A scoping review about nurses on boards: 2016-2022

The momentum to place nurses on boards (NOB) continues to build. An integrative review about NOB was published in 2017 covering 1988 to early 2016. Studies about NOB have been published since but no systematic reviews summarize the research.

The purpose of the project was to describe the research about NOB from late 2016 to early 2022 framed within the Conceptual Model for Nurses on Boards (CMNOB).

A scoping review was conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines for scoping reviews.

Databases used in the search included PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest Central, and Academic Search Complete. Eleven records comprised the sample group.

Of the six general purposes for the research about NOB, seven studies aimed to explore nurses' board experiences or preparation for board service. The studies' recommendations were classified within the CMNOB concepts: board composition (n = 8), board effectiveness (n = 3), and organizational performance (n = 2). Several studies' recommendations were classified into multiple concepts of the CMNOB.

The research about NOB has accelerated since late 2016. Preparing nurses for board service remains central. However, until research demonstrates nurses' impact on board effectiveness and organizational performance, underrepresentation of NOB is likely to continue.