Therapeutic Inertia in Nursing: A Concept Analysis

Therapeutic inertia, the failure to act when clinical care needs adjustment, has been explored in medicine but remains underdeveloped in nursing, limiting its practical and theoretical application. To clarify the concept of therapeutic inertia in nursing by identifying its defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents. This concept analysis was conducted using Walker and Avant's eight-step method: select a concept, determine the purpose of analysis, identify all uses of the concept, determine defining attributes, construct a model case, identify borderline and contrary cases, identify antecedents and consequences, and define empirical referents. A total of 49 articles published between 2000 and 2024 were reviewed, along with other sources. Key attributes of therapeutic inertia in nursing include delayed clinical decision-making, failure to escalate or adjust treatment despite clinical indicators, insufficient utilization of evidence-based practices, inadequate advocacy, and the presence of systemic and organizational barriers. Antecedents comprise ambiguity in clinical judgment, limited professional autonomy, absence of clear escalation protocols, and organizational constraints such as high workloads and hierarchical structures. The consequences of therapeutic inertia encompass compromised patient outcomes including worsened disease progression and increased readmissions alongside heightened clinician frustration, professional burnout, and ethical distress. This analysis provides a clarified definition of therapeutic inertia in nursing, supporting its future measurement, theoretical exploration, and integration into evidence-based practice.