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)

Peer-Assisted Lifestyle (PAL) intervention: a protocol of a cluster-randomised controlled trial of a health-coaching intervention delivered by veteran peers to improve obesity treatment in primary care

Wittleder, S., Smith, S., Wang, B., Beasley, J. M., Orstad, S. L., Sweat, V., Squires, A., Wong, L., Fang, Y., Doebrich, P., Gutnick, D., Tenner, C., Sherman, S. E., & Jay, M. (2021). BMJ Open, 11(2), e043013. 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043013
Abstract
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Among US veterans, more than 78% have a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight (≥25 kg/m2) or obese range (≥30 kg/m2). Clinical guidelines recommend multicomponent lifestyle programmes to promote modest, clinically significant body mass (BM) loss. Primary care providers (PCPs) often lack time to counsel and refer patients to intensive programmes (≥6 sessions over 3 months). Using peer coaches to deliver obesity counselling in primary care may increase patient motivation, promote behavioural change and address the specific needs of veterans. We describe the rationale and design of a cluster-randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of the Peer-Assisted Lifestyle (PAL) intervention compared with enhanced usual care (EUC) to improve BM loss, clinical and behavioural outcomes (aim 1); identify BM-loss predictors (aim 2); and increase PCP counselling (aim 3).METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We are recruiting 461 veterans aged 18-69 years with obesity or overweight with an obesity-associated condition under the care of a PCP at the Brooklyn campus of the Veterans Affairs NY Harbor Healthcare System. To deliver counselling, PAL uses in-person and telephone-based peer support, a tablet-delivered goal-setting tool and PCP training. Patients in the EUC arm receive non-tailored healthy living handouts. In-person data collection occurs at baseline, month 6 and month 12 for patients in both arms. Repeated measures modelling based on mixed models will compare mean BM loss (primary outcome) between study arms.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board and the Research and Development Committee at the VA NY Harbor Health Systems (#01607). We will disseminate the results via peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and meetings with stakeholders.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03163264; Pre-results.

A Scoping Review of the Evidence about the Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) Program

Squires, A., Murali, K. P., Greenberg, S. A., Herrmann, L. L., & D’Amico, C. O. (2021). Gerontologist, 61(3), E75-E84. 10.1093/geront/gnz150
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) is a nurse-led education and consultation program designed to help health care organizations improve the quality of care for older adults. To conduct a scoping review of the evidence associated with the NICHE program to (a) understand how it influences patient outcomes through specialized care of the older adult and (b) provide an overview of implementation of the NICHE program across organizations as well as its impact on nursing professionals and the work environment. Research Design and Methods: Six databases were searched to identify NICHE-related articles between January 1992 and April 2019. After critical appraisal, 43 articles were included. Results: Four thematic categories were identified including specialized older adult care, geriatric resource nurse (GRN) model, work environment, and NICHE program adoption and refinement. Specialized older adult care, a key feature of NICHE programs, resulted in improved quality of care, patient safety, lower complications, and decreased length of stay. The GRN model emphasizes specialized geriatric care education and consultation. Improvements in the geriatric nurse work environment as measured by perceptions of the practice environment, quality of care, and aging-sensitive care delivery have been reported. NICHE program adoption and refinement focuses on the methods used to improve care, implementation and adoption of the NICHE program, and measuring its impact. Discussion and Implications: The evidence about the NICHE program in caring for older adults is promising but more studies examining patient outcomes and the impact on health care professionals are needed.

Addressing burnout syndrome from a critical care specialty organization perspective

Cochran, K. L., Doo, K., Squires, A., Shah, T., Rinne, S., & Mealer, M. (2020). AACN Advanced Critical Care, 31(2), 158-166. 10.4037/aacnacc2020579
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Health care specialty organizations are an important resource for their membership; however, it is not clear how specialty societies should approach combating stress and burnout on an organizational scale. Objective:To understand the prevalence of burnout syndrome in AmericanThoracic Society members, identify specialty-specific risk factors, and generate strategies for health care societies to combat burnout. Methods: Cross-sectional, mixed-methods survey in a sample of 2018 AmericanThoracic Society International Conference attendees to assess levels of burnout syndrome, work satisfaction, and stress. Results: Of the 130 respondents, 69% reported high stress, 38% met burnout criteria, and 20% confirmed chaotic work environments. Significant associations included sex and stress level; clinical time and at-home electronic health record work; and US practice and at-home electronic health record work. There were no significant associations between burnout syndrome and the selected demographics. Participants indicated patient care as the most meaningful aspect of work, whereas the highest contributors to burnout were workload and electronic health record documentation. Importantly, most respondents were unaware of available resources for burnout. Conclusions: Health care specialty societies have access to each level of the health system, creating an opportunity to monitor trends, disseminate resources, and influence the direction of efforts to reduce workplace stress and enhance clinician well-being.

Assessing providers’ approach to hypertension management at a large, private hospital in Kampala, Uganda

Green, A. S., Lynch, H. M., Nanyonga, R. C., Squires, A. P., Gadikota-Klumpers, D. D., Schwartz, J. I., & Heller, D. J. (2020). Annals of Global Health, 86(1). 10.5334/aogh.2513
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Hypertension is increasingly prevalent in Uganda and its clinical management remains subop-timal across the country. Prior research has elucidated some of the factors contributing to poor control, but little is known about providers’ approaches to hypertension management and perceptions of barriers to care. This is particularly true in private health care settings – despite the fact that the private sector provides a substantial and growing portion of health care in Uganda. Objective: Our exploratory, pragmatic qualitative study aimed to examine the factors affecting the quality of hypertension care from the perspective of providers working in an urban, private hospital in Uganda. We focused on the organizational and system-level factors influencing providers’ approaches to management in the outpatient setting. Methods: We conducted interviews with 19 health care providers working in the outpatient setting of a 110-bed, private urban hospital in Kampala, Uganda. We then coded the interviews for thematic analysis, using an inductive approach to generate the study’s findings. Findings: Several themes emerged around perceived barriers and facilitators to care. Providers cited patient beliefs and behaviors, driven in part by cultural norms, as key challenges to hypertension control; however, most felt their own approach to hypertension treatment aligned with international guidelines. Providers struggled to collaborate with colleagues in coordinating the joint management of patients. Furthermore, they cited the high cost and limited availability of medication as barriers. Conclusions: These findings offer important strategic direction for intervention development specific to this Ugandan context: for example, regarding culturally-adapted patient education initiatives, or programs to improve access to essential medications. Other settings facing similar challenges scaling up management of hypertension may find the results useful for informing intervention development as well.

Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiome: A Concept Analysis

Perez, N. B., Dorsen, C., & Squires, A. (2020). Journal of Holistic Nursing, 38(2), 223-232. 10.1177/0898010119879527
Abstract
Abstract
Background:Gut microbes influence the development several chronic conditions marking them as targets for holistic care, prevention strategies, and potential treatments. Microbiome studies are relatively new to health research and present unfamiliar terms to clinicians and researchers. “Dysbiosis” often refers to an alteration in the gut microbiome, but conceptual clarification is rarely provided. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to refine a conceptual definition of dysbiosis based on a review of nursing literature. Method: A Rodgerian approach to concept analysis was used. CINAHL, PubMed, and Web of Science were queried using “dysbiosis” through December 2018. Each article was analyzed with regard to the antecedents, attributes, and consequences of dysbiosis. Essential elements were tabulated and compared across studies to determine recurring themes and notable outliers. Findings: Analysis revealed several important antecedences, attributes, and consequences of dysbiosis. The findings also elucidated notable gaps and highlighted the co-evolving nature of the proposed definition with advances in microbiome research. Conclusion: This article adds a proposed definition of dysbiosis, offering a contribution of conceptual clarity upon which to enhance dialogue and build research. The definition emphasizes risk factors and consequences of dysbiosis as implications for holistic nursing practice.

Factors Associated with Timely Initiation and Intensity of Home Health Care Following Hospital Discharge

Ma, C., Thorpe, L., Han, B., Yi, S. S., Kwon, S. C., & Squires, A. (2020). Nursing Research.

Health Equity Research in Nursing and Midwifery: Time to Expand Our Work

Stolldorf, D., Germack, H. D., Harrison, J., Riman, K., Brom, H., Cary, M., Gilmartin, H., Jones, T., Norful, A., & Squires, A. (2020). Journal of Nursing Regulation, 11(2), 51-61. 10.1016/S2155-8256(20)30110-1

Home health care services to persons with dementia and language preference

Ma, C., Herrmann, L., Miner, S., Stimpfel, A. W., & Squires, A. (2020). Geriatric Nursing, 41(2), 165-171. 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2019.08.016
Abstract
Abstract
Despite the rapid increase in the number of persons with dementia (PWD) receiving home health care (HHC), little is known of HHC services patterns to PWD of varied backgrounds, including language preference other than English. Analyzing data of 12,043 PWD from an urban home health agency, we found on average PWD received 2.48 skilled visits or 1.88-hour skilled care and 5.81 aide visits or 24.13-hour aide care weekly. Approximately 63% of the skilled visits were from nurses. More non-English preferred PWD received aide visits, compared to English preferred PWD (44% vs. 36%). The type and intensity of HHC services were associated with language preference; when stratified by insurance, non-English preference was still significantly associated with more HHC aide care. Our study indicated that HHC services (both type and amount) varied by language preference and insurance type as an indicator of access disparities was a significant contributor to the observed differences.

Provider Perspectives of Medication Complexity in Home Health Care: A Qualitative Secondary Data Analysis

Squires, A., Ridge, L., Miner, S., McDonald, M. V., Greenberg, S. A., & Cortes, T. (2020). Medical Care Research and Review, 77(6), 609-619. 10.1177/1077558719828942
Abstract
Abstract
A primary service provided by home care is medication management. Issues with medication management at home place older adults at high risk for hospital admission, readmission, and adverse events. This study sought to understand medication management challenges from the home care provider perspective. A qualitative secondary data analysis approach was used to analyze program evaluation interview data from an interprofessional educational intervention study designed to decrease medication complexity in older urban adults receiving home care. Directed and summative content analysis approaches were used to analyze data from 90 clinician and student participants. Medication safety issues along with provider–provider communication problems were central themes with medication complexity. Fragmented care coordination contributed to medication management complexity. Patient-, provider-, and system-level factors influencing medication complexity and management were identified as contributing to both communication and coordination challenges.

Regulación de la enfermería en México: actores, procesos y resultados

Aristizabal, P., Nigenda, G., Squires, A., & Rosales, Y. (2020). Ciencia & Saude Coletiva, 25(1), 233-242. 10.1590/1413-81232020251.28462019
Abstract
Abstract
This paper aims to analyze the regulatory structure of nursing in Mexico through its legislation and perspectives of participant stakeholders. A case study was undertaken using qualitative and quantitative data sources, as well as from the review of official documents. The analysis included data from the sources according to the four realms proposed by the Moran & Wood (1993) model. The more advanced realm was the market entry since the state regulates entry through a license of practice. The regulation of competition is weak, showing very reduced areas of autonomous practice. The labor market is offering a wide variety of entry options with clear signs of deterioration. The dominant payment mechanism is salary, showing a structure that incorporates a component that does not impact on pensions at the end of the labor cycle. The regulation of nursing is a component of its professionalization, and as such, it is understood as a multidimensional consolidating process, particularly realms related to the regulation of competition, market structure, and payment mechanisms, in which nursing representatives should play a more active role in the future.