Nurses' Engagement in Healthcare Policy Development: An Umbrella Review.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Health Policy
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Healthcare policy guides safe and effective care delivery and risk mitigation.
• Nurses are vital for healthcare policy development, yet their engagement is under-documented.
• This review synthesizes evidence on nurses' involvement in health policy transformation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine and summarize nurses' involvement in healthcare policy development.
• To identify barriers and facilitators influencing nurses' participation in policymaking.
• To inform strategies for enhancing nurses' roles in health policy.

Main Methods:

• An umbrella review methodology was employed, adhering to Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines.
• A systematic literature search was conducted across seven databases.
• Qualitative content analysis and meta-synthesis were used for data analysis, with ROBIS tool for quality assessment.

Main Results:

• Seven literature review studies involving registered or licensed nurses were included.
• Multilevel barriers, including diminished support and hierarchical marginalization, impede nurse participation.
• Internal perceptions, limited leadership roles, and gender dynamics further restrict engagement.
• Education, training, mentorship, and skill development are crucial for informed policy involvement.

Conclusions:

• No included reviews identified significant nurses' engagement in healthcare policy development.
• Lack of participation stems from multilevel barriers, hierarchical structures, and skill deficits.
• Enhancing nurses' involvement is critical for effective healthcare policy and workforce sustainability.