A scoping review about nurses on boards: 2016-2022

Area of Science:

• Nursing Leadership
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Studies

Background:

• The momentum for placing nurses on boards (NOB) is growing, with recent studies published since a 2017 review.
• No systematic reviews have summarized the research on nurses on boards since 2016.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe research on nurses on boards (NOB) from late 2016 to early 2022.
• To frame the NOB research within the Conceptual Model for Nurses on Boards (CMNOB).

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted.
• Utilized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR).
• Searched databases including PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest Central, and Academic Search Complete, identifying eleven records.

Main Results:

• Seven of the studies focused on nurses' board experiences or preparation for board service.
• Recommendations from the studies were categorized using CMNOB concepts: board composition (8 studies), board effectiveness (3 studies), and organizational performance (2 studies).
• Multiple CMNOB concepts were addressed in the recommendations of several studies.

Conclusions:

• Research on nurses on boards (NOB) has accelerated since late 2016, with a continued emphasis on preparing nurses for board service.
• Underrepresentation of nurses on boards is likely to persist until research definitively demonstrates their impact on board effectiveness and organizational performance.