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Imaging and data-driven care are changing how nurses support older adults across New Brunswick.

A resident needs an X-ray.

In long-term care homes, that once meant a trip to the emergency department. Nursing professors at UNB’s Saint John campus asked a simple question: could imaging come to the resident instead?

Using the Long-Term Care Simulation Lab and partner homes, researchers tested ways to cut unnecessary transfers and to use existing resident data to improve care over time. The work aims to reduce disruption for residents and strain on families while giving staff practical tools that fit daily routines.

With support from the Healthy Seniors Pilot Project funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the team piloted a mobile X-ray program that brought imaging into homes. The pilot, which ended in March 2025, was awarded to New Brunswick because of its aging population.

“The success was such that the government adopted it,” said Dr. Rose McCloskey, a professor in the faculty of nursing and health sciences.

“They committed to adopting that program before our research project even ended, which is quite unusual.”

Another study helped staff use existing resident information to guide care and track outcomes. The aim was to make practical use of the data that homes already collect, so that decisions are based on trends in blood pressure levels, falls or social engagement.

First-year students complete their initial course in a care home focused on health and wellness in aging, which shows the role nurses play day to day. Students see how nurses lead in long-term care, often without on-site physicians or specialized technology. Interest in working with older adult care often grows as students progress and gain exposure to it.

“The idea was we had a living lab, and we could identify ways to help support seniors and older adults. That way, jurisdictions across Canada could learn from some of the things piloted here,” said Dr. McCloskey.

“Equipping nurses to work in these homes where they have fewer supports and where they can take a leadership role is important to the future of nursing.”