The relationships among resilience, stress, and persistence in pre-nursing students during COVID-19, Nurse Educator, 47(2), 102-107. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001146

Cipher, D.J. & Urban, R.W. (2022). Discontinuation and the intention to reenroll in undergraduate nursing education. Journal of Nursing Education, 61(2), 97-100. https://doi.org/ https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20211213-06

Jennings, L., Haygood, L. Jeffers, R., & Keaton, C. (2021.) Strategies for success in nursing school: From start to finish. MavsPress. https://uta.pressbooks.pub/nursingschoolsuccess/     

Urban, R. W., Smith, J.G., Wilson, S., & Cipher, D. J. (2021). Relationships among stress, resilience, and incivility in undergraduate nursing students and faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic: Policy implications for nurse leaders. Journal of Professional Nursing, 37(6), 1063-1070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.08.011

Cipher, D.J., LeFlore, J.L., Urban, R.W., & Mancini, M. E. (2021). Variability of clinical hours in prelicensure nursing programs: Time for a reevaluation? Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 16(1), 43 – 47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2020.05.005 Cipher, D.J., Urban, R. W., Boyd, J. and Mancini, M. E. (2018). Online course engagement among undergraduate nursing student veterans.  Journal of Veterans Studies, 4(1), 1- 14 http://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v4i1.65

New Graduate Nurses Well-Being, Transition to Practice, and Resignation Ideation

Urban, R.W., Porter, M.T., & Cipher, D (2024). Exploring new graduate nurses’ perceptions of factors influencing job satisfaction and resignation ideation during COVID 19. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 40(1), p E27-E33. https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000001015

Urban, R.W., Rogers, M.R., Eades, T.L., Allard, P.M., Porter, M.T., & Cipher, D.J. (2022). Resilience, stress, anxiety, and depression: Exploring the mental health of new graduate nurses transitioning to practice during COVID-19. Journal for Nurses in Continuing Education, 53(12), 533-543. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20221107-05

Urban, R. W. & Brandenburg, L. (2022). The view from here: Understanding the lived experiences of new graduate nurses with 8 – 10 months of experience.  Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 38(4), 223 – 230.  https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000000759

Baldwin, K. M., Sleutel, M., Wells, J. N., Urban, R. W., Behan, D., Newcomb, P., Walsh, J. & Pehl, S. (2021). An exploration of new graduate nurses’ transition to specialty practice. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 37(2), 93-100. https://doi.org/10.1097/nnd.0000000000000695

Urban, R. W. & Barnes, D. (2020).  Transition to practice: The lived experience of new graduate nurses in early solo flight. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. 36(2), 74-81. https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000000608

Registered Nurses’ Professional Well-Being

Urban, R.W., Martin, S.D., Bailey, S., Rivera, N., Lim, M., & Bracco, S. (2025). Exploring psychosocial variables and professional well-being in nurse leaders: A predictive correlational study. Worldviews in Evidence-Based Nursing, 22(4), e70054.  https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.70054

Martin, S.D., Urban, R.W., & Bailey, S.D (2025). Effects of a 6-hour resiliency training on well-being in nurse leaders. Worldviews in Evidence-Based Nursing. Published early online 09 May 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.70028

Porter, M., Urban, R.W., & Tanner, M.W. (2025). NPD practitioners’ well-being strategies to mitigate burnout: A descriptive qualitative study. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 41(4), 228-234.  https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000001150

Urban, R.W., Porter, M., Jennings, L., & Mester, S (2024). Well-being, job satisfaction, and resignation ideation in Registered Nurses transitioning to practice in rural settings: A pilot study. Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 24(2), 74-99. https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v24i2.769

Newcomb, P., Wells, J. & Urban, R.W. (2024). Thriving under calamity. Healthcare worker commitment during a public health crisis. Journal of Nursing Administration, 54(6), 371-377. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000001441

Porter, M.T. & Urban, R.W. (2024). Work engagement, burnout, and well-being in nursing professional development practitioners. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 40(1), p E34-E40.  https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000001011

Urban, R.W., Martin, S., Foglia, D., Henson, S., Belz, J. & Bilton, V. (2023). Acute care nurse managers’ definitions of and barriers to well-being: A thematic analysis of open-ended survey questions. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 20(6), 525-531. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12685

Martin, S., Urban, R.W., Foglia, D., Henson, S., George, V. & McCaslin, T. (2023). Well-being in Acute Care Nurse Managers: A Risk Analysis of Physical and Mental Health Factors.  Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 20(2), 126-132. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12646

Brockman, V., Dominguez, A., & Urban, R.W. (2023). Implementing a Zen room to influence well-being in rural hospital employees. Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 23(1), 131-149. https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v23i1.730