Initiatives to support nursing workforce sustainability: a rapid umbrella review protocol
Gail Tomblin Murphy1, Tara Sampalli1, Annette Elliott-Rose2
1Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
BMJ Open
|September 5, 2025
Summary
This umbrella review identifies healthcare system structures for stabilizing the nursing workforce, focusing on recruitment and retention initiatives. Findings will inform global strategies for a sustainable healthcare workforce.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Nursing Workforce Studies
- Health Policy Analysis
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted critical international nursing workforce challenges.
- Existing healthcare systems face persistent difficulties in nursing recruitment and retention.
- A stable nursing workforce is essential for robust health system functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and synthesize structures implemented by healthcare systems to stabilize, support, and sustain the nursing workforce.
- To inform the development of effective nursing workforce stabilization strategies.
- To provide evidence for refining and implementing global nursing workforce sustainability plans.
Main Methods:
- Rapid umbrella review protocol guided by Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology.
- Systematic searches conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus databases (January 2014–March 2024).
- Inclusion of existing reviews on nursing workforce initiatives impacting recruitment and retention.
Main Results:
- Identification of key structural interventions and strategies employed by healthcare systems.
- Analysis of initiatives demonstrating promise for nursing workforce stabilization.
- Synthesis of evidence relevant to enhancing nursing recruitment and retention.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare systems require multi-pronged approaches to address nursing workforce challenges.
- Findings will support local health transformation and jurisdictional nursing workforce strategies.
- Results offer global relevance for designing and implementing sustainable nursing workforce solutions.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
1.7K
Current trends in nursing include:
1.7K
01:30National Nursing Organizations II
1.4K
Nursing organizations play a vital role in representing nurses working in specialized clinical settings, such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
The AACN emphasizes a healthy work environment through six standards to achieve an optimal patient outcome. The standards are appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, collaboration, authentic leadership, effective communication, and decision-making. In addition, AACN provides certification programs, webinars, journals, and...
The AACN emphasizes a healthy work environment through six standards to achieve an optimal patient outcome. The standards are appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, collaboration, authentic leadership, effective communication, and decision-making. In addition, AACN provides certification programs, webinars, journals, and...
1.4K
01:26National Nursing Organizations I
2.6K
Nursing organizations assume a significant role in consistently developing the nursing profession through education, research studies, establishing practice standards, and reforming health policies. Typically, nursing organizations operate at the regional, national, and international levels. For example, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) represents more than 28 million nurses worldwide. In contrast, the American Nurses Association (ANA) is a membership organization representing nurses...
2.6K
01:23International Nursing Organizations I
1.8K
International Nursing Organization (ICN) is a global union of national nurses' organizations. Individual nurses can be a part of ICN through member organizations. Each member organization strives to ensure quality nursing care, sound health policies, the advancement of nursing knowledge, respect for the profession, and a satisfied and competent nursing workforce.
ICN member organizations work to advance the field of nursing and healthcare via policies, partnerships, lobbying, professional...
ICN member organizations work to advance the field of nursing and healthcare via policies, partnerships, lobbying, professional...
1.8K
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
1.4K
Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...
1.4K
01:15Nursing Implementation
5.3K
Implementation is the execution of the nursing care plan developed during the planning phase.
The five steps to implementing effective nursing care include reassessing the patient, reviewing and revising the existing nursing care plan, organizing the resources and care delivery, anticipating and preventing complications, and implementing nursing interventions.
The five steps to implementing effective nursing care include reassessing the patient, reviewing and revising the existing nursing care plan, organizing the resources and care delivery, anticipating and preventing complications, and implementing nursing interventions.
5.3K