Ascension nursing closes skin tone pressure injury disparity to 0%, releases fiscal year 2026 research impact metrics

Driven by evidence-based nursing practices and a systemwide commitment to quality and safety, Ascension has achieved a 0% outcome gap in severe, hospital-acquired pressure injuries between patients with light and dark skin tones, according to newly released fiscal year 2026 data.

After an international study by Ascension's nursing research team found that individuals with darker skin tones were up to four times more likely to develop more severe pressure injuries, Ascension's National Nurse Research Affinity Group worked with the nursing quality team to implement clinical skin-tone assessments across the organization.

As a result, Ascension successfully closed the gap in stage 3+ pressure injuries (the most severe pressure injuries associated with infection, severe pain, and death) between patients with light and dark skin tones, achieving a 0% outcome gap in fiscal year 2026.

"By embedding nurse scientists into the health system's national nursing leadership team, we don't just identify solutions to complex problems, we fundamentally rewrite patient outcomes," said Cynthia LaFond, PhD, RN, CCRN, FAAN, Senior Director of Nursing Research at Ascension. "Reducing systemic care gaps illustrates why nursing research is a vital clinical asset that directly advances the quality of patient care."

The data, collected during monthly prevalence assessments in fiscal year 2026, demonstrates a 38% reduction in stage 2 and stage 3+ hospital-acquired pressure injuries, preventing a conservative 444 cases.

"When nursing research is integrated in our operations, it becomes a catalyst for both better patient outcomes and stronger performance," said Sally Deitch, Executive Vice President, Nursing and Operations Infrastructure at Ascension. "It helps us reduce variation, strengthen our workforce, and build the systems needed to consistently deliver high-quality, evidence-based care."

Additional key fiscal year 2026 accomplishments include:

• 99.1% workforce pipeline conversion: An innovative student nurse internship apprenticeship program, supported by a $1 million grant, converted nearly all participants into full-time RN residents.
• • At one year, the program had retained nearly 95% of the new graduates.
  • At two years, the program had retained 80%.
• Massive educational scale: Trained 1,582 healthcare learners via advanced evidence-based practice and research initiatives.
• Nurse-led discovery: Advancing nursing knowledge, Ascension nurses are serving as investigators on 109 research studies, including 28 led by the national nursing research team. Research topics include:
• • Improving the accuracy and removing disparity in remote assessment standards for patients with diverse skin tones via telehealth platforms.
  • Testing assessment tools and interventions to prevent patient falls and pressure injuries.
  • Examining patient hand off practices across the continuum of care.
  • Determining characteristics of the nursing workforce that impact length of stay.

"The alignment of clinical excellence with operational efficiency is central to our Mission at Ascension," said Rob Rose, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Ascension. "By scaling workforce initiatives, our nursing teams are not only optimizing healthcare delivery but also reducing operational overhead."