Allison P Squires

Faculty

Prof. Allison P Squires headshot

Allison P Squires

PhD RN FAAN

Professor

1 212 992 7074

433 First Ave
New York, NY 10010
United States

Accepting PhD students

Allison Squires, Ph.D., FAAN, RN, is a Professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She is a global health services researcher with two focal areas of research: Creating a sustainable nursing workforce and improving immigrant health outcomes. Dr. Squires is also the Founder and Director of the Global Consortium of Nursing & Midwifery Studies (GCNMS). In addition to holding multiple national and international leadership positions in nursing organizations during her career, she has consulted with the Migration Policy Institute, the International Council of Nurses, and the World Bank on nursing and health workforce issues and produced several major policy analyses with their teams and continues to serve as an expert resource on nursing workforce issues globally.

She has several projects currently funded by domestic and international funders. Domestically, she is studying the impact of language barriers on hospital nursing practice and evaluating the impact of the Magnet journey on small hospitals.  Her current funded international studies focus on nursing workforce capacity building in Greece, Ghana, and Guyana. Her signature project, the GCNMS, is now an 87-country research consortium collaborating on research capacity-building projects in nursing and midwifery globally. The consortium's current research study is examining the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nursing and midwifery workforces globally.

Prior to entering academia full-time, Squires worked as a staff nurse in solid organ transplant and as a staff educator for 11 years in the U.S. healthcare system in rural and urban locations. Her practice has since shifted largely to community-based nursing roles as a volunteer.

Amongst her many honors and awards, Squires was the 2019–2020 Distinguished Nurse Scholar in Residence for the National Academy of Medicine where she worked on the consensus study "Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Equity." In 2023, she received the Outstanding Mentor Award from the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues interest group of Academy Health. Yale School of Nursing Alumni Association named her their 2025 Distinguished Alumna.

She is currently accepting Ph.D. students and/or post-doctoral fellows/associates with interests in the following areas: Global health, migration & immigrant health, and health services and workforce research.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Center for Health Outcomes & Policy Research -University of Pennsylvania
PhD - Yale University School of Nursing Doctor of Philosophy
MSN, Master of Science in Nursing Education - Duquesne University School of Nursing
BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a Minor in Latin American Studies - University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

Global Health
Health Services Research
Immigrant Health
Midwifery Workforce
Nursing workforce

Academy Health
American Nurses Association
National Council for Interpreting in Health Care
Sigma International

Distinguished Alumna, Yale School of Nursing Alumni Association (2025)
Outstanding Mentor Award, Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues of Academy Health (2023)
Writing Award for Distinguished Manuscript on Geriatric/Gerontological Nursing (Ma et al. 2021), Gerontological Society of America Nursing Care of Older Adults Interest Group (2021)
Distinguished Nurse Scholar in Residence, National Academy of Medicine (2020)
Distinguished Nurse Scholar in Residence, National Academy of Medicine (2019)
Fellow Ambassador to the Media, New York Academy of Medicine (2018)
Fellow Ambassador to the Media, New York Academy of Medicine (2017)
Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (2015)
Distinguished Alumna, Duquesne University School of Nursing (2015)
Fellow, New York Academy of Medicine (2014)
Fellow, Yale World Fellows Program, Yale University (2003)
Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International (1998)

How clinicians manage routinely low supplies of personal protective equipment

Ridge, L. J., Stimpfel, A. W., Dickson, V. V., Klar, R. T., & Squires, A. P. (2021). American Journal of Infection Control, 49(12), 1488-1492. 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.08.012
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) is routinely limited or unavailable in low-income countries, but there is limited research as to how clinicians adapt to that scarcity, despite the implications for patients and workers. Methods: This is a qualitative secondary analysis of case study data collected in Liberia in 2019. Data from the parent study were included in this analysis if it addressed availability and use of PPE in the clinical setting. Conventional content analysis was used on data including: field notes documenting nurse practice, semi-structured interview transcripts, and photographs. Results: Data from the majority of participants (32/37) and all facilities (12/12) in the parent studies were included. Eighty-three percent of facilities reported limited PPE. Five management strategies for coping with limited PPE supplies were observed, reported, or both: rationing PPE, self-purchasing PPE, asking patients to purchase PPE, substituting PPE, and working without PPE. Approaches to rationing PPE included using PPE only for symptomatic patients or not performing physical exams. Substitutions for PPE were based on supply availability. Conclusions: Strategies developed by clinicians to manage low PPE likely have negative consequences for both workers and patients; further research into the topic is important, as is better PPE provision in low-income countries.

Immigrant Patient Experiences with Food in the Hospital and Home Health Care Settings: a Qualitative Secondary Analysis Presented by

Squires, A. (2021). Nursing Research.

Impact of the work environment on patients’ safety as perceived by nurses in Poland—a cross-sectional study

Malinowska-Lipień, I., Micek, A., Gabryś, T., Kózka, M., Gajda, K., Gniadek, A., Brzostek, T., Fletcher, J., & Squires, A. (2021). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22). 10.3390/ijerph182212057
Abstract
Abstract
Numerous studies have found that organizational features connected with the work environment of nurses have a significant influence on patients’ safety. The aim of this research was to capture nurses’ opinions about patients’ safety and discern relationships with work environment characteristics. This cross-sectional study surveyed 1825 nurses. The research used questionnaire consisting of four parts: (1) covered The Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI); (2) assessed the quality of nursing care and care safety; (3) contained information on the most recent duty served by the nurses and (4) captured social and demographic data of participants. The research identified strong association between patient safety assessment and work environment of nurses in the aspect of employment adequacy, cooperation between nurses and doctors, support for nurses from the managing staff, the possibility to participate in the management as well as professional promotion of nurses employed in the hospital (p < 0.001). Nurses rated patient safety higher when responsible for a smaller number of patients. Work environment factors such as proper staffing, good cooperation with doctors, support from the management, as well as professional independence are significantly related to nurses’ assessment of patients’ safety.

Inequities along the Depression Care Cascade in African American Women: An Integrative Review

Perez, N. B., Lanier, Y., & Squires, A. (2021). Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 42(8), 720-729. 10.1080/01612840.2020.1853289
Abstract
Abstract
Depression represents a growing health problem and African American women (AAW) disproportionally experience increased risk and broad disparities in health care. This integrative review examines what is known about the equity of depression care provided to AAW. PubMed, PsychINFO, and Web of Science were searched through April 2020 for studies in peer-reviewed journals from 2015 to 2020. Across the studies (n = 7), AAW received inequitable care across a depression care cascade including lower rates of screening, treatment initiation, and guideline-concordant care. Here we explore individual-, relational-, and structural-level factors related to these disparities and implications for research, practice, and education.

Infection Prevention and Control in Liberia 5 Years After Ebola: A Case Study

Ridge, L. J., Stimpfel, A. W., Klar, R. T., Dickson, V. V., & Squires, A. P. (2021). Workplace Health and Safety, 69(6), 242-251. 10.1177/2165079921998076
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Effective management of health emergencies is an important strategy to improve health worldwide. One way to manage health emergencies is to build and sustain national capacities. The Ebola epidemic of 2014 to 2015 resulted in greater infection prevention and control (IPC) capacity in Liberia, but few studies have investigated if and how that capacity was sustained. The purpose of this study was to examine the maintenance of IPC capacity in Liberia after Ebola. Methods: For this case study, data were collected via direct observation of nurse practice, semistructured interviews, and document collection. Data were collected in two counties in Liberia. Data were analyzed using directed content and general thematic analysis using codes generated from the safety capital theoretical framework, which describes an organization’s intangible occupational health resources. Findings: Thirty-seven nurses from 12 facilities participated. Ebola was a seminal event in the development of safety capital in Liberia, particularly regarding nurse knowledge of IPC and facilities’ investments in safety. The safety capital developed during Ebola is still being applied at the individual and organizational levels. Tangible resources, including personal protective equipment, however, have been depleted. Conclusions/Application to Practice: IPC capacity in Liberia had been sustained since Ebola but was threatened by under-investments in physical resources. Donor countries should prioritize sustained support, both financial and technical, in partnership with Liberian leaders. Occupational health nurses participating in disaster response should advocate for long-term investment by donor countries in personal protective equipment, access to water, and clinician training.

Kairos care in a Chronos world: Midwifery care as model of resistance and accountability in public health settings

Niles, P. M., Vedam, S., Witkoski Stimpfel, A., & Squires, A. (2021). Birth, 48(4), 480-492. 10.1111/birt.12565
Abstract
Abstract
Background: In the United States (US), pregnancy-related mortality is 2–4 times higher for Black and Indigenous women irrespective of income and education. The integration of midwifery as a fundamental component of standard maternity services has been shown to improve health outcomes and service user satisfaction, including among underserved and minoritized groups. Nonetheless, there remains limited uptake of this model in the United States. In this study, we examine a series of interdependent factors that shape how midwifery care operates in historically disenfranchised communities within the Unites States. Methods: Using data collected from in-depth, semi-structured interviews, the purpose of this study was to examine the ways midwives recount, describe, and understand the relationships that drive their work in a publicly funded urban health care setting serving minoritized communities. Using a qualitative exploratory research design, guided by critical feminist theory, twenty full-scope midwives working in a large public health care network participated. Data were thematically analyzed using Braun & Clarke's inductive thematic analysis to interpret data and inductively identify patterns in participants’ experiences. Findings: The overarching theme “Kairos care in a Chronos World” captures the process of providing health-promoting, individualized care in a system that centers measurement, efficiency, and pathology. Five subthemes support the central theme: (1) the politics of progress, (2) normalizing pathologies, (3) cherished connections, (4) protecting the experience, and (5) caring for the social body. Midwives used relationships to sustain their unique care model, despite the conflicting demands of dominant (and dominating) medical models. Conclusion: This study offers important insight into how midwives use a Kairos approach to maternity care to enhance quality and safety. In order to realize equitable access to optimal outcomes, health systems seeking to provide robust services to historically disenfranchised communities should consider integration of relationship-based strategies, including midwifery care.

Language barriers between nurses and patients: A scoping review

Gerchow, L., Burka, L. R., Miner, S., & Squires, A. (2021). Patient Education and Counseling, 104(3), 534-553. 10.1016/j.pec.2020.09.017
Abstract
Abstract
Objective: Global migration and linguistic diversity are at record highs, making healthcare language barriers more prevalent. Nurses, often the first contact with patients in the healthcare system, can improve outcomes including safety and satisfaction through how they manage language barriers. This review aimed to explore how research has examined the nursing workforce with respect to language barriers. Methods: A systematic scoping review of the literature was conducted using four databases. An iterative coding approach was used for data analysis. Study quality was appraised using the CASP checklists. Results: 48 studies representing 16 countries were included. Diverse healthcare settings were represented, with the inpatient setting most commonly studied. The majority of studies were qualitative. Coding produced 4 themes: (1) Interpreter Use/Misuse, (2) Barriers to and Facilitators of Quality Care, (3) Cultural Competence, and (4) Interventions. Conclusion: Generally, nurses noted like experiences and applied similar strategies regardless of setting, country, or language. Language barriers complicated care delivery while increasing stress and workload. Practice Implications: This review identified gaps which future research can investigate to better support nurses working through language barriers. Similarly, healthcare and government leaders have opportunities to enact policies which address bilingual proficiency, workload, and interpreter use.

Leading Policy and Practice Change During Unprecedented Times: The Nursing Health Services Research Response

Germack, H., Cary, M., Gilmartin, H., Girouard, S., Jones, T. M., Martin, B. J., Norful, A. A., Anusiewicz, C. V., Riman, K. A., Schlak, A. E., Squires, A., Estrada, L. V., Gazarian, P., Gerchow, L., Ghazal, L. V., Henderson, M. D., Mitha, S., Mpundu, G., Nikpour, J., … Stolldorf, D. P. (2021). Journal of Nursing Regulation, 12(2), 56-60. 10.1016/S2155-8256(21)00057-0

Learning the language of health equity

Squires, A., & Thompson, R. (2021). Research in Nursing and Health, 44(6), 869-871. 10.1002/nur.22192

Nurses and physicians attitudes towards factors related to hospitalized patient safety

Malinowska-Lipień, I., Micek, A., Gabrys, T., Kózka, M., Gajda, K., Gniadek, A., Brzostek, T., & Squires, A. (2021). PloS One, 16(12). 10.1371/journal.pone.0260926
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction The attitudes of healthcare staff towards patients' safety, including awareness of the risk for adverse events, are significant elements of an organization's safety culture. Aim of research To evaluate nurses and physicians' attitudes towards factors influencing hospitalized patient safety. Materials and methods The research included 606 nurses and 527 physicians employed in surgical and medical wards in 21 Polish hospitals around the country. The Polish adaptation of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) was used to evaluate the factors influencing attitudes towards patient safety. Results Both nurses and physicians scored highest in stress recognition (SR) (71.6 and 80.86), while they evaluated working conditions (WC) the lowest (45.82 and 52,09). Nurses achieved statistically significantly lower scores compared to physicians in every aspect of the safety attitudes evaluation (p<0.05). The staff working in surgical wards obtained higher scores within stress recognition (SR) compared to the staff working in medical wards (78.12 vs. 73.72; p = 0.001). Overall, positive working conditions and effective teamwork can contribute to improving employees' attitudes towards patient safety. Conclusions The results help identify unit level vulnerabilities associated with staff attitudes toward patient safety. They underscore the importance of management strategies that account for staff coping with occupational stressors to improve patient safety.