Work Disparities and the Health of Nurses in Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review

Work disparities, such as unfairness in pay or unequal distribution of work experienced by nurses in long-term care (LTC), can impact the retention and health of this workforce. Background: Despite the significant impact of disparities on nurses' health in LTC, a literature review on work disparities of nurses in LTC has not been conducted. Method: This scoping review aimed to explore the nature and extent of research on meso-level work disparities experienced by nurses in LTC and its links with nurse health and well-being. Five databases were searched: MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), SCOPUS, and CINAHL (EBSCO host). Results: Of the 5652 articles retrieved, 16 studies (14 quantitative and 2 qualitative) published between 1997 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. A total of 53 work disparities were identified. Only four articles investigated the association of a work disparity with a variable of health (e.g., physical, mental, or poor general health). Conclusions: The results suggest that more attention to how disparities impact nurses' health and lived experiences is warranted. Meso-level disparities from this review provide an initial basis to consider possibilities in the workplace, especially in supporting equity and opportunities for health and well-being at work (e.g., through fair access to professional growth opportunities and a more equitable balance of work expectations and demands of nursing staff). Future studies of the intersection of macro- and meso-level factors are needed to inform better workplace practices and social and economic policies to support the well-being, health, and safety of nurses at work in LTC.